Monserrato

39°15'00"N 009°08'44"E

runway: 12/30 - ...x..m - cement/gravel

Monserrato airfield (Italian: aeroporto di Monserrato) was an airfield northeast of Cagliari on the island of Sardinia.
The airfield was built in 1919 by the Italian War Ministry. It was immediately used by an experimental postal service flying a dozen war surplus Caudron and SAML S-2 aircraft. The first connection was attempted between Cagliari and Borore on 28 July 1919. At the time the cargo was very limited, with the aircraft not able to carry more than 70 kilos of mail and packages. The service seemed to work and the postal service set up a regular service from 21 August 1919.
A crash on 27 August delayed the official inauguration of the airfield to 20 September.

With the approval of the Commando Aeronatuca (Air Command), a civilian flight school was set up at the airfield in 1937. Within months over 200 students had signed up. In 1938 the school became the RUNA (Regia Unione Nazionale Aeronautica, or Royal Aeronautics National Union). At the time, the infrastructure consisted of only four wooden sheds which served as accommodation, restaurant, logistics office and workshop. There were no real hangars yet.

In May 1940, with World War 2 having broken out, the flightschool was commandeered by the Italian Air Force. Montserrat became an air force base, operating fighters and bombers over the Mediterranean Sea. Missions were to disrupt Allied convoys from Gibraltar to North Africa and Malta.
As war continued its influence on the flight school became obvious. There was a relentless decline of new students and a shortage of fuel caused costs to rise steeply. Nothing was heard of the flight school after 1942 when its aircraft fell victim to Allied bombings. Several of its pilots had died during service in the Regia Aeronautica (Royal Italian Air Force).
In July 1943, the airfield was occupied by 23 MC.202 fighters (21 operational) of 51°Stormo. On 20 July 1943 a large formation of American P-40 Warhawks launched a surprise attack on the airfield. Only a few fighters managed to get airborne to counter the attack. While one crashed only minutes after becoming airborne, some others did counter attack, until they ran out of ammunition. In desperation, one of them rammed his C-205 into a P-40.


The result of a heavy landing of a Fiat CR42 at Monserrato in the early 1940s (finn.it).


A Luftwaffe Bf-109 at Monserrato in the early 1940s (via Giangavino Contini).


A picture of a Macchi C.205-seriesIII of 360 Squadriglia, 155° Gruppo taken at Monserrato Airfield, Summer 1943. This is probably the plane of Tenente (lt.) Martinelli, C.O. of 360 Squadriglia. On the nose the name "Cigala Fulgosi" is written, a comrade shot down on June 11th, 1943 (Photo Archivio Paravicini via eaf51.org).

The Allies invaded Sardinia and conquered the airfield in November 1943. The Americans took control of the airfield and began to upgrade it. They built a new runway, taxitracks with signs and a new hangar. The runway consisted of a mixture of cement and crushed shells. Fron November 1943 they stationed the 94th Fighter Squadron at the base, flying P-38J lightnings. They were joined by the famous Italian Air Force "Black Cat" squadron of the 155th Autonomous Fighter Group (Cobellligerent Air Force), flying Macchi 202s, 205s, and Reggiane 2001s.

After two years of preparation, the post war airline Airone (Heron) began operating from the airfield on 15 April 1947. The airline operated Fiat G-12 because they could not afford English DeHavillands. On cost grounds their engines were soon replaced with cheaper Pratt&Whitneys. Still, the airline could only run because it initially held a state granted monopoly to Rome. Later, their fleet was made ​​up by four Fiat G 12 20-seaters, purchased new from the factory in Turin.
The aircraft, registered I-AIRE "Barbagia", I-AIRO "Logudoro", I-AIRN "Gallura" and I-SASS, connected the Sardinian capital with Rome and Milan in 90 minutes and 180 minutes respectively.
The activities of Airone went on for some years with very satisfactory economical results. At the end of 1949, to avoid further trouble, the company merged into Ali Flotte Riunite. When Ali Flotte Riunite also merged into Alitalia, their Fiats went to the Air Force technical school. From January 1953 LAI (Linee Aeree Italiane, later merged into Alitalia) began flying scheduled services with a DC-3.


Airone promotional poster proudly displaying a 'airone' (heron) (via Giangavino Contini).


Two FIAT G-12s at Monserrato airfield (via Giangavino Contini).


Overview of Monserrato airport in January 1952 (USAF photo)

The airfield remained active until the 1960s, by which time it only served a few airmen.
Two of the hangars on the north side of the former airfield survive to this day. One is used as a basketball court by the local sportsclub. The other one is used as a garage for the Italian Forrestry Service (Corpo Forestale).


Overview of the former Monserrato airfield in 2011 (Google Earth)


The inside of the Corpo Forestale hangar in 2011 (MAB forum (Italian)).

'Mille grazie!' to Giangavino Contini, for allowing me to use his research (in Italian) on this airfield.