Piagiolino

43°43'21"N 013°04'25"E

runway: ../.. - ...x..m - PSP

Piagiolino airfield (It: aeroporto Piagiolino, also known as Piagiolino landing ground) was an airfield 210 kilometer north of Rome. 
Initially built as a small runway and used occasionally by the German Luftwaffe until 1943, it was cleverly hidden in the country side. Within days of the area being overtaken by the 3rd Carpathian Division of the Polish 2nd Corps on 11 August 1943, an efficient airfield was set up in only a few days.
Although it was located between Ponte Rio and the old bridge to Monterado, the Allies called it "Piagiolino landing ground". From 31 August 1944 four squadrons equipped with Spitfire fighters in support of the British Eighth Army: 40 Squadron (South African Air Force), 318 (Polish) Sqn RAF, 241 Sqn RAF and a detachment of 683 Sqn RAF, all coming from Chiaravalle airfield (todays Ancona-Falconara airfield). After a priod of intense operations the airfield was temporarily inactivated by the end of September 1944 for a major rebuild.
After a period of resupply air operations, the airfield returned as a temporary all-weather airfield on 21 April 1945 with the arrival of the 52nd Fighter Group of 15 Air Force (USAAF), who remained until 8 July 1945.
The airfield remained operational until late summer 1945, when it was returned to the Italian government.


SAAF personnel with some of their Spitfires
 
Unlike many airfields in the south of Italy the former airfield is no longer recognisable from aerial photograpy.
The entire area has been returned to agricultural use and has since seen some light industrialisation.


No images or maps of the airstrip while in use have been located

Thanks to Edi Eusebi for pointing out this airfield!
Note: this airfield is located on a stretch of land that is a patchwork of two provinces: Pesaro e Urbino and Ancona. Although originally listed under Ancona, I now believe Pesaro e Urbina to be the most correct.