[Larry deZeng]

Giarabub seems to have always been in Allied hands, at least I could not find anything in the primary documents than indicated otherwise:

Giarabub/North (LIB) (a.k.a. Jarabub/North, L.G. 107, Al Jaghbub)
(29 46 00 N – 24 32 00 E)
General: landing ground in Cyrenaica 225 km SSW of Bardia, 207 km SSW
of Sollum, 3 km NNE of Fort Giarabub and adjacent to an important oasis of
the same name. History: early history not found, but built after Oct 41.
No Axis air units are believed to have been based here. Surface and
Dimensions: generally firm natural surface with soft patches measuring
approx. 1005 x 1005 meters (1100 x 1100 yards). German aerial photos
taken 26 Oct 41 showed dimensions of 1450 x 775 meters (1585 x 845
yards). Fuel and Ammunition: no details found regarding storage facilities.
Infrastructure: had 2 small hangars and a small building next to them on
the SW boundary. Additional buildings were located in the fortified oasis
area that had a village and a fort. Dispersal: a small number of stone pens
served as blast bays for parked aircraft. Defenses: none noted.
Remarks:
17 Jul - Oct 41: Giarabub in Allied hands but landing grounds unoccupied
and obstructed with empty oil barrels. Remained in Allied hands to the end
of the war in North Africa.
13 Nov 41: Giarabub now occupied by 14 Blenheims and 27 Hurricanes.
[Sources: AFHRA A5263 p.130 (22 Dec 42); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA;
PRO/NA; BNA AIR 40/1990; website ww2.dk]
Giarabub No. 2 (LIB) (a.k.a. Jarabub No. 2, L.G. 119, Al Jaghbub) (29
42 00 N – 24 35 00 E)
General: landing ground in Cyrenaica 243 km S of Bardia, 223 km SSW of
Sollum and 13 km SE of Giarbub (Jarabub) oasis. History: early history not
found, but built after Oct 41. No Axis air units are believed to have been
based here. Surface and Dimensions: firm natural surface measuring
- 68 -
Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-45
approx. 1100 x 1370 meters (1200 x 1500 yards). Fuel and Ammunition:
no details found regarding storage facilities. Infrastructure: none.
Buildings were located in the fortified oasis area that had a village and a fort.
Dispersal: none. Defenses: none noted.
Remarks: see Giarabub/North.
[Sources: AFHRA A5263 p.131 (22 Dec 42); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA;
PRO/NA; BNA AIR 40/1990; website ww2.dk]
Giarabub No. 3 (LIB) (a.k.a. Jarabub No. 3, Gsebaid, L.G. 108, Al
Jaghbub) (29 35 00 N – 24 41 00 E)
General: landing ground in Cyrenaica 233 km SSW of Sollum, 93 km NW of
Siwa Oasis and 22 km SE of Giarbub (Jarabub). History: early history not
found, but built after Oct 41. No Axis air units are believed to have been
based here. Surface and Dimensions: firm natural surface with an irregular
shape measuring approx. 1190 x 1190 x 1830 meters (1300 x 1300 x 2000
yards). Fuel and Ammunition: Infrastructure: none. Buildings were
located in the fortified oasis area that had a village and a fort. Dispersal: none. Defenses: none noted.
Remarks:
Jun 42: built spring 1942 and became operational about this time.
[Sources: AFHRA A5263 p.132 (22 Dec 42); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA;
PRO/NA; BNA AIR 40/1990; website ww2.dk]

L.