Spezzano

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

here is another nut for our Italian experts: In the flight log of a pilot from I./JG 53 I have found two names of places in Italy that I cannot find on any map available to me; they are

Spezzano - name of an airfield / airstrip used by I./JG 53 between end of August and early September 1943, and

Melito - name of a place on the Calabrian coast.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Jochen Prien

[Nick Beale]

Hallo Jochen,

According to Google Maps:

Spezzano Montebuno is in the province of Rieti
Spezzano Fiorano Modenese is in the province of Modena

Meilto is probably Melito di Porto Salvo, is on the Calabrian coast

You seem to have discovered three rare cases where the Luftwaffe spelled Italian place names correctly!

[NUCCIO]

Hi Jocken,

I'm sure ; the first is Spezzano Albanese, small town near Cosenza http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spezzano_Albanese
the second is Melito di Porto Salvo (Reggio Calabria)
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melito_di_Porto_Salvo
Best regards
Pino

[Doug Stankey]

I used the Vectorglobe atlas to search for places with such names and the results are:

Spezzano Albanese, Italy – 39°40’03”N 16°18’55”E
Spezzano Grande, Italy – 39°18’01”N 16°19’53”E
Spezzano Piccolo, Italy – 39°17’01”N 16°19’57”E

Melito di Napoli, Italy – 40°55’05” 14°14’02”E
Melito di Porto Salvo, Italy – 37°55’08”N 15°46’56” – this is the the most likely correct one at the southern tip of Calabria.
Melito Irpino, Italy – 41°06’04”N 15°01’02”E



I hope this helps!

[Nick Beale]

When looking for airfields in Italy outside of the Po Valley, look for one of the rare pieces of level ground!

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

many thanks, that solves the questions.

Kind regards

Jochen Prien