Color footage in Italy

[Buckeye30]

The 111TRS originally used flight letter ( A-B-C) plus aircraft letter in Italy, then N plus aircraft letter on their F-6Cs; 42-103578 NJ "Val Gal II" is thought to be the first aircraft to land in S. France Aug. 1944. They transferred from Twelfth AF in Italy to France in August ( to the Provisional Recon. Group ) which was designated as the 69th TRG in April 1945 when code was changed to N5 plus letter. They usually had thin red diagonal tail stripes. Note the camera ports on the F-6s.
The yellow rudder B-17 is 463BG, the P-47s from the 57FG with their yellow tail and wing bands.
Nick

[franck]

Hello,

The 154 Squadron Spitfires pictures have been taken at Calvi/Calenzana airfield where the squadron was assigned until august 1944 if I remembrer well. Attached a picture taken few years ago from the area (not far from home), you can compare the mountains shape in the background.

The B-17 (44-6283) also is taken at Calvi, but at Fiume Seccu airstrip 2 miles west from Calenzana. Fiume Seccu was built by the french air ministry just before the WWII (for GAM or GAR 550 unit). From december 1943, it was used by the AAF 52nd F.G. ./4thF.S. until march/april 1944.

During the 1944 era, Calvi Had 3 airstrips scattered on a verry close area :

- Calvi Ste Catherine (RAF 237Sqn, 451Sqn and AAF transport etc... still in use today), - Calvi/Calenzana (154Sqn, 93Sqn, 111thSqn, 242Sqn - if Im right ? - abandoned)
- Calvi/Fiume Seccu (52nd F.G and occasional strip for emergency by AAF/RAF from summer 1944 - still used as a drop zone by the french foreign legion 2e REP based just there)...

And thank you for that extraordinary footage.. I don't remember the B-17 in the William Wyler film ! Perhaps it's a rush ?

Regards Franck

[franck]

Calvi Corsica island (France) of course ....