Ramitelli Airfield

Decommissioned after the end of World War II. As a temporary military airfield, its purpose was fulfilled with the cessation of hostilities in the European theater and the subsequent withdrawal of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).

The original military airfield has been completely dismantled and the land has been returned to agricultural use, primarily consisting of fields and olive groves. Faint outlines of the former main runway and taxiways are still visible in aerial and satellite imagery. A small portion of the original site is now occupied by a private ultralight airstrip (aviosuperficie) named 'Pista Red Tails' in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen. This private field uses the unofficial ICAO code IT-0631 but is not a public or commercial airport. A monument dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen has also been erected in the nearby area to commemorate their service.

Ramitelli Airfield holds immense historical importance, primarily as a key base for the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force during WWII. It was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in late 1943/early 1944 as part of the vast Foggia Airfield Complex. The airfield is most famous for being the home base of the 332nd Fighter Group, the renowned 'Tuskegee Airmen' (also known as the 'Red Tails'), from May 1944 until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. From Ramitelli, these pioneering African-American pilots flew P-47 Thunderbolt and later P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft on crucial long-range bomber escort missions over Germany, Austria, and the Balkans. Their exceptional combat record in protecting bombers from enemy fighters, and their role in breaking down racial barriers in the US military, makes Ramitelli a site of major historical importance in both military and civil rights history.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Ramitelli Airfield as a commercial or significant military airport. The site remains primarily agricultural land, with only the small, private ultralight strip representing any current aviation activity.