San Severo Airfield

Military Decommissioning. San Severo Airfield was a temporary wartime base constructed for a specific military purpose. With the end of World War II in Europe and the subsequent withdrawal of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), the airfield became surplus to requirements. It was dismantled, and the land was returned to the Italian government and subsequently to its original agricultural state.

The site of the former airfield has been completely reclaimed for agricultural use. The land is now predominantly covered by vineyards, olive groves, and other crops. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure such as buildings, hangars, or control towers. However, the faint outlines or 'ghosts' of the former main runway and taxiways are still clearly visible in satellite and aerial imagery due to lasting effects on soil compaction and drainage. The site is a point of interest for military historians, but it is not a functional or preserved location.

San Severo Airfield was a major World War II heavy bomber base and a key component of the Foggia Airfield Complex in Italy. Its primary historical significance lies in its role as the home base for the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force's 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) from December 1943 to October 1945. Operating B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, the 97th BG flew long-range strategic bombing missions from San Severo against critical enemy targets, including oil refineries, aircraft factories, and transportation hubs in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania (notably the Ploiești oil fields), and occupied territories in the Balkans and Northern Italy. The airfield was hastily constructed by Army Engineers using pierced steel planking (PSP) for its runways and taxiways, typical of the temporary but vital airfields built to support the Allied advance through Italy.

There are zero known plans or prospects for reopening San Severo Airfield. The land is privately owned and is valuable agricultural terrain. The region is served by other active airports, including Foggia 'Gino Lisa' Airport (LIRF/FOG). Re-establishing an airport on this site would be economically unfeasible, requiring complete reconstruction from the ground up and the acquisition of active farmland.