Manduria Airfield

The primary reason for closure was the end of its wartime mission. Manduria Airfield was a temporary heavy bomber base constructed specifically for the Allied campaign during World War II. With the end of the war in Europe, the strategic need for the base vanished, leading to the departure of the American forces. Its subsequent use as a refugee camp was also temporary, and after that purpose was served, the facility was no longer required and fell into disuse before being officially decommissioned by the Italian military.

The former airfield is now a mosaic of different uses and states of decay. The site is not used for aviation. Key current uses include:

- **Photovoltaic Power Plant:** A significant portion of the former airfield, including areas of the old runway system, has been converted into a large solar farm.
- **Motorsport Track:** A section of the main runway is now home to the 'Pista Salentina', a well-known karting and motorsport circuit.
- **Abandoned Structures:** Many of the original WWII-era buildings, including hangars, barracks, and support structures, remain on the site in an abandoned and derelict condition. These ruins attract historians, photographers, and urban explorers.
- **Agriculture:** Some of the surrounding land that was part of the airfield complex is now used for agricultural purposes, primarily olive groves and vineyards.

Manduria Airfield holds significant historical importance, primarily from two distinct periods:

1. **World War II (1943-1945):** Constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, it was a major strategic heavy bomber airfield for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Fifteenth Air Force. It was the home base of the 450th Bombardment Group (Heavy), known as the 'Cottontails', which flew B-24 Liberator bombers. From Manduria, the 450th BG conducted long-range strategic bombing missions against crucial enemy targets in Germany, Austria, Italy, the Balkans, and France, including oil refineries (like Ploesti), aircraft factories, and marshalling yards. The airfield was a key component of the Allied effort to cripple the Axis war machine from the south.

2. **Post-War Refugee Camp (1945-1948):** Immediately after the war, the airfield was converted into one of the largest Displaced Persons (DP) camps in Italy, operated by the UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration). It primarily housed thousands of Jewish refugees and Holocaust survivors from across Europe. The camp at Manduria became a vital center for the 'Brichah' and 'Aliyah Bet' movements, which organized the clandestine immigration of Jews to British Mandate Palestine. The camp had schools, synagogues, workshops, and a vibrant cultural life, serving as a crucial transitional point for survivors on their way to a new life.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen Manduria Airfield for any form of aviation. The land has been substantially repurposed with permanent installations like the solar farm and the racetrack. Furthermore, the region is adequately served by other airports, most notably Brindisi Airport (BDS), making the economic or logistical case for reactivating Manduria non-existent. The site's future lies in its current uses and its value as a historical landmark.