From January 1944 until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, the 449th BG operated from Grottaglie Field in southern Italy. Grottaglie Field was originally a field of the Italian Air Force. The German Air Force operated from Grottaglie Field until southern Italy was occupied by Allied Forces in 1943. As a German Air Field, Grottaglie Field was a prime target of the 12th Air Force operating out of northern Africa in 1942 and early 1943. Thus, when the 449th BG began arriving at Grottaglie in late December 1943, the field and the surrounding buildings were in shambles from the repeated bombings by the 12th Air Force. Over the 17 months that the 449th was at Grottaglie many repairs and improvements were made, together with general cleanup. Also stationed at Grottaglie was a British group.

When the war in Europe ended, the 449th packed up its equipment and vacated Grottaglie Field which was eventually turned back over to the Italians. Today, Grottaglie Field is an operational field of the Italian Air Force.

The following set of photographs -- taken primarily from the files of the 449th Bomb Group Association -- shows a variety of views that were taken at Grottaglie during the period that the 449th Bomb Group was stationed there.

The bombed-out dirigible hangars formerly used by the Italian Air Force were the most distinctive feature of Grottaglie Field.
Aerial view of Grottaglie Field, late 1944	Aerial view of Grottaglie Field, late 1944
Aerial view of Grottaglie Field, late 1944	Crew Tent -- Harper's crew, 1944
Engine Change	Tarfu hut topped with tent, late 1944
Fuel truck parked by hangar skeletons	Fueling Operation
View of field from atop Headquarters building, 1944	Squadron area, Spring 1945
Squadron Area, Spring 1945	On the taxi way for a mission, 1944
Mission Briefing, 1944	Mission Briefing, 1944
Mission Debriefing, 1944	Mission Debriefing, 1944
The Headquarters Building, 1944	The Headquarters Building, 1994

-- 449thsite