Casablanca–Anfa Airport

Casablanca–Anfa Airport
IATA: CAS – ICAO: GMMC
Summary
Airport type Public
Serves Casablanca, Morocco
Elevation AMSL 203 ft / 62 m
Coordinates 33°33′25″N 007°39′38″W / 33.55694°N 7.66056°W / 33.55694; -7.66056
Map
Anfa

Location of airport in Morocco

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
08/26 2,104 6,903 Asphalt

Casablanca–Anfa Airport (French: Aéroport de Casablanca–Anfa, Arabic: مطار الدار البيضاء أنفا‎‎) was an airport in Morocco (IATA: CAS, ICAO: GMMC), located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) southwest of Casablanca. Anfa Airport was one of three airports serving the Casablanca area, the others being the newer and larger Mohammed V International Airport and the Casablanca Tit Mellil Airport.

Anfa Airport is now closed, and its buildings and runways have been demolished.

History

Built in the 1920s by the French colonial government, Anfa Airport was the primary airport for Casablanca until the United States Air Force closed its base at Nouasseur in 1959. Nouasseur Air Base, has been expanded over the years to handle large jet aircraft and has become Casablanca's primary airport.

During World War II, Anfa Airport was taken over by the Vichy French government and used as an airport as well as an air base for the Vichy French Air Force (French: Armée de l'Air de Vichy) with its limited aircraft allowed by the armistice with Nazi Germany. It was also used by Deutsche Lufthansa and German military transports and was depicted in the fictional 1942 film Casablanca.

Anfa Airport was one of the primary Allied objectives during Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, and was seized in the initial landings in the Casablanca area. After its capture by Allied forces, it functioned as an Allied military airfield throughout the remainder of the war, supporting the United States Army during the North African Campaign, and also as an Air Transport Command cargo hub on the North African Route. It served as a transit point for United States Army Air Force aircraft heading to England as part of the Eighth Air Force, as well as for the Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater as part of the southern air transport route from the United States via Brazil and Dakar. It was returned to civilian control late in 1945. This Airport is now closed and is undergoing a major urbanization project.[2][3][4][5]

Anfa Airport was replaced as a commercial airport by Mohammed V International Airport; however, it continued to serve as a pilot training airfield. It ceased all operations in 2007.

By 2008 RAM Academy had moved its activity to Benslimane and Nouaceur.[6]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. ↑ Airport information for GMMC at Great Circle Mapper.
  2. ↑  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
  3. ↑ Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
  4. ↑ Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
  5. ↑ USAFHRA search for Telergma Airport
  6. ↑ M.M. "RAM Academy transfère ses activités à Nouaceur et Benslimane" (Archive). La Vie Éco. 26 September 2008. Retrieved on 24 August 2014.
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