Wheelus AFB Lybia

• Origins as an Italian Airfield: Wheelus Air Base was originally constructed by the Italian Air Force in 1923 and was known as Mellaha Air Base before World War II. • Captured in World War II: The British Eighth Army seized the base during World War II in 1943, after which it was used by the Allied forces. • USAF Establishment: The United States Air Force took control of the base in 1945, renaming it Wheelus Field in honor of Lieutenant Richard Wheelus, a USAAF officer who died in a plane crash in Iran in 1945. • Strategic Cold War Location: Wheelus AFB became a crucial USAF installation in the Mediterranean, serving as a strategic base for bomber training and nuclear-capable aircraft during the Cold War. • Training Base for SAC: The Strategic Air Command (SAC) used Wheelus as a primary training site for bombing and gunnery exercises, especially for B-47 and B-52 crews. • Largest USAF Installation Overseas: At its peak, Wheelus AFB was one of the largest US Air Force bases outside the continental United States, housing around 4,500 personnel and their families. • Recreation and Community: Wheelus was known among servicemen as the "Little America in the Desert," offering amenities such as schools, movie theaters, clubs, and even a swimming beach on the Mediterranean Sea. • Role in the 1956 Suez Crisis: During the Suez Crisis, Wheelus AFB served as a critical staging and support area for US and allied air operations in the region. • End of US Operations: Following the 1969 Libyan coup led by Muammar Gaddafi, US forces withdrew from Wheelus AFB. The base was officially handed over to the Libyan government in June 1970. • Transformation into Mitiga International Airport: The former Wheelus AFB is now known as Mitiga International Airport, serving as one of Tripoli's main airports and as a Libyan Air Force base.