Abandon Italian & German aircraft, Castel Benito, Tripoli

Uploader: Bomberguy
Video Description: Memories of Castel Benito
Neil Leybourne Smith (Historian) writes: The pilots in 'B' Flight were the first in the Desert Air Force to land at Castel Benito in Tripolitania and they were quick to claim the best quarters at this quite modern airfield. Compared to their quarters in the desert, Castel Benito was paradise with grass, trees and a windmill-pumped flow of cold water. After they 'd settled in and other Desert Air Force Squadrons had arrived, several grass areas were marked out as football fields and inter-squadron games of Australian Rules, Rugby and Soccer were played. An Italian Caproni Ghibli had been left by the retreating enemy so it was quickly commandeered by the Squadron as an ideal people and beer carrier because of its 700 mile cruising range at 110 miles per hour with a load of twelve people (or the equivalent in beer) inside. A Caproni 164 trainer with dual controls was also secured, allowing some of the Squadron's administration officers to log up some flying hours.
Corporal Stuart Morris (Medic) writes: It was 21st January 1943 when I drove into the Castel Benito aerodrome about 10 miles east of Tripoli. The set up geographically is similar to Laverton, Melbourne. In fact our entry could have been going into Laverton with fine gates and eucalyptus trees along the approaches. Their were many abandoned Italian and German planes in the area. Our pilots had some fun there and later. One twin engined Caproni Gibley light transport plane actually became our means of ready contact with base at Cairo area and was used for bringing up canteen supplies, mail and pilots both ways, if on leave. Ian Roediger had the good luck or good management to be the regular pilot. I was personally fortunate to be with him on one 'local' flight -- in fact he allowed me my one and only (ever) 10 minutes at the controls! We took some beaut photos over the ancient roman city of Sabratha west of Tripoli.

Tags for this video: 164 aerodrome aircraft airfield Benito Caproni Castel Ghibli Heinkel italian Lybia Tripoli Tripolitania
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My late friend Tony ... ( 11 months ago by denberg2)

My late friend Tony Bruce was also, briefly, the officer commanding Tripolitania. He helped rebuild and fly an SM79, Fieseler Storch, Fiat CR42 and Macchi 202 that had been abandoned there. He thought the Italian aircraft were superior to ours, even the Spitfire. They had been booby trapped and it took some time before they were safe to fly.

Oh good stuff! No ... ( 11 months ago by SmiertSpionem)

Oh good stuff! No Mc.205' s, Re2005's etc (already swiped by the retreating Germans)

5 stars! Thanks, ... ( 11 months ago by MikeNC2371)

5 stars! Thanks, Bomberguy!

Array ( 11 months ago by naqruf91)

man..
was the germans and italians is stupid enough to leave those planes?
idiots...
lovely planes by the way..
:)

Thanks, for the ... ( 11 months ago by stjohnstjohn)

Thanks, for the memory.

WOW- this is a rare ... ( 11 months ago by spritz0)

WOW- this is a rare jewel of a video, Bomerguy!! 5 Stars once again, and the rest of you out there please subscribe, Bomberguy rocks!!!

more great work ... ( 11 months ago by eurich1)

more great work bomberguy! thanks

Those Andrew ... ( 11 months ago by twinten)

Those Andrew Sisters can actually sing !!! This kind of harmony isnt accomplished today.

Hy to all, thanks ... ( 11 months ago by Aviazione)

Hy to all, thanks bomberguy for this amazing video, in fact Mc. 205 and Re.2005 did not figtht in Africa Settentrionale ( Libia).
Mc.205 beginning in Sicily and the Re.2005 first to defend Napoli from B.17 and after in Berlin with the Luftwaffe.

I don't remember ... ( 11 months ago by fourfortyroadrunner)

I don't remember just how they worked, but those Caproni trimotors had a VERY strange engine starting system

Keep 'em coming ... ( 10 months ago by TheRealNeill)

Keep 'em coming Bomberguy! Ha!

this video is more ... ( 7 months ago by thoralf1)

this video is more funny then normal video! my names Hailey, kinda feelin bored if any1 wants to join me on cam or wana chat i will be signed on at __ FriendlyFlirts(.COM) __ my user ID there is Hailey_ltcqpxkpf chat soon xx its FR33 to j0in! mwah

tenetevi gheddafy mo ( 7 months ago by solenero128)

tenetevi gheddafy mo

The Guy singing ... ( 6 months ago by 5eugenic1)

The Guy singing sounds like Dean Martin, but I think his balls might not have dropped by then to be singing dance the VIKTORY POLKAS!!
Sweeet vid bomberguy, Keep em comin'.

Andrews Sisters, ... ( 5 months ago by poitrenaud)

Andrews Sisters, with Bing Crosby--Sounds like Dean; doesn't it?
Dean was too young then-

Italy had great ... ( 2 months ago by SmiertSpionem)

Italy had great planes, they just couldn't make enough of them.

true. But I would ... ( 2 months ago by SmiertSpionem)

true. But I would say more outdated than bad, the CR-42 was one of the last great biplane fighters.

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