Casablanca Anfa

  1920's to 2007

  Morocco

CITY: Casablanca

IATA/ICAO CODES: CAS / GMMC

COORDINATES: 33°33'N / 7°40'W

OTHER NAMES: Cazes AB

Anfa airfield was built in the 1920's by the French colonial government as the primary airport for Casablanca. During World War II, Anfa 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 with its limited aircraft allowed by the armistice with Nazi Germany. The French military airfield bore the name Cazes AB.

Anfa was one of the primary Allied objectives during Operation Torch, the November 1942 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 USAAF during the North African Campaign. It was also an Air Transport Command cargo hub on the North African Route. It served as a transit point for USAAF aircraft heading to England to equip the 8^th Air Force, as well as for the 12^th and 15^th Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater, as part of the southern air transport route from the United States via Brazil and Dakar, Senegal. It was returned to civilian control late in 1945.

In 1959, the USAAF closed down its base at Nouasseur in the eastern outskirts of Casablanca, which replaced Anfa as the city's major airport. Anfa remained open for general aviation, but was eventually closed in 2007. The area is now undergoing a major urbanization project.

1250^th, 1251^st & 1252^nd AAF Base Units (Casablanca Anfa)

Air Transport Command North African Wing

• Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando: 42-107368
• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: 42-107374, 42-96658
• Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando: 42-101081, 42-101098, 42-101117
• Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando: 43-47225, 43-47231