Annaba (Les Salines Airport)
Annaba (also Les Salines Airport; ICAO DABB) is an active joint civil-military airfield in Algeria, operated by the EGSA-Constantine. It has 2 runways (longest 3,000 m). Home to the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, No. 111 Squadron RAF, the 81 Squadron, the 1/91 Gascogne Bombardment Group.
Facility Details
| Operating Country | 🇩🇿 Algeria |
| Location | 🇩🇿 Algeria |
| Status | Active |
| Usage | Dual |
| Year built | 1939 |
| Operating Organization | EGSA-Constantine |
| Units & aircraft |
3rd Battalion Parachute RegimentNo. 111 Squadron RAF81 Squadron1/91 Gascogne Bombardment Group
|
| Coordinates | 36.8292°N, 7.8139°E |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| IATA code | AAE |
| ICAO code | DABB |
| Runways |
01/19 · 3,000 m (9,843 ft) · Asphalt05/23 · 2,290 m (7,513 ft) · Asphalt
|
Description
Annaba Rabah Bitat Airport is located 9 km south of Annaba, Algeria. Established in 1939 as Bône-les-Salines, the facility was operated by the Chamber of Commerce of Bône. During World War II, the site was designated Bone Airfield and utilized by the German Luftwaffe until its capture by the USAAF Twelfth Air Force in 1942. In November 1942, the British 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment conducted a battalion-sized parachute drop at the airfield. During the North African campaign, the base hosted Royal Air Force units, including No. 111 Squadron and 81 Squadron, operating Supermarine Spitfires.
Following the war, the French Air Force established Air Base 213 at the site. Between 1956 and 1962, the base hosted the 1/91 Gascogne Bombardment Group, which operated Douglas B-26 Invaders. After Algerian independence, the facility was known as El-Mellaha before being renamed in honor of former president Rabah Bitat.
- AUG 132026 Updated Runway designations, surfaces and lengths recorded
- JAN 192026 Created Page created: Annaba (DABB); then name updated