In October, Corsica will celebrate 80 years of its liberation. In 1943, the island became a strategic base for the Allies, nicknamed USS Corsica, a veritable stationary aircraft carrier allowing the air fleet to control the Mediterranean. Today, divers can explore the many World War II remains scattered in the island’s waters.
An Impressive Military Presence
At the height of the Allied reconquest, Corsica housed approximately 50,000 American soldiers, 17 air bases, and some 2,000 planes. These aircraft, whether fighters, bombers, or reconnaissance planes, took off for perilous missions, often facing the formidable Luftwaffe.
Unfortunately, most of the air bases established during this conflict, mainly on the eastern plain, have disappeared. The only installations still in service today are Bastia airport and the (Ventiseri-) Solenzara air base, designated BA 126.
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