WW2: mellaha airfield

The main Luftwaffe unit stationed at Mellaha was the 2nd Staffel of the Aufklärungsgruppe¹, and the airfield was primarily used for short range reconnaissance flights. It also housed several specialized Luftwaffe weather reconnaissance units. The main Luftwaffe unit stationed at the base was the 2nd Staffel of the Aufklärungsgruppe (H) 14 or 2.(H)/14. The squadron was equipped with 12 single-engined Henschel Hs 126, aircraft, which could accommodate 2 airmen and cover distances of approx 700 km per flight, these were used mainly as reconnaissance aircraft. Also stationed at the airfield were 3 Fieseler Fi 156 Storch liaison aircraft and one Junkers Ju 52 cargo plane².

On 5 April 1945, shortly before WW2 came to an end, Mellaha Airfield was taken over by the US Air Force Air Training Command and renamed Wheelus Army Air Field, in honour of 23 year old Lieutenant Richard. E. Wheelus, from Pike County, Pennsylvania, U.S, who died on 18 February 1945 whilst travelling on a plane that crashed shortly after take-off from Abadan Airport in Khuzestan, Iran⁸.

Lieutenant Wheelus was traveling in a Curtiss C-46 Commando plane with three other US Air Force colleagues: Cpl Joseph Brine, 2nd Lt George H. Hafford and 1st Lt Samuel B. Isbell. ​​Immediately after takeoff from Abadan Airport, while still in initial climb, their aircraft nosed down, likely the result of the right rudder becoming stuck in a nose-down position, and crashed less than 10 kms away from the airport, killing all four occupants⁸. Prior to crashing, 1st Lt Richard E. Wheelus had managed to communicate with the control tower, relaying sufficient detail to ensure the inspection of all other craft¹⁰. Wheelus was buried at the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunis, Tunisia¹¹. Amongst other military commendations, Richard Wheelus was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for service to country¹². The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to any person, distinguishing themselves by a single act of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and extraordinary achievement are entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine¹³.