Grostenquin France

Memories of Decimomannu, Sardinia, Italy - Assorted Sources

Soon after the squadrons were in place in the Air Division, it became apparent that an air-to-air live firing range was needed in order to keep the F-86 pilots qualified in air-to-air firing.

In 1953 an old French air base which was located in Rabat Sale, French Morrocco was freely given to the RCAF by the French government for squadron use. Within three years it was evident that the RCAF had to locate an alternate firing range. So, negotiations with the German and Italian Air Forces commenced, and it was decided that the RCAF would pay 25% of the cost to prepare the Italian base at Decimomannu, Sardinia (about 10 miles NW of Cagliari) for air-to-air gunnery. The range opened in July 1957.

Map of southern Sardinia