page_title: Big Fence
section_title: References
hierarchical_section_title: Big Fence / References
caption_attribution_description: English: Navigational Aid Facilities Map from 1944
context_page_description: Big Fence was a secret navigational aid for US Army Air Force sorties from North Africa and Italy during World War II, ultimately located at the Castel del Monte in Apulia. It was operated by the 6649th Navigational Aids Squadron of the 341st Signal Company, XV Fighter Command, 15th Army Air Force.
  The 6649th supported missions critically reliant on fixing the position of aircraft. Answering call sign "Big Fence", the central plotting room inside the castle triangulated information from seven direction finding installations, including the Castel headquarters.
  From September 1943 until cessation of hostilities, the squadron received an estimated 16,000 calls for assistance from lost, damaged, and air-sea rescue craft.
  Being a VHF system, Big Fence was particularly valuable to fighters, which only had VHF radios. The bombardment groups could often rely on other navigational aids that were at their disposal, but only VHF remained effective in bad weather.
  Many hundreds of airmen owe their lives to “Big Fence”. The success of many missions was directly attributable to the efficient operation of your station. Please accept my personal thanks for your superior work with the 15th.
context_section_description: "6649th Navigational Aids Squadron", 341st Signal Company, XV Fighter Command, The Fifteenth Air Force 
  
  George Loving, Woodbine Red Leader: A P-51 Mustang Ace in the Mediterranean Theater, ISBN 0307417786, 2007, p. 135
  Kevin A. Mahoney, ”Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis: Combat Missions over Europe during World War II”, ISBN 081088495X, 2013, p. 265
  Kevin A. Mahoney, "Bombing Europe: The Illustrated Exploits of the Fifteenth Air Force", ISBN 1627887377, 2015, p.38
  Tom Ivie, Paul Ludwig, “Spitfires & Yellow Tail Mustangs: The U.S. 52nd Fighter Group in WWII”, ISBN 1461751713, 2013, p. 229
  James M. Doyle, ”Flying Through Time”, ISBN 1612342191, 2005, p. 206
  Thomas Follis, “He Wore a Pair of Silver Wings”, ISBN 1576383288, 2004, p. 187
  Albert E. Conder, "Air Force Gunners", ISBN 1563111675, 1994, p.122
  Bill Disbrow, "On the Edge", ISBN 1890461334, 2005, p.131
  Brandon Sanders, "Heroes to Remember", ISBN 0595142060, 2000, p.166
  Sam Schneider, Byron L. Kennedy III, "This is How it was: 485th Bomb Group (Heavy) unit history", ISBN 0941072150, 2000, p.124
  Louis Falstien, "Face of a Hero", 1950, p.209
  Ron White, "Headlong into Fury", ISBN 146212576X, 2016, p.???
  Charles E. Francis, "The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men who Changed a Nation", ISBN 0828320292, 1997, p.166
  Martin Caidin, "Fork-tailed Devil: The P-38", ISBN 0743413180, 2001, p.247
  William E. Knight, "Letters to the Twenty-Second Century, ISBN 0963677845, 2001, p.108
  John W. Walcott, "One Fighter Pilot’S War, ISBN 1491775521, 2015, p.???
  Gerard Paloque, "12th & 15th Air Forces", ISBN 2352502101, 2011, p.???
  Erik Dyreborg, "The Young Ones: American Airmen of WWII", ISBN 2352502101, 2003, p.7
  Sgt. August Loeb, YANK Staff Correspondent , March 23, 1944, p. 20
caption: 15th AF Navigational Aid Facilities Map
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