Blida Airport
Blida Airport is an airport in Blida, Algeria . It undertook a repavement project in 2012. On November 8, 1942, during World War II, the airport was taken by the British 11th Infantry Brigade. The event was part of the Operation Torch of the North African Campaign. Shortly afterwards, Lieutenant B.H.C. Nation, RN, leader of a flight of Grumman Martlets from HMS "Victorious", saw white handkerchiefs fluttering on the ground and landed on the airfield. He accepted a written agreement from the French air commander that Allied aircraft might land. No. 326 Wing RAF began arriving by 11 November  and soon its four squadrons of Bristol Bisleys were bombing Axis airfields by night. On December 6, 1942, the 97th Bomb Group's 414th Bomb Squadron Commanding Officer flew from Tafaraoui Airfield at Oran, Algeria to certify the preparation of the "Blida Airfield" ready to receive two 97th Bomb Group Squadrons, the 342nd and the 414th. On December 12, 1942, the 414th Bomb Squadron Commander flew back to Tafaraoui Airfield at Oran, Algeria. The next day, the 342nd and the 414th Bomb Squadrons flew to "Blida Airfield" and prepared for its next day's bombing mission. On December 14, 1942 , all four Bomb Squadrons from the 97th Bomb Group departed their respective bases and bombed the Tunis docks in Tunisia and returned to new their new base at Biskra, Algeria.