The United States Naval Air Facility (NAF), Sigonella, Sicily, was formally established June 15, 1959, by its first commanding officer, Capt. Walter J. Frazier. The idea of having a U.S. naval base here was conceived during the early 1950s when it became obvious that the planned base loading of U.S. Navy P-2 Neptunes would result in overcrowding at the existing facility at Hal Far, Malta.
Because there was no more room for expansion at Malta, the Navy got NATO backing to use Sicily. Land for Sigonella was therefore made available to the Navy on a temporary basis under the terms of an agreement with the Italian government June 25, 1957. Six days later, equipment began arriving at Sigonella from the Malta base via landing ship tank (LSTs). The fleet Aircraft Service Squadron FASRON (Special) 201 at Halfar was disestablished July 1.
The first U.S. aircraft, a R4QD type Marine 1665, arrived here at 9:31 a.m. from Naples, Aug. 8, 1957.
Main
phone numbers: 011-39-095-86-1110 or DSN 624-1110
