Us Official Photographs

Double runway at San Giovanni

More common than six runways, but still unusual for the overseas airfield is this double runway at San Giovanni, Italy. Unlike most airfields in the U.S. where runways cross at angles determined by varying winds, this field with its parallel runways is laid along the line of the single strongest prevailing wind. Shortcuts like this enabled aviation engineers to speed construction. Combat fliers soon accustom themselves to landing on these fields, no matter which way the wind is blowing.