<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Houari Boumediene Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">The airport was created in 1924 and named Maison Blanche Airport. During World War II, Maison Blanche was a primary objective of the Allied Operation Torch Eastern Task Force on 8 November 1942 and was seized by a combination of United States Army units, British Commandos, and elements of a British Infantry Division. Opposition by Vichy French forces who defended the airport ended that same day, as orders from Admiral Darlan in Algiers were issued to cease all hostilities in North Africa.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="&gt;Hawker Hurricane Aircraft of No. 43 Squadron RAF, under the Command of Squadron Leader Michael Rook, landed at Maison Blanche shortly after 11.00 Hrs on 8 November and began offensive patrols the next day. 43 Sqn remained at Maison Blanche until 13 March 1943, when the unit was deployed to Jemmapes, Constantine.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Once in Allied hands, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command as a major transshipment hub for cargo, transiting aircraft, and personnel. It functioned as a stopover en route to Tafarquay Airport, near Oran, or to Tunis Airport, Tunisia, on the North African Cairo-Dakar transport route. It also flew personnel and cargo to Marseille, Milan, Naples, and Palermo. In addition, Twelfth Air Force A3 SECTION, under the command of Lt. Col Carter E. Duncan 1943/44, used the airport as a command and control facility, headquartering its XII Bomber Command; XXII Tactical Air Command, and the 51st Troop Carrier Wing to direct combat and support missions during the North African Campaign against the German Afrika Korps Known Allied air force combat units assigned to the airfield were:</p>
<ul>
<li class="blog-li">No. 43 Squadron RAF 323 Wing RAF, 8 November 1942 -13 March 1943 Hawker Hurricane.</li>
<li class="blog-li">51st Troop Carrier Wing, 23 November 1942 &ndash; 28 March 1943.</li>
<li class="blog-li">63d Fighter Wing, May-August 1943.</li>
<li class="blog-li">97th Bombardment Group, 13&ndash;22 November 1942, B-17 Flying Fortress.</li>
<li class="blog-li">301st Bombardment Group, 5&ndash;16 December 1942, B-17 Flying Fortress.</li>
<li class="blog-li">319th Bombardment Group, 24&ndash;12 November 1942, B-26 Marauder.</li>
<li class="blog-li">14th Fighter Group, 18&ndash;22 November 1942, P-38 Lightning.</li>
<li class="blog-li">350th Fighter Group, May&ndash;July 1943, P-38 Lightning.</li>
<li class="blog-li">3d Reconnaissance Group, 25 December 1942 &ndash; 13 June 1943, (various photo reconnaissance aircraft).</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-left">Ground Transport Houari Boumediene Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Car:</strong> The distance to the center of Algiers is 20 km using the route N5 direct Bab Ezzouar. A1 also connects with N5 to the airport. Taxis service the airport to downtown Algiers.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Parking:</strong> The airport has a 7,000 capacity with two car parks located north of the terminals.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Bus:</strong> Buses link the airport to downtown Algiers every 30 minutes during the day with line 100 of Algiers's public transport buses company (USA).</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Subway:</strong> The Algiers Metro Line L1 extension will connect the airport with the center of Algiers.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Suburban rail:</strong> Since 2019 Algiers Airport has a rail station, located between terminals 1 and 2. The train connects the Algiers downtown (Agha station) to the international airport with a stopover at El Harrach train station with trains of the commuter rail network of the SNTF. The train frequency is one train every 30 minutes with a 20-minute journey time.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="Houari Boumediene Airport" src="../../main/img/airport/hou/1.webp" alt="Houari Boumediene Airport " width="950" height="500"></p>