After capitulation of Italy in September of 1943. Dalmatian partisans took Dalmatian coast and islands.
German forces started series of offensives to overtake those territories which were of crucial importance to them for maritime traffic.
Partisans started to withdraw to island of Vis , and on January 20th 1944. a decisive design was made - Vis is going to be defended by all costs .
From the beginning of January Allied soldiers were arriving on Vis , and in March clearing of Velo and Plisko field started to make an airstrip for Allied bombers and fighters stationed in Foggia airfield complex in southern Italy , and which couldn't reach their bases because of the damage etc.
On April 30th airstrip was completed and first planes started to arrive.
During the WW2 some 4.000 Allied airman were saved because of Vis airfield.
During the summer of 1944. Vis airfield also became the base for fighters squadrons whose main task was support of partisan troops on the ground .

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