▁forces . ▁Pier pont ▁Hamilton ▁also ▁received ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁for ▁his ▁actions . ▁ ▁The ▁air ▁base ▁at ▁Port ▁Ly aut ey ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁st aging ▁area ▁for ▁many ▁Al lied ▁operations ▁in ▁North ▁Africa ▁and ▁the ▁Mediter rane an ▁Theater ▁of ▁Oper ations ▁( M TO ) ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁For ▁the ▁first ▁three ▁months ▁after ▁capture ▁the ▁ 2 1 st ▁Engine er ▁A viation ▁Regiment ▁worked ▁on ▁the ▁air field . ▁ ▁In ▁Feb . ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁the ▁Se abe es ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 2 0 th ▁Naval ▁Const ruction ▁Battalion ▁took ▁over ▁all ▁construction ▁activities . ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁Navy ▁( US N ) ▁Fle et ▁Air ▁Wing ▁ 1 5 ▁and ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁Air ▁Forces ▁( USA AF ) ▁ 4 8 0 th ▁Ant is ub marine ▁Group ▁were ▁based ▁there ▁with ▁special ized ▁aircraft ▁including ▁P BY ▁Catal inas , ▁B - 2 4 ▁Liber ators , ▁and ▁Go ody ear - built ▁K - ships ▁( bl im ps ) ▁used ▁to ▁search ▁for ▁German ▁U - Bo ats ▁in ▁the ▁Atlantic ▁Ocean ▁and ▁especially ▁in ▁the ▁shall ow ▁waters ▁of ▁the ▁Stra its ▁of ▁Gib ral tar ▁where ▁rad ar ▁and ▁magnetic ▁anom aly ▁detection ▁were ▁vi able . ▁ ▁C raw ▁Field ▁was ▁the ▁final ▁destination ▁of ▁the ▁six ▁K - ships ▁of ▁US N ▁B limp ▁Squadron ▁Z P - 1 4 ▁( B lim pr on ▁ 1 4 ,