</s> ▁Le ▁K ou if ▁Air field ▁was ▁a ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁military ▁air field ▁in ▁Al ger ia , ▁located ▁near ▁the ▁town ▁of ▁El ▁K ou if , ▁in ▁Ann aba ▁province , ▁approximately ▁ 1 8 0   km ▁sout heast ▁of ▁Const antine . ▁ ▁During ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁it ▁was ▁used ▁by ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁Air ▁Force ▁Tw elf th ▁Air ▁Force ▁ 8 1 st ▁F ighter ▁Group ▁during ▁the ▁North ▁African ▁Camp aign ▁against ▁the ▁German ▁A frika ▁Kor ps ▁in ▁February ▁and ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁ ▁History ▁It ▁was ▁a ▁temporary ▁air field ▁constructed ▁by ▁Army ▁Engine ers ▁using ▁compact ed ▁earth ▁for ▁its ▁run way , ▁par king ▁and ▁dispers al ▁areas . ▁It ▁was ▁not ▁designed ▁for ▁heavy ▁aircraft ▁or ▁for ▁long ▁term ▁use . ▁ ▁The ▁prev ail ing ▁temper atures ▁in ▁the ▁area ▁are ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁h ott est ▁in ▁the ▁world , ▁making ▁steel ▁pl ank ing ▁un su itable ▁for ▁air field ▁use . ▁ ▁After ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁fl ights ▁from ▁Le ▁K ou if ▁connected ▁travel ers ▁to ▁T éb essa ▁and ▁Ann aba . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 7 , ▁a ▁new ▁landing ▁strip ▁was ▁inaugur ated . ▁The ▁air field ▁was ▁heavily ▁used ▁by ▁the ▁Comp ag nie ▁des ▁Ph osph ates ▁de ▁Const antine . ▁ ▁Once ▁the ▁ 8 1 st ▁moved ▁east ▁into ▁Tun is ia , ▁the ▁air field ▁was ▁dis m ant