During the era of French colonization in Algeria, the airport was named Bône-les-Salines, in reference to the salt lakes in the vicinity of the site. It was put into operation in 1939, and a decree of 16 December 1958, entrusted the operation to the Chamber of Commerce of Bône. During World War II, the airport was known as Bone Airfield, In November 1942, the Allies invaded French Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch). The British airborne operations in North Africa started on 12 November, when the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment carried out the first battalion sized parachute drop on Bone airfield. The remainder of the 1st Parachute Brigade arrived by sea the next day. Bone Airfield was the base of No. 111 Squadron RAF, a Supermarine Spitfire squadron under Squadron Leader Tony Bartley. One notable pilot to fly from Bone on occasion was Wing Commander Adrian Warburton who was an infrequent visitor after crash landing there on 15 November 1942. 81 Squadron were based at Bone from 16 November to 31 January 1942 with 'Ras' Berry DSO DFC and then Colin F Gray DSO DFC being Squadron Leaders. Alan M Peart DFC also claimed his first aerial combat victory as well as two further aircraft damaged over Bone Harbour during this time. After the war, the air base 213 one of the air bases of the French Air Force, was established on the site at that time. It was home to the 1/91 Gascogne Bombardment Group, a unit recreated on 1 September 1956 (and temporarily dissolved on 17 September 1962, after the Algerian War), which was equipped with Douglas B-26 Invaders. After Algerian independence and until 2000, Annaba airport was named El-Mellaha (meaning in Arabic "Les Salines"). Since then, the airport has been named in honor of Rabah Bitat, former head of the Algerian state.