It is a military airport located northwest of the city of Cagliari, Sardinia, in a vast area between the towns of Decimomannu, Decimoputzu, San Sperate and Villasor.

The airport is named after Colonel pilot Giovanni Farina, Gold Medal for bravery, died in combat in the skies of Sardinia 14 June 1942.

Decimomannu airfield was used by the USAAF Twelfth Air Force 320th Bombardment Group, which flew B-26 Marauder medium bombers from the field between 1 November 1943 and 21 September 1944.

In December 1959 an agreement was signed between Italy, Canada and West Germany, which regulated the use of the air base and firing ranges associated with it.

The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) left the airport in December 2016 because of the restrictions about flying and rising costs.