Chambley-Bussieres Air Base
Encyclopedia
Chambley-Bussières Air Base is a former United States Air Force
base in France. It is located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle
département of France
, about ten miles west of the French city of Metz
, and about one mile (1.6 km) southwest of Chambley-Bussières
, on the south side of the Départemental 901 (D901) (Meurthe-et-Moselle) road.
During the Cold War
, Chambley-Bussières was a front-line base for the United States Air Forces in Europe
(USAFE).
After the Battle of France ended in May, 1940, Chambley-Bussieres was abandoned as an air base and returned to agricultural use.
threat of the Soviet Union
, Chambley-Bussières was provided to NATO for use by the United States Air Force
. Construction of the base on former farmland started in 1952, although construction delays prevented the facility from being ready for wing operations until mid-1955.
sent a small team to establish Flight A, 73rd Support Group Depot, Chambley. This flight was sent to receive, store and issue USAF supplies as needed by Air Force personnel and French contractors. This team lived near the main train station in Metz on the local economy and insured at least one USAF airman was always present on the new base to provide site security.
The design of the airfield was to space parked aircraft as far apart as possible by the construction of a circular marguerite system of hardstands that could be revetted later with earth for added protection. Typically the marguerite consisted of fifteen to eighteen hardstands around a large central hangar. Each hardstand held one or two aircraft, and allowed the planes to be spaced approximately 150 feet (50 m) apart. Each squadron was assigned to a separate hangar/hardstand complex. This construction can be seen clearly in the satellite image link at the bottom of this article.
Enough construction was completed by February 1954 that USAFE established the 7002d Air Base Squadron at Chambley to coordinate the set-up of various facilities, such as security, supply, transportation and communications.
Chambley Air Base was formally dedicated and turned over to the USAF on 12 June 1956.
The first USAF unit to use Chambley AB was the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing, being transferred from George AFB
, California. The wing’s deployment to France had to be carried out in stages. Four echelons of wing personnel variously traveled by train, ship, and air to reach Chambley between November 1954 and January 1955. The 21 FBW officially established its headquarters at Chambley on 12 December 1954.
The 21 FBW consisted of three squadrons, the 72d, 416th and 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, equipped with the F-86F "Sabre". Upon their arrival, the facilities at Chambley were not ready for aircraft use, and the squadrons had to deploy elsewhere. The 72d deployed to Châteauroux AB
, while the 416th and 531st operated out of Toul-Rosières AB
.
After many construction delays, the wing combined its fighter squadrons at Chambley on 15 April 1955. The squadrons carried out close air support
training missions with the Army, then took first place at the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) "Gunnery Meet" at Wheelus Air Base
, Libya
.
The 21 FBW participated in the Atomic Warfare exercise "Carte Blanche," and went on to take an overall second place in the Nellis AFB
, Nevada "Gunnery Meet" in 1956. Moreover, they won the USAFE "Award for Tactical Proficiency" for the January-June period of 1957.
In 1957, the French Government
decreed that all nuclear weapons and delivery aircraft had to be removed from French soil by July 1958. As a result, the F-86's of the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing had to be removed from France.
During October 1957 it was announced that the 21 FBW would be inactivated on 8 February 1958, and that its assets would be dispersed among existing USAFE units. With the departure of the wing, Chambley-Bussières AB was placed in reserve status. The 21st Fighter Wing was reactivated at Misawa AB, Japan
a few months later on 1 July 1958, inheriting the lineage of the 21st FBW.
.
, the mobilized Indiana
Air National Guard
(ANG) 122d Tactical Fighter Wing was deployed to Chambley from Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana. When activated, the 122d consisted of three tactical fighter squadrons, the 112th at Toledo Express Airport
, Ohio
; the 113th at Hulman Field, Terre Haute, and the 163d at Baer Field.
Due to DOD budget restrictions, the 122d was instructed to deploy only a portion of its total strength and only the 163d was deployed to France
, with the other two squadrons being on active duty at their home stations, ready to reinforce the 163d if necessary. On 6 November the 26 F-84F "Thunderstreak"s arrived at Chambley, with the wings support aircraft (C-47 and T-33A's) arriving by mid-November.
Due to its reduced force structure, the wing was designated the 7122d Tactical Wing while in France. By 1 December the ground support units arrived and the 7122d prepared for an estimated overseas deployment of 10 months.
When USAFE received notice that Chambley would be utilized for Tack Hammer, funds were allocated for renovation and new construction. Projects included construction of new hangars, outdoor secured supply and equipment storage areas, improved munitions storage facilities, repairs to various buildings and roofs, runway approach lights, airfield paving, maintenance facilities and general base electrical repairs.
Rotations of Air National Guard pilots from the stateside squadrons in Indiana was performed to train them in local flying conditions in Europe. This allowed the 163d to maintain 100 percent manning and also to relieve the boredom of the national guard pilots on active duty in CONUS and kept them connected to the overseas part of the Wing.
The mission of the 7122d was to support Seventeenth Air Force and various NATO exercises in Europe, flying up to 30 sorties a day exercising with Seventh Army units in Germany
. NATO exchanges with the West German 32nd Fighter-Bomber Wing occurred in April 1962 to increase understanding of NATO air integration and terminology.
By April, the Berlin Crisis appeared to be settled and the Kennedy Administration was interested in saving money on this emergency call-up of national guard units. On 7 June the 163d was directed to return to CONUS with all personnel, however the aircraft and equipment were to remain at Chambley.
The support C-47 and T-33s were flown back to Indiana, and in July the Air National Guardsmen of the 122 TFW/163 TFS returned to CONUS. On 16 July the 7122nd Tactical Wing was deactivated with its F-84F aircraft being turned over to the new 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. The 7367th Combat Support Group was activated as the new host unit upon their departure.
, with other squadrons being formed at Étain
, Phalsbourg
and Chaumont Air Bases.
The mission of the 390th TFS at Chambley was the same as the Indiana Air National Guard which preceded it, close air support to army ground forces and air defense.
In February 1963, it was announced that the 10th Tactical Recon Wing would be moving to Chambley for up to six months while the runway at Toul Air Base
was being rebuilt. The 10th brought additional personnel to Chambley and aircraft, with facilities being stretched to accommodate them.
The 390th TFS operated until July 1963 when it was no longer needed in Europe and was transferred to Holloman AFB
, New Mexico
. With their departure, the 10th TRW remained waiting for completion of runway renovations at Toul, leaving Chambley in August.
With the departure of the 390th TFS/366 TFW, Chambley-Bussieres AB was again placed in reserve status, being used for various USAFE exercises over the next two years. The facility was turned over to the 7367th Combat Support Group which acted as the host USAF unit.
was activated on 1 July 1965 at Chambley AB, and absorbed the 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
and 42d Electronic Countermeasures Squadron. The squadrons were transferred from Toul-Rosieres AB
, where they operated as a detachment of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, based at RAF Alconbury
, UK.
The 25th flew variants of the B-66 "Destroyers"
on photo reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions.
The escalation of the conflict in SE Asia prompted the establishment of Detachment 1 of the 42 ECS at Takhli RTAFB
during February, 1966. 5 of its B-66's were sent to Thailand
.
On 7 March 1966, French President Charles De Gaulle
announced that France
would withdraw from NATO's integrated military structure. The United States was informed that it must remove its military forces from France by 1 April 1967.
On 1 May 1966, the 42d was inactivated and the squadrons remaining aircraft were deployed to Takhli RTAFB, with all of its assets in Thailand
being assigned to the 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS).
The remaining aircraft of the 25 TRW were assigned to the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Shaw AFB
, South Carolina. On 15 October 1966 the 25 TRW was deactivated. The 7367th Combat Support Group was activated to close the facility.
On 1 April 1967, the last USAF personnel left Chambley AB, and the base was returned to French control.
After the USAF's departure in 1967, the French Air Force
(Armée de l'Air) assumed control of Chambley AB. It was used for various flight operations and also by airborne forces for many years.
Today, Chambley is being developed into a commercial business park. The runway and various taxiways are intact and usable. Many of the old USAF buildings and hangars are used for various non-military purposes.
The airfield is still classified as being a military airfield, however many aeronautical activities take place in particular by the means of a club of Ultralight aircraft since more than 20 years and the "Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons", which is Europe's largest hot air balloon festival and takes place here every two years at the end of July.
Since July 16, 2009, the main runway (05-23) of the airfield is now open to civil air traffic restricted to Very Light Aircraft with code LFJY.
Image:21st Space Wing.png|21st Fighter-Bomber Wing
1954-1957
Image:Emblem of the 122nd Fighter Wing (Indiana ANG).jpg|7122d Tactical Wing
122d Tactical Fighter Wing
1961-1962
Image:390thtfs.jpg|390th Tactical Fighter Squadron
366th Tactical Fighter Wing
1962-1963
File:USAF - 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.png|25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
1965-1966
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
base in France. It is located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-et-Moselle is a department in the Lorraine region of France, named after the Meurthe and Moselle rivers.- History :Meurthe-et-Moselle was created in 1871 at the end of the Franco-Prussian War from the parts of the former departments of Moselle and Meurthe which remained French...
département of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, about ten miles west of the French city of Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, and about one mile (1.6 km) southwest of Chambley-Bussières
Chambley-Bussières
Chambley-Bussières is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
, on the south side of the Départemental 901 (D901) (Meurthe-et-Moselle) road.
During the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, Chambley-Bussières was a front-line base for the United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
(USAFE).
Origins
The first use of Chambley-Bussières as an airfield was in 1940, when the French Armée de l'Air stationed 9 Potez 631 fighters and 5 Mureaux 117 observation aircraft on farmland. The aircraft were assigned to the GAO 2/506.After the Battle of France ended in May, 1940, Chambley-Bussieres was abandoned as an air base and returned to agricultural use.
NATO Acquisition
In 1951 as a result of the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
threat of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Chambley-Bussières was provided to NATO for use by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. Construction of the base on former farmland started in 1952, although construction delays prevented the facility from being ready for wing operations until mid-1955.
United States Air Force use
On 30 January 1953 during the initial construction period, the 73rd Air Depot Wing at Châteauroux-Déols Air BaseChâteauroux-Déols Air Base
Châteauroux-Déols Air Base is a former United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Indre département of France, located about 3 miles northeast of Châteauroux and about 1 mile northeast of Déols on the east side of the Départemental 920 road in Central France.During the Cold...
sent a small team to establish Flight A, 73rd Support Group Depot, Chambley. This flight was sent to receive, store and issue USAF supplies as needed by Air Force personnel and French contractors. This team lived near the main train station in Metz on the local economy and insured at least one USAF airman was always present on the new base to provide site security.
The design of the airfield was to space parked aircraft as far apart as possible by the construction of a circular marguerite system of hardstands that could be revetted later with earth for added protection. Typically the marguerite consisted of fifteen to eighteen hardstands around a large central hangar. Each hardstand held one or two aircraft, and allowed the planes to be spaced approximately 150 feet (50 m) apart. Each squadron was assigned to a separate hangar/hardstand complex. This construction can be seen clearly in the satellite image link at the bottom of this article.
Enough construction was completed by February 1954 that USAFE established the 7002d Air Base Squadron at Chambley to coordinate the set-up of various facilities, such as security, supply, transportation and communications.
Chambley Air Base was formally dedicated and turned over to the USAF on 12 June 1956.
21st Fighter-Bomber Wing
George Air Force Base
George Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located within city limits, 8 miles northwest of central Victorville, California, about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. The facility was closed by the Base Realignment and Closure 1992 commission at the end of the Cold...
, California. The wing’s deployment to France had to be carried out in stages. Four echelons of wing personnel variously traveled by train, ship, and air to reach Chambley between November 1954 and January 1955. The 21 FBW officially established its headquarters at Chambley on 12 December 1954.
The 21 FBW consisted of three squadrons, the 72d, 416th and 531st Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, equipped with the F-86F "Sabre". Upon their arrival, the facilities at Chambley were not ready for aircraft use, and the squadrons had to deploy elsewhere. The 72d deployed to Châteauroux AB
Châteauroux-Déols Air Base
Châteauroux-Déols Air Base is a former United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Indre département of France, located about 3 miles northeast of Châteauroux and about 1 mile northeast of Déols on the east side of the Départemental 920 road in Central France.During the Cold...
, while the 416th and 531st operated out of Toul-Rosières AB
Toul-Rosieres Air Base
Toul-Rosières Air Base is a reserve French Air Force base. It is located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle département of France, 10 miles northeast of the city of Toul, on the west side of the Route nationale 411 Highway about one mile southeast of Rosières-en-Haye.Toul Air Base was used by American...
.
After many construction delays, the wing combined its fighter squadrons at Chambley on 15 April 1955. The squadrons carried out close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
training missions with the Army, then took first place at the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) "Gunnery Meet" at Wheelus Air Base
Wheelus Air Base
-See also:*List of airports in Libya-External links:*****...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
.
The 21 FBW participated in the Atomic Warfare exercise "Carte Blanche," and went on to take an overall second place in the Nellis AFB
Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Combat Command .-Overview:...
, Nevada "Gunnery Meet" in 1956. Moreover, they won the USAFE "Award for Tactical Proficiency" for the January-June period of 1957.
In 1957, the French Government
Government of France
The government of the French Republic is a semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the fifth Republic. The nation declares itself to be an "indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic"...
decreed that all nuclear weapons and delivery aircraft had to be removed from French soil by July 1958. As a result, the F-86's of the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing had to be removed from France.
During October 1957 it was announced that the 21 FBW would be inactivated on 8 February 1958, and that its assets would be dispersed among existing USAFE units. With the departure of the wing, Chambley-Bussières AB was placed in reserve status. The 21st Fighter Wing was reactivated at Misawa AB, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
a few months later on 1 July 1958, inheriting the lineage of the 21st FBW.
1961 Berlin Crisis
After three years without any permanent flying units, in 1961 Chambley Air Base was reactivated as part of Operation Tack Hammer, the United States response to the Berlin Crisis of 1961Berlin Crisis of 1961
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 was the last major politico-military European incident of the Cold War about the occupational status of the German capital city, Berlin, and of post–World War II Germany. The U.S.S.R...
.
122d Tactical Wing
On 1 October 1961, as a result of the Berlin CrisisBerlin Crisis of 1961
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 was the last major politico-military European incident of the Cold War about the occupational status of the German capital city, Berlin, and of post–World War II Germany. The U.S.S.R...
, the mobilized Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
(ANG) 122d Tactical Fighter Wing was deployed to Chambley from Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana. When activated, the 122d consisted of three tactical fighter squadrons, the 112th at Toledo Express Airport
Toledo Express Airport
Toledo Express Airport is a passenger and cargo airport located 10 miles west of the city of Toledo in the extreme Western portion of Lucas County, Ohio, United States, near the border with Fulton County, in the townships of Swanton and Monclova. It is also a base for the Ohio Air National...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
; the 113th at Hulman Field, Terre Haute, and the 163d at Baer Field.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, with the other two squadrons being on active duty at their home stations, ready to reinforce the 163d if necessary. On 6 November the 26 F-84F "Thunderstreak"s arrived at Chambley, with the wings support aircraft (C-47 and T-33A's) arriving by mid-November.
Due to its reduced force structure, the wing was designated the 7122d Tactical Wing while in France. By 1 December the ground support units arrived and the 7122d prepared for an estimated overseas deployment of 10 months.
When USAFE received notice that Chambley would be utilized for Tack Hammer, funds were allocated for renovation and new construction. Projects included construction of new hangars, outdoor secured supply and equipment storage areas, improved munitions storage facilities, repairs to various buildings and roofs, runway approach lights, airfield paving, maintenance facilities and general base electrical repairs.
Rotations of Air National Guard pilots from the stateside squadrons in Indiana was performed to train them in local flying conditions in Europe. This allowed the 163d to maintain 100 percent manning and also to relieve the boredom of the national guard pilots on active duty in CONUS and kept them connected to the overseas part of the Wing.
The mission of the 7122d was to support Seventeenth Air Force and various NATO exercises in Europe, flying up to 30 sorties a day exercising with Seventh Army units in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. NATO exchanges with the West German 32nd Fighter-Bomber Wing occurred in April 1962 to increase understanding of NATO air integration and terminology.
By April, the Berlin Crisis appeared to be settled and the Kennedy Administration was interested in saving money on this emergency call-up of national guard units. On 7 June the 163d was directed to return to CONUS with all personnel, however the aircraft and equipment were to remain at Chambley.
The support C-47 and T-33s were flown back to Indiana, and in July the Air National Guardsmen of the 122 TFW/163 TFS returned to CONUS. On 16 July the 7122nd Tactical Wing was deactivated with its F-84F aircraft being turned over to the new 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. The 7367th Combat Support Group was activated as the new host unit upon their departure.
390th Tactical Fighter Squadron
The 366th Tactical Fighter Wing was a USAFE experiment. Wing Headquarters for the 366th was activated at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base on 8 May 1962, with 4 operational aircraft squadrons being equipped with the aircraft left behind by the deployed Air National Guard wings deployed to France as a result of the Berlin Crisis. The assets of the ANG 163rd TFS at Chambley were assigned to the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron390th Fighter Squadron
The 390th Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. It operates F-15C Eagle aircraft conducting an air superiority mission.-History:...
, with other squadrons being formed at Étain
Etain-Rouvres Air Base
Étain - Rouvres Air Base is a former USAF base in France. It is located on the Lorraine Plateau in northeastern France, 1 mile to the west of Étain; on the west side of the Départemental 906 road, adjacent to the village of Rouvres-en-Woevre in the Meuse département about 12 miles east of...
, Phalsbourg
Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base
Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base is a former United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Moselle département, about 2 miles west of the town of Phalsbourg, on the north side of the Route nationale 4 Highway adjacent to the village Saint-Jean-Kourtzerode; 29 miles northwest of...
and Chaumont Air Bases.
The mission of the 390th TFS at Chambley was the same as the Indiana Air National Guard which preceded it, close air support to army ground forces and air defense.
In February 1963, it was announced that the 10th Tactical Recon Wing would be moving to Chambley for up to six months while the runway at Toul Air Base
Toul-Rosieres Air Base
Toul-Rosières Air Base is a reserve French Air Force base. It is located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle département of France, 10 miles northeast of the city of Toul, on the west side of the Route nationale 411 Highway about one mile southeast of Rosières-en-Haye.Toul Air Base was used by American...
was being rebuilt. The 10th brought additional personnel to Chambley and aircraft, with facilities being stretched to accommodate them.
The 390th TFS operated until July 1963 when it was no longer needed in Europe and was transferred to Holloman AFB
Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located six miles southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, a city in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The base was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. With their departure, the 10th TRW remained waiting for completion of runway renovations at Toul, leaving Chambley in August.
With the departure of the 390th TFS/366 TFW, Chambley-Bussieres AB was again placed in reserve status, being used for various USAFE exercises over the next two years. The facility was turned over to the 7367th Combat Support Group which acted as the host USAF unit.
25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
The 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
The 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing is an inactive United States Air Force wing. Its last duty assignment was at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France.-History:...
was activated on 1 July 1965 at Chambley AB, and absorbed the 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron
The 19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. During World War II and the Cold War, its primary mission was aerial reconnaissance and photo mapping, later it performed electronic warfare missions during the Vietnam War.-World War II:The 19th...
and 42d Electronic Countermeasures Squadron. The squadrons were transferred from Toul-Rosieres AB
Toul-Rosieres Air Base
Toul-Rosières Air Base is a reserve French Air Force base. It is located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle département of France, 10 miles northeast of the city of Toul, on the west side of the Route nationale 411 Highway about one mile southeast of Rosières-en-Haye.Toul Air Base was used by American...
, where they operated as a detachment of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, based at RAF Alconbury
RAF Alconbury
RAF Alconbury is an active Royal Air Force station in Cambridgeshire, England. The airfield is adjacent to the Stukeleys [Great and Little] and located about northwest of Huntingdon; about north of London....
, UK.
B-66 Destroyer
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Baugher, Joe. USAAC/USAAF/USAF Bomber Aircraft: Third Series of USAAC/USAAF/USAF Bombers, 2001. Retrieved: 27 July 2006....
on photo reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions.
The escalation of the conflict in SE Asia prompted the establishment of Detachment 1 of the 42 ECS at Takhli RTAFB
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility. It is located in Central Thailand, approximately 144 miles northwest of Bangkok in Takhli district, Nakhon Sawan Province, near the city of Nakhon Sawan.- Units :...
during February, 1966. 5 of its B-66's were sent to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
On 7 March 1966, French President Charles De Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
announced that France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
would withdraw from NATO's integrated military structure. The United States was informed that it must remove its military forces from France by 1 April 1967.
On 1 May 1966, the 42d was inactivated and the squadrons remaining aircraft were deployed to Takhli RTAFB, with all of its assets in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
being assigned to the 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS).
The remaining aircraft of the 25 TRW were assigned to the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Shaw AFB
Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command...
, South Carolina. On 15 October 1966 the 25 TRW was deactivated. The 7367th Combat Support Group was activated to close the facility.
On 1 April 1967, the last USAF personnel left Chambley AB, and the base was returned to French control.
Current Uses
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
(Armée de l'Air) assumed control of Chambley AB. It was used for various flight operations and also by airborne forces for many years.
Today, Chambley is being developed into a commercial business park. The runway and various taxiways are intact and usable. Many of the old USAF buildings and hangars are used for various non-military purposes.
The airfield is still classified as being a military airfield, however many aeronautical activities take place in particular by the means of a club of Ultralight aircraft since more than 20 years and the "Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons", which is Europe's largest hot air balloon festival and takes place here every two years at the end of July.
Since July 16, 2009, the main runway (05-23) of the airfield is now open to civil air traffic restricted to Very Light Aircraft with code LFJY.
Emblems Of USAFE Units That Served At Chambley-Bussieres Air Base
Image:21st Space Wing.png|21st Fighter-Bomber Wing
1954-1957
Image:Emblem of the 122nd Fighter Wing (Indiana ANG).jpg|7122d Tactical Wing
122d Tactical Fighter Wing
1961-1962
Image:390thtfs.jpg|390th Tactical Fighter Squadron
366th Tactical Fighter Wing
1962-1963
File:USAF - 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.png|25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
1965-1966
General
- McAuliffe, Jerome J. (2005). US Air Force in France 1950-1967. San Diego, California: Milspec Press, Chapter 7, Chambley-Bussieres Air Base. ISBN 0-9770371-1-8.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
- Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers -1908 to present
- Loubette, Fabrice (2008). Les Forces aériennes de l'OTAN en Lorraine, 1952-1967. Metz, France : Serpenoise, Part II, Chapter 4, Chambley Air Base. ISBN 978-2-87692-763-6.
External links
- Website of 21st Space Wing
- Website of the 366th Fighter Wing
- Website of the 122d Fighter Wing
- 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
- Republic F-84F 52-6475 of the 163rd TFS/366th TFW on display at the Pacific Coast Air Museum
- Aviation Photos: Chambley-Bussières Air Base
- Club of Ultralight Aircraft of Chambley-Bussières Air Base
- Pilatre de Rozier website - Europe's largest balloon event held at Chambley-Bussieres every two years