Colmar - Meyenheim Air Base
Encyclopedia
Colmar-Meyenheim Air Base (Base Aerienne 132) is an airbase not far from German and Swiss borders in the Alsace region of France. The base is 15 km south of Colmar, east of Autoroute A35. The base surrounded by farmland to the West; and to the North, East, South is populated by trees.
became the two squadrons in operation after the disbandment of Escadre de Chasse 013. The Régiment de Chasse 01/030 Normandie - Niémen started 6 months after Germans started the invasion of the USSR in June 1941 during World War II
.
The unit was created for cooperation between the Free French and Soviet Union
governments. Originally, there were 12 fighter pilots serving the German-Russian front. The group was officially declared Groupe de Chasse GC 3 Normandie on September 1, 1942, while at the time, Commandant
Pouliquen in command. After training on Yakovlev Yak-7 in January 1943, Commandant
Jean Tulasne took command of the group. Joseph Stalin awarded the name "Niémen" after the battle of the Neman River in 1994. The group headed for Morocco in March 1947. The unit traded Vulture 11s for the first of the Mirage F1Cs. The EC 02/30 unit departed North Africa on March 13, 1962. In December 1973, the base turned to and Air Defense roll.
E in 1965, the arrival of the Dassault Mirage 5
F in 1972 and finally the Dassault Mirage F1
CT in 1992. In 1951, the F86 Sabre's and T-33
trainer aircraft arrived at the base.
started taking over base in July 2010. Six of the Mirage F1Bs and around twelve of the F1CTs will relocate to Reims-Champagne. The Mirage F1 will continue to operate for 4–5 years more after the closure. The RC 02/030 unit to come back around 2012 with the Rafale Aircraft.
History
The actual construction of the Colmar - Meyenheim Air Base began in 1951. The first unit to arrive was Escadre de Chasse 013 with F.86 Sabres and T-33 trainer aircraft. Escadre de Chasse 013, which lived there at the time, disbanded on June 23, 1995. Escadre de Chasse 030 Alsace & Normandie-NiemenNormandie-Niemen
The Normandie-Niemen Regiment was a fighter squadron, later regiment of the French Air Force. It served on the Eastern Front of the European Theatre of World War II with the 1st Air Army...
became the two squadrons in operation after the disbandment of Escadre de Chasse 013. The Régiment de Chasse 01/030 Normandie - Niémen started 6 months after Germans started the invasion of the USSR in June 1941 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The unit was created for cooperation between the Free French and 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....
governments. Originally, there were 12 fighter pilots serving the German-Russian front. The group was officially declared Groupe de Chasse GC 3 Normandie on September 1, 1942, while at the time, Commandant
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Pouliquen in command. After training on Yakovlev Yak-7 in January 1943, Commandant
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Jean Tulasne took command of the group. Joseph Stalin awarded the name "Niémen" after the battle of the Neman River in 1994. The group headed for Morocco in March 1947. The unit traded Vulture 11s for the first of the Mirage F1Cs. The EC 02/30 unit departed North Africa on March 13, 1962. In December 1973, the base turned to and Air Defense roll.
Régiment de Chasse 01/030 Normandie - Niémen
Between March 22, 1943 and May 9, 1945, the Régiment de Chasse 01/030 Normandie - Niémen destroyed 273 enemy aircraft. The unit received the awards from both the French & Soviet Union: The French Légion d’Honneur and the Soviet Order of the Red Banner.Aircraft
The final Aircraft left, after the disbandment were transferred to Reims-Champagne air base. The Mirage IIIC arrived in 1962, the Dassault Mirage IIIDassault Mirage III
The Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade...
E in 1965, the arrival of the Dassault Mirage 5
Dassault Mirage 5
The Dassault Mirage 5 is a supersonic attack aircraft designed in France by Dassault Aviation during the 1960s, and manufactured in France and a number of other countries. It was derived from Dassault's popular Mirage III fighter, and spawned several variants of its own.-Early development:The...
F in 1972 and finally the Dassault Mirage F1
Dassault Mirage F1
The Dassault Mirage F1 is a French air-superiority fighter and attack aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation as a successor of the Mirage III family. The Mirage F1 entered service in the French Air Force in the early seventies...
CT in 1992. In 1951, the F86 Sabre's and T-33
T-33
T-33 may refer to:*T-33 Shooting Star a U.S. jet trainer*T-33 Light Amphibious Tank a Soviet light tankSimilar designations:*Alfa Romeo Tipo 33*London Buses route T33*Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T33...
trainer aircraft arrived at the base.
Disbanding
The Régiment de Chasse 02/030 Normandie - Niémen was merged with The Régiment de Chasse 01/030 Normandie - Niémen in 2007. The French Government announced in July 2008 that all flying activities at the base would cease one year later. General Jean-Paul Paloméros, the Chief of Air force Staff, lead the ceremony for dissolution of the base. The closure of the base was a restructuring of the air force. The French ArmyFrench Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
started taking over base in July 2010. Six of the Mirage F1Bs and around twelve of the F1CTs will relocate to Reims-Champagne. The Mirage F1 will continue to operate for 4–5 years more after the closure. The RC 02/030 unit to come back around 2012 with the Rafale Aircraft.