Chambley-Bussières Air Base
| Chambley-Bussières Air Base Chambley-Bussières (LF-52) Aéroport Militaire French Air Force | |
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| Located near: Chambley-Bussières, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France | |
 Chambley-Bussières – 2003 | |
  Chambley AB Location of Chambley-Bussières AB, France | |
| Coordinates | 49°01′24″N 005°52′37″E / 49.02333°N 5.87694°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1952 |
| In use | 1954–Present |
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| Website | https://www.chamblayplanetair.com | ||||||||||||||||||
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Chambley-Bussières Air Base is a former
The first use of Chambley-Bussières as an airfield was in 1940, when the French Air Force stationed 9
United States Air Force use
In 1951, as a result of the Cold War threat of the Soviet Union, Chambley-Bussières was provided 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.[citation needed]
On 30 January 1953, during the initial construction period, the 73rd Air Depot Wing at Châteauroux Air Depot 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 ensured at least one USAF airman was always present on the new base to provide site security.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] Typically, the marguerite consisted of fifteen to eighteen hardstands around a large central hangar.[citation needed] Each hardstand held one or two aircraft, and allowed the planes to be spaced approximately 50 m (160 ft) 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
Chambley Air Base was formally dedicated and turned over to the USAF on 12 June 1956.[citation needed]
21st Fighter-Bomber Wing
The first USAF unit to use Chambley AB was the
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
On 7 June, the 163d was directed to return to CONUS with all personnel, however, the aircraft and equipment were to remain at Chambley.[citation needed]
The assets of the ANG 163rd TFS at Chambley were assigned to the
With the departure of the 390th TFS/366 TFW, Chambley-Bussières 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
On 1 April 1967, the last USAF personnel left Chambley AB, and the base was returned to French control.
Current uses
After the USAF's departure in 1967, the
Today[when?], 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
Since 16 July 2009, the main runway (05/23) of the airfield is now open to civil air traffic restricted to
References
General
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- 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 0-912799-12-9.
- 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.
Specific
- ^ a b c d "Pilotes | Préparer son vol". Chamblay Planet'Air (in French). Archived from the original on 2024-03-16. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ The "Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons" on pilatre-de-rozier.com
External links
- 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
