Chambley-Bussieres Air Base
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Chambley-Bussieres Air Base is a former USAF base in France. It is located about ten miles west of the French city of Metz, and just south of the road leading to Verdun near France’s strategic northeastern border with Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany.
During the Cold War, Chambley-Bussieres was a front-line base for the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).
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[edit] Origins
The first use of Chambley-Bussieres 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.
[edit] NATO Acquisition
In 1951 as a result of the Cold War threat of the Soviet Union, Chambley-Bussieres was provided to NATO for use by the United States Air Force. Construction of the base on former farmland started started in 1952, although construction delays prevented the facility from being ready for wing operations until mid-1955.
[edit] United States Air Force Use
On 30 January 1953 during the initial construction period, the 73rd Air Depot Wing at Chateauroux-Deols Air Base 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 contrators. 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 meters) 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.
[edit] 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing
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 Chateauroux AB, while the 416th and 531st operated out of Toul-Rosieres 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-Bussieres AB was placed in reserve status.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 7122d Tactical Wing
On 1 October 1961, as a result of the Berlin Crisis, 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, Fort Wayne.
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.
[edit] 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 Squadron, with other squadrons being formed at Etain, 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.
[edit] 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
The 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 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.
[edit] Current Uses
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 large hot air balloon contests have been held at Chambley over the years.
[edit] References
- McAuliffe, Jerome J: U.S. Air Force in France 1950-1967 (2005), Chapter 7, Chambley-Bussieres Air Base.
- Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984
- Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present [1]
[edit] See also
[edit] 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-Bussieres Air Base
- World Aero Data airport information for Chambley
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
