Izmir Air Base

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Izmir Air Station is a United States Air Force facility in Turkey. It is located 200mi/320km SSW of Istanbul, on the western coast of Turkey.

U.S. responsibilities in the Izmir area began on 8 September 1952 with the activation of Allied Land Forces Southeast Europe and the arrival on 14 October 1953 of the Sixth Allied Tac AF at Sirinyer Garrison south of Izmir. The United States Navy supported these and other NATO organizations, while Det 2, 7206th Air Base Squdron, supported USAF installations in the area after 1 April 1954.

USAFE assumed support responsibility for U.S. and NATO entities in the Izmir area on 1 January 1956 and assumed support responsibility for all U.S. and NATO units based at Cigli Air Base and off-base installations of Cigli situated throughout the Izmir area on 6 July 1962.

Improvements to Cigli AB consisted of concrete roofs of jet fuel tanks repaired and new water lines, fire hydrants and electric power lines installed during 1962, and a reinforced concrete pad for wing-tank loading built at the north hangar and air conditioning installed in dependent quarters during 1963. Cigli AB gained control of all support activities in and around Izmir on 1 April 1966.

The Turkish AF assumed control of Cigli AB on 1 July 1970, and Izmir AS then assumed support responsibility for U.S. and USAF units in the Izmir area, with Cigli relegated to standby base status.