Morón Air Base

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Morón Air Base
IATA: OZP - ICAO: LEMO
Summary
Airport type		Military
Elevation AMSL		285 ft (87 m)
Coordinates		37°10′29″N, 05°36′57″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
02/20	11,801	3,597	Asphalt

Morón Air Base (IATA: OZP, ICAO: LEMO) is located at 37°10′N 5°36′W in southern Spain, approximately 35 miles southeast of the city of Seville and 75 miles northeast of Naval Station Rota. The base gets its name from the town of Morón de la Frontera situated nearby.

Morón's massive flight line, in-ground aircraft refueling system, long runway and prime location on the Iberian peninsula, close to the Mediterranean and the Middle East, means the base is a vital link in any operation moving east from the United States.

1 History
2 Space Shuttle
3 Tanker operations
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

In 1953 the Spanish and American governments agreed to the establishment of a number of Spanish-American air bases, including Morón Air Base.

On May 13 1958, the first flight of B-47s were assigned to Morón Air Base to conduct Reflex operations, and 6 weeks later the first rotational fighter squadron, the 1st Fighter Day Squadron, flying F-100 Super Sabres and commanded by Lt.Col. Chuck Yeager, arrived from George AFB, CA, for temporary duty to conduct air defence alert.

Morón continued to operate primarily as a Reflex base until 1962, when the first KC-135 aircraft arrived. In 1966 the base was transferred from SAC to United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE). The mission changed to communications support, "fair weather" flying operations of Temporary Duty (TDY) [[RF-4C]from RAF Alconbury England] and RF-101 reconnaissance units and the support of air rescue operations provided by the 67 ARRS.

In 1971 Morón Air Base was re-designated to "modified caretaker status." Torrejon Air Force Base was designated as the Primary Support Base (PSB).

In November 1983 during the joint Spanish/American military exercise CRISEX 83, USAF B-52 bombers were allowed once again to enter Spanish air space and land at Morón Air Base. The B-52 Bombers were previously banned from entering Spanish air space after the January 17, 1966 incident near Palomares, Spain, at which time an in-air refuelling B-52 collided with a United States Air Force KC-135 jet tanker. Two hydrogen bombs ruptured, dispersing radioactive particles over nearby farms. An intact bomb landed near Palomares. The fourth bomb was lost at sea, 12 miles (20 km) off the coast. A search involving three months and 12,000 men was required to recover the device.

[edit] Space Shuttle

In 1984 Morón became a NASA Space Shuttle Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) site in support of the space shuttle program. Special navigation and landing aids are in place, and personnel are highly trained to recover landing of the orbiter vehicle.

[edit] Tanker operations

C-17s in Morón AB during Operation Enduring Freedom

In 1990 SAC deployed 22 KC-135 and KC-10 tankers to support Operation DESERT SHIELD and changed Morón Air Base from refueling to bomber operations. The 801st Bomb Wing (Provisional) at Morón Air Base consisted of 24 B-52s, 3 KC-135s and over 2,800 personnel. This was the largest deployed bomber wing during the war.

In 1999 Morón became the home of the 92d Air Expeditionary Wing – tasked with providing fuel to Operation ALLIED FORCE. In addition to serving as the HQ 92 AEW (serving units in France, Crete, Sicily and Spain), Morón hosted 37 tankers (KC-135 and KC-10) and 800 personnel. The 92 AEW became the largest Tanker Wing since the Vietnam War and held the distinction of being the largest tanker base during the Kosovo war.