NATO Dispersed Operating Bases

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Map Of USAF Dispersed Operating Bases in France during the Cold War

NATO Dispersed Operating Bases (DOBs) were developed to improve air power survival when NATO began planning for tactical air bases and aircraft in western Europe during the early Cold War years of the 1950s.

1 History
2 Base Descriptions
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

Dispersal tactics and protective measures were very common during World War II and practiced by all nations. The USAAF was less concerned than its allies about base defence and dispersal due to the total air superiority and unlimited resources of aircraft, aircrews and ground personnel to replace combat losses.

After D-Day as allied tactical air forces moved rapidly across France, investment in base and aircraft survival was impractical. It was quicker and cheaper to use captured Luftwaffe facilities. By 1948 these small airfields had been abandoned and most structures were removed or were in a state of disrepair.

With the advent of the Cold War, NATO faced several problems when attempting to solve the air power survival equation. Planning for first strike survival in both conventional and nuclear wars had to be considered. The main air bases were built on small parcels of land with very limited dispersal space. It was decided to build DOBs at least 30 miles (50 kilometers) from the main air bases to be used in the event of an emergency. The goal was to have no more than one fighter squadron on each main or dispersed base in the event of war.

Beginning in 1953 USAFE DOBs were constructed in France and were completed in about two years. Each was built to a standard NATO design of a 7,900' runway and the ability 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 margueriete 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.

Four DOBs were built for USAFE use. They were designed to have the capability to base about 30 aircraft, along with a few permanent buildings serviced with utilities and space for a tent city to house personnel.

No USAFE flying units were permanently assigned to these bases, and they were used for dispersal training only. However, they did require the same level of equipment as a standard air base. In addition, security personnel were required to control base access, guard equipment, munitions and supplies stored on the facility, as well as prevent vandalism.

By 1959 due to the reduction of NATO/USAF tactical fighter and bomb wings in France, the need for these DOBs was virtually eliminated. Three were transferred to the U. S. Army to reduce the cost of maintaining them and the other was turned over to the French Government.

[edit] Base Descriptions

[edit] Chalons-Vatry AB

Chalons-Vatry AB is located in the Marne Département about 140km east of Paris, and 120km northwest of Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base in northeast France.

Construction began in 1953, and the base was designed for 50 fighters with three large hangars constructed. In 1956 construction was completed and Det #2, 48th Air Base Group from Chaumont AB was designated as the host unit. Aircraft from the 21st, 49th and 388th Fighter-Bomber wings in addition to the 48th FBW deployed to the base, usually one fighter squadron at a time. Later, Chaumont's 492nd, 493rd and 494th TFSs deployed to the base.

In 1959 Chalons-Vatry was phased down and all munitions, equipment and supplies were sent to Chaumont's Base Supply and the host detachment was inactivated. The facility was transferred to the 7544th Support Group and U.S. Army's 150th Medium Tank Company in 1960.

In 1967 the facility was turned over to the French Air Force and used as a training facility for air transport.

Today Chalons-Vatry AB is being developed as an international cargo and transport facility. Very little remains of the old USAF base.

[edit] Luneville-Chenevieres AB

Luneville-Chenevieres AB is located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle Département about 360km east of Paris, and 56km northwest of Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base in northeast France.

Construction began in 1953, and the base was designed for 30 fighters with two large hangars constructed. In 1955 construction was completed and Det #2, 50th Air Base Group from Toul AB was designated as the host unit. Aircraft from the 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Toul exercised at the base from 1957 through 1959.

The Toul detachment deactivated on 1 September 1959 and Luneville-Chenevieres was turned over to the U. S. Army, but a small detachment, Det 7, 7514trh Support Group from Toul maintained security on the base. Army artillery units utilized the base until 1964 when it was turned over to the French Army.

Under French control, the facility was renamed Quartier La Salle and has been used for equipment storage and as a communications facility.

[edit] Vouziers-Sechault AB

Vouziers-Sechault AB is located in the Ardennes Département about 215km east of Paris, and 150km north of Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base in northeast France.

Construction began in 1954, and the base was designed for 30 fighters with two large hangars constructed. In 1957 construction was completed and Det #2, 49th Air Base Group from Etain AB was designated as the host unit. Aircraft from the 388th and 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Etain exercised at the base from 1957 through 1959.

The base was deactivated on 1 September 1959 and the facility was maintained by Det #6, 7514th Support Group from Toul AB briefly before turning the facility over to the French Air Force.

The French Air Force used the base initially for flight training, however flight operations ended in 1980 and it was developed as a facility for rapid runway repair. In 2004 the base was deactivated and was placed in reserve status.

[edit] Vitry-Brienne AB

Vitry-Brienne AB is located in the Aube Département about 170km east of Paris, and 60km west of Etain-Rouvres Air Base in northeast France.

Initially, the base was intended to be a main operating base for USAFE and construction began in 1953. However, because the USAF could not decide what type of wing should be assigned there, by 1956 it was decided not to deploy another wing to France and utilize the nearly completed facility as a DOB for the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Chaumont AB.

Det #1, 48th Air Base Group from Chaumont AB was designated as the host unit on 1 May 1958 and the facility was used by 48th FBW aircraft starting in September.

The base was deactivated on 25 October 1959 and the facility was maintained by 7544th Support Group from Chaumont AB until September 1961 to the U. S. Army where it became an aircraft depot for light fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.

The Army turned over the base to French control on 24 June 1965 and in 1970 it was purchased by the Brienne Chamber of Commerce and later sold to private developers. It has been used by various groups for sport aviation, sky diving and soaring. In addition, an aviation museum has been established in the old USAF hangars.

[edit] Emergency Airfields

An additional 10 small airfields were developed by the French government from World War II bases as unmanned 'bare bones' airfields, consisting of a runway with minimal facilities intended for use by all NATO air forces to disperse their aircraft in case of war. They were: