Evreux-Fauville Air Base
Encyclopedia
Évreux-Fauville Air Base (Base aérienne 105 Évreux or BA 105) is a French Air Force
base located about 2 miles (3 km) east of the town of Évreux
in the Eure
département, on the north side of the Route nationale 13 (N13) Highway.
During the Cold War
, Évreux-Fauville was a front-line base for the United States Air Forces in Europe
(USAFE) as part of NATO's integrated military command.
In 1967, the US forces withdrew and the French air force began again using the base, initially flying the Nord 2501 Noratlas. At present, the base is home of two French tactical transport squadrons flying mostly C-160 Transall transportation planes. http://www.senat.fr/rap/a05-102-6/a05-102-616.html
period of 1939/40, the French Air Force maintained Dewoitine D.510 fighters and Potez 630
bombers. In addition, American built Curtis P-36 Hawk
, Martin A-22 Maryland
and Douglas DB-7
light bombers provided by President Roosevelt's "cash and carry" program were stationed at Évreux.
With the fall of France, the Luftwaffe
took up residence at Évreux, flying Messerschmitt Bf 109
and Junkers Ju 88
aircraft during the Battle of Britain
. During the war, the Germans improved the runways and other facilities. Later, they stationed Focke-Wulf Fw 190
fighters on the base. Évreux was heavily bombed and attacked by Allied fighters and bombers, especially those of the U.S. Army Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. By July 1944, within a month of the Normandy invasion of 6 June, the runways and taxiways were useless, pockmarked with bomb craters and debris.
With the liberation of France, the Royal Air Force
used Évreux Air Base until May 1945. After the war, the base was left mostly unused, with the exception of a small aero club.
in the late 1940s, with the Berlin Airlift and the ongoing threat from the Soviet Union
to Western Europe, negotiations began in November 1950 between NATO and the United States
to establish air bases and station combat wings in France to meet European defense needs.
During the negotiations for selection sites, the World War II airfield at Évreux was proposed for expansion into a modern air base for troop carrier and cargo aircraft. However, the airfield was under local jurisdiction and the facility was being used as a civilian airport. Final approval was obtained in 1951 from the City of Évreux and the Department of Eure.
Development of Évreux Air Base was managed by the 7305th Air Base Squadron for the next three years. The USAF planned that a troop carrier wing, flying C-119s could be in place at Évreux by 1954. Preliminary surveys were conducted in April 1952, and construction of a new base began in July. The World War II
damage was removed and new runways laid down.
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 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 m) 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.
Roads and buildings were constructed, communications, and other infrastructure was completed and the facilities were ready by the summer of 1955.
The 780th and 781st TCS received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1956 for extraordinary operations. The Wing airlifted United Nations
troops, supplies and equipment to the Middle East and flew Red Cross emergency supplies to Hungarian refugees, along with completing their scheduled training missions.
During early 1957 the Lockheed C-130 was entering the USAF inventory and with its increased range and capacity, the C-119s began to be phased out. Also when the U.S. Army projected a decrease of airborne units in Europe, so the need for troop practice drops would decline. It was determined that the 465th would be phased down and inactivated.
The 465th TCW was reorganized on 12 March 1957 when its group headquarters was inactivated and the wing deputy commander for operations took over command of the troop carrier squadrons. At this time, manpower shortages were keeping staffing at about 70 to 80 percent of authorized levels and the reorganization elimitatd about 50 personnel slots.
In July, 465th Wing Headquarters and all support squadrons were inactivated. Personnel were transferred from the support squadrons into various wing vacancies, transferred to other USAFE bases or returned to the United States (CONUS). By this time, the 465th along with the 317th TCW shared Évreux, with a total of six flying squadrons.
The end of the 465th came on 8 July when it was inactivated and the 780th and 781st squadrons came under the command of the 317th TCW. At this time, the two squadrons were directed to prepare their C-119s for return to Air Force Reserve troop carrier wings in CONUS. By December, 37 C-119s departed. On 20 December the 782d squadron was inactivated. On 6 January 1958, all the C-119s of the 317th TCW were transferred on paper to the 780th and 781st squadrons and they flew the aircraft back to CONUS.
On 8 March 1958 they were also inactivated, ending the last remnant of the 465th Troop Carrier Wing's presence at Évreux.
In March 1958 the C-119Gs of the three squadrons were returned to CONUS, and the squadrons were inactivated.
At Neubiberg, the 317th and transitioned from C-54s to C-119s and shared a common mission with the 465th, transporting and paradropping airborne forces and their equipment. At Évreux, its mission was changed to support fighter weapons training at Wheelus Air Base
Libya
with the transport of maintenance personnel, aircraft support equipment, spare parts, tools, test sets and other equipment needed to support the squadrons at the deployed site.
The 317th continued to fly C-119s until the end of 1957 but began converting to new C-130A "Hercules" cargo transport aircraft. In March 1957, the 317th was inactivated along with the 465th TCW, with the aircraft and personnel coming under the direct command of HQ USAFE.
In September 1958 the flying squadrons were assigned directly to the 322nd Air Division.
was the main host unit at Évreux AB, being established on 12 August 1955 and remaining until 1 April 1964. The unit was a command element to control all airlift units assigned to USAFE. The 322nd directed the three Troop Carrier Wings in Europe - the 317th and 465th at Évreux as well as the 60th at Dreux-Louvillier Air Base
.
With the deactivation of the troop carrier wings at Évreux and Dreux, the 322nd became responsible for the operation and maintenance of the aircraft of the Troop Carrier Squadrons, with Air Base Groups being responsible for the command of the base support functions.
Units of the 322nd Air Division flew many humanitarian missions and support NATO airborne units throughout Europe
. They airlifted life rafts, tents, and emergency food supplies to flood victims in the Netherlands
, and aided thousands of earthquake victims in Italy
, Greece
, Pakistan
and Yugoslavia
among many others.
On 15 April 1963, the 317th Troop Carrier Wing was briefly reactivated at Évreux. HQ USAFE determined a Wing structure to command the C-130 squadrons at Évreux, and reduced the 322nd AD accordingly.
In the spring of 1964, it was decided that the 322nd Air Division would be transferred to MATS and the 317th TCW to Tactical Air Command
. Subsequently, the 317th TCW departed Évreux on 20 June 1964 to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio
.
With the departure of the Troop Carrier Wing and Air Division, Évreux was placed in a reserve status, with the 7305th Combat Support Group maintaining the base and its facilities. Tactical Air Command C-130 squadrons on temporary duty replaced the 317th wing. In November 1964 TAC C-130s on rotation to Evreux from the 464th Troop Carrier Wing at Pope AFB, NC flew the famous DRAGON ROUGE rescue mission at Stanleyville in the former Belgian Congo. The Evreux-based C-130s transported Belgian paratroopers to the Congo for the mission, which was followed up a few days later by a similar operation at the town of Paulis.
announced that France would withdraw from NATO's integrated military military structure. The United States was informed that it must remove its military forces from France by 1 April 1967.
The 513th Troop Carrier Wing arrived at Évreux on 15 April 1966 from Sewart Air Force Base
Tennessee
to facilitate the removal of USAF assets in France. Its tenure at the base was brief, moving large amounts of supplies and materiel from France to Germany and the United Kingdom.
By January 1967 virtually all was complete, and the Wing was transferred to RAF Mildenhall
England
departing on 26 March when Évreux was returned to the French.
Image:465tcw.jpg|465th Troop Carrier Wing
1955-1958
Image:317tcw.jpg|317th Troop Carrier Wing
1956-1958
Image:322ndad.jpg|322nd Air Division
1955-1964
Image:513tcw.jpg|513th Troop Carrier Wing
1966-1967
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
base located about 2 miles (3 km) east of the town of Évreux
Évreux
Évreux is a commune in the Eure department, of which it is the capital, in Haute Normandie in northern France.-History:In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century CE, was named Mediolanum Aulercorum, "the central town of the Aulerci", the Gallic tribe then inhabiting the area...
in the Eure
Eure
Eure is a department in the north of France named after the river Eure.- History :Eure is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
département, on the north side of the Route nationale 13 (N13) Highway.
During the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, Évreux-Fauville was a front-line base for the United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
(USAFE) as part of NATO's integrated military command.
In 1967, the US forces withdrew and the French air force began again using the base, initially flying the Nord 2501 Noratlas. At present, the base is home of two French tactical transport squadrons flying mostly C-160 Transall transportation planes. http://www.senat.fr/rap/a05-102-6/a05-102-616.html
Origins
The origins of Évreux Air Base go back to the 1920s, when a civil aerodrome was built to accommodate sport flying. In the 1930s concrete runways were constructed along with several hangars. During the Phony WarPhony War
The Phoney War was a phase early in World War II – in the months following Britain and France's declaration of war on Germany in September 1939 and preceding the Battle of France in May 1940 – that was marked by a lack of major military operations by the Western Allies against the German Reich...
period of 1939/40, the French Air Force maintained Dewoitine D.510 fighters and Potez 630
Potez 630
The Potez 630 and its derivatives were a family of twin-engined aircraft developed for the Armée de l'Air in the late 1930s. The design was a contemporary of the British Bristol Blenheim and the German Messerschmitt Bf 110.-Design and development :...
bombers. In addition, American built Curtis P-36 Hawk
P-36 Hawk
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design...
, Martin A-22 Maryland
A-22 Maryland
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia Of 20th Century Air Warfare. London: Amber Books Ltd, 2004. ISBN 1-90468-726-1....
and Douglas DB-7
Douglas DB-7
The Douglas A-20/DB-7 Havoc was a family of American attack, light bomber and night fighter aircraft of World War II, that served with several Allied air forces, principally those of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and United States. The DB-7 was also used by the air forces of Australia, South...
light bombers provided by President Roosevelt's "cash and carry" program were stationed at Évreux.
With the fall of France, the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
took up residence at Évreux, flying Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
and Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
aircraft during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. During the war, the Germans improved the runways and other facilities. Later, they stationed Focke-Wulf Fw 190
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
fighters on the base. Évreux was heavily bombed and attacked by Allied fighters and bombers, especially those of the U.S. Army Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. By July 1944, within a month of the Normandy invasion of 6 June, the runways and taxiways were useless, pockmarked with bomb craters and debris.
With the liberation of France, the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
used Évreux Air Base until May 1945. After the war, the base was left mostly unused, with the exception of a small aero club.
NATO Acquisition
With the outbreak of the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
in the late 1940s, with the Berlin Airlift and the ongoing threat from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to Western Europe, negotiations began in November 1950 between NATO and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to establish air bases and station combat wings in France to meet European defense needs.
During the negotiations for selection sites, the World War II airfield at Évreux was proposed for expansion into a modern air base for troop carrier and cargo aircraft. However, the airfield was under local jurisdiction and the facility was being used as a civilian airport. Final approval was obtained in 1951 from the City of Évreux and the Department of Eure.
Development of Évreux Air Base was managed by the 7305th Air Base Squadron for the next three years. The USAF planned that a troop carrier wing, flying C-119s could be in place at Évreux by 1954. Preliminary surveys were conducted in April 1952, and construction of a new base began in July. The World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
damage was removed and new runways laid down.
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 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 m) 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.
Roads and buildings were constructed, communications, and other infrastructure was completed and the facilities were ready by the summer of 1955.
465th Troop Carrier Wing
The first USAF occupant of Évreux Air Base was the 465th Troop Carrier Wing, being deployed to Évreux in May 1955. The base was still in the middle of being constructed, however minimal facilities were available to accommodate the unit. The 465th flew the C-119 "Flying Boxcar" and consisted of 54 aircraft being assigned to the 780th, 781st and 782nd Troop Carrier Squadrons.The 780th and 781st TCS received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1956 for extraordinary operations. The Wing airlifted United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
troops, supplies and equipment to the Middle East and flew Red Cross emergency supplies to Hungarian refugees, along with completing their scheduled training missions.
The 465th TCW was reorganized on 12 March 1957 when its group headquarters was inactivated and the wing deputy commander for operations took over command of the troop carrier squadrons. At this time, manpower shortages were keeping staffing at about 70 to 80 percent of authorized levels and the reorganization elimitatd about 50 personnel slots.
In July, 465th Wing Headquarters and all support squadrons were inactivated. Personnel were transferred from the support squadrons into various wing vacancies, transferred to other USAFE bases or returned to the United States (CONUS). By this time, the 465th along with the 317th TCW shared Évreux, with a total of six flying squadrons.
The end of the 465th came on 8 July when it was inactivated and the 780th and 781st squadrons came under the command of the 317th TCW. At this time, the two squadrons were directed to prepare their C-119s for return to Air Force Reserve troop carrier wings in CONUS. By December, 37 C-119s departed. On 20 December the 782d squadron was inactivated. On 6 January 1958, all the C-119s of the 317th TCW were transferred on paper to the 780th and 781st squadrons and they flew the aircraft back to CONUS.
On 8 March 1958 they were also inactivated, ending the last remnant of the 465th Troop Carrier Wing's presence at Évreux.
In March 1958 the C-119Gs of the three squadrons were returned to CONUS, and the squadrons were inactivated.
317th Troop Carrier Wing
On 14 April 1958 the 317th Troop Carrier Wing was relocated from Neubiberg AB Germany (near Munich) to Évreux. The United States agreed to return Neubiberg to the German Air Force. By 16 April 1957 the relocation to Evreux was complete, with three squadrons, the 39th, 40th and 41st joining the 465th TCW currently at Évreux.At Neubiberg, the 317th and transitioned from C-54s to C-119s and shared a common mission with the 465th, transporting and paradropping airborne forces and their equipment. At Évreux, its mission was changed to support fighter weapons training at Wheelus Air Base
Wheelus Air Base
-See also:*List of airports in Libya-External links:*****...
Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
with the transport of maintenance personnel, aircraft support equipment, spare parts, tools, test sets and other equipment needed to support the squadrons at the deployed site.
The 317th continued to fly C-119s until the end of 1957 but began converting to new C-130A "Hercules" cargo transport aircraft. In March 1957, the 317th was inactivated along with the 465th TCW, with the aircraft and personnel coming under the direct command of HQ USAFE.
In September 1958 the flying squadrons were assigned directly to the 322nd Air Division.
322nd Air Division
The 322nd Air Division (Combat Cargo)322d Airlift Division
The 322d Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Military Airlift Command, assigned to Twenty-First Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
was the main host unit at Évreux AB, being established on 12 August 1955 and remaining until 1 April 1964. The unit was a command element to control all airlift units assigned to USAFE. The 322nd directed the three Troop Carrier Wings in Europe - the 317th and 465th at Évreux as well as the 60th at Dreux-Louvillier Air Base
Dreux-Louvillier Air Base
Dreux-Louvilliers Air Base is a former United States Air Force base. It is located in the Eure-et-Loir département of France, southwest of Dreux, and about one mile west of Chennevieres; just to the west of the Départemental 20 road.During the Cold War, Dreux-Louvilliers was a front-line base...
.
Units of the 322nd Air Division flew many humanitarian missions and support NATO airborne units throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. They airlifted life rafts, tents, and emergency food supplies to flood victims in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and aided thousands of earthquake victims in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
among many others.
On 15 April 1963, the 317th Troop Carrier Wing was briefly reactivated at Évreux. HQ USAFE determined a Wing structure to command the C-130 squadrons at Évreux, and reduced the 322nd AD accordingly.
In the spring of 1964, it was decided that the 322nd Air Division would be transferred to MATS and the 317th TCW to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
. Subsequently, the 317th TCW departed Évreux on 20 June 1964 to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
With the departure of the Troop Carrier Wing and Air Division, Évreux was placed in a reserve status, with the 7305th Combat Support Group maintaining the base and its facilities. Tactical Air Command C-130 squadrons on temporary duty replaced the 317th wing. In November 1964 TAC C-130s on rotation to Evreux from the 464th Troop Carrier Wing at Pope AFB, NC flew the famous DRAGON ROUGE rescue mission at Stanleyville in the former Belgian Congo. The Evreux-based C-130s transported Belgian paratroopers to the Congo for the mission, which was followed up a few days later by a similar operation at the town of Paulis.
USAF Closure
On 7 March 1966, French President Charles De GaulleCharles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
announced that France would withdraw from NATO's integrated military military structure. The United States was informed that it must remove its military forces from France by 1 April 1967.
The 513th Troop Carrier Wing arrived at Évreux on 15 April 1966 from Sewart Air Force Base
Sewart Air Force Base
Sewart Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Smyrna, about 25 miles southeast of Nashville, Tennessee.-World War II:...
Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
to facilitate the removal of USAF assets in France. Its tenure at the base was brief, moving large amounts of supplies and materiel from France to Germany and the United Kingdom.
By January 1967 virtually all was complete, and the Wing was transferred to RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force station located at Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Despite its status as an RAF station, it primarily supports United States Air Force operations and is currently the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing...
England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
departing on 26 March when Évreux was returned to the French.
Emblems Of USAFE Units That Served At Évreux-Fauville Air Base
Image:465tcw.jpg|465th Troop Carrier Wing
1955-1958
Image:317tcw.jpg|317th Troop Carrier Wing
1956-1958
Image:322ndad.jpg|322nd Air Division
1955-1964
Image:513tcw.jpg|513th Troop Carrier Wing
1966-1967