Vatry Air Base
Encyclopedia
Vatry Air Base was a United States Air Force
base in France
. After its closure, it was redeveloped into Chalons-Vatry Airport
, primarily used for international air cargo transport.
, 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 primary operating bases for NATO air forces were built on small parcels of land with very limited dispersal space. It was decided to build dispersal bases away from the primary bases to be used in the event of an emergency. Vatry was selected to be one of these "NATO Dispersed Operating Bases
".
No flying unit was ever permanently assigned to Vatry and it was used for dispersal training only. However, it did require the same level of equipment as a standard air base. NATO security personnel were required to control base access, guard equipment, munitions and supplies stored on the facility, as well as prevent vandalism.
Construction began in 1953, and Vatry Air 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-Semoutiers Air Base was designated as the host unit. Aircraft from the United States Air Force
21st, 48th, 49th and 388th Fighter-Bomber Wings deployed to Vatry, usually one fighter squadron at a time.
In 1959 Vatry Air Base was phased down and all munitions, equipment and supplies were sent to Chaumont Air Base's Base Supply and the host detachment was inactivated. The facility was transferred to the United States Army
as a training facility in 1960. With the French withdrawal from the integrated NATO military structure in 1967, the American forces left Vatry Air Base and it was closed.
For many years, Vatry Air Base was under the control of the French Air Force
and used for a training facility. About 2000 it was sold to civil interests and today is being used as an international heavy cargo airport.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
base in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. After its closure, it was redeveloped into Chalons-Vatry Airport
Chalons-Vatry Airport
-Facilities:The airport is above mean sea level. It has one paved runway designated 10/28 which measures ....
, primarily used for international air cargo transport.
History
Vatry Airport's origins begin in 1950 when, with 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...
, 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 primary operating bases for NATO air forces were built on small parcels of land with very limited dispersal space. It was decided to build dispersal bases away from the primary bases to be used in the event of an emergency. Vatry was selected to be one of these "NATO Dispersed Operating Bases
NATO Dispersed Operating Bases
NATO Dispersed Operating Bases 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.- History :...
".
No flying unit was ever permanently assigned to Vatry and it was used for dispersal training only. However, it did require the same level of equipment as a standard air base. NATO security personnel were required to control base access, guard equipment, munitions and supplies stored on the facility, as well as prevent vandalism.
Construction began in 1953, and Vatry Air 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-Semoutiers Air Base was designated as the host unit. Aircraft from the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
21st, 48th, 49th and 388th Fighter-Bomber Wings deployed to Vatry, usually one fighter squadron at a time.
In 1959 Vatry Air Base was phased down and all munitions, equipment and supplies were sent to Chaumont Air Base's Base Supply and the host detachment was inactivated. The facility was transferred to the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as a training facility in 1960. With the French withdrawal from the integrated NATO military structure in 1967, the American forces left Vatry Air Base and it was closed.
For many years, Vatry Air Base was under the control of the French Air Force
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...
and used for a training facility. About 2000 it was sold to civil interests and today is being used as an international heavy cargo airport.