| NATO Dispersed Operating Bases | |||||||
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| Part of the Cold War | |||||||
 Map of NATO Air Bases in France during the Cold War | |||||||
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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.
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 marguerite 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.
Luneville-Chenevieres Air Base 48°31′40″N006°38′06″E / 48.52778°N 6.63500°E is located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle Département about 8 miles southeast of Lunéville; 190 miles east of Paris
Currently the former base is under French Army control. It was renamed Quartier La Salle and has been used for equipment storage and as a communications facility.
Vatry Air Base 48°46′37″N004°11′14″E / 48.77694°N 4.18722°E is located in the Marne Département along the Route nationale 14 (N14), about 14 miles southwest of Châlons-en-Champagne; 100 miles east of Paris.
Currently the former NATO base is being developed as an international cargo and transport facility (Aeroport de Vatry). Very little remains of the old USAF base.
Vouziers-Sechault Air Base 49°16′36″N004°45′12″E / 49.27667°N 4.75333°E is located in the Ardennes Département about 15 miles north-northwest of Sainte-Menehould; 117 miles east-northeast of Paris.
Currently the former base is a reserve French Air and Space Force facility.
Vitry-Brienne Air Base 48°25′44″N004°28′49″E / 48.42889°N 4.48028°E is located in the Aube Département, approximately 17 miles northwest of Bar-sur-Aube; 117 miles southeast of Paris.
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.
An additional 10 airfields were developed by the French government mostly from World War II USAAF Ninth Air Force Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG) 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:
(BA 126 Cambrai-Épinoy) (BA 133 Nancy-Ochey) (BA 128 Metz-Frescaty).* Note: NATO construction never performed.
An air base is an aerodrome used as a military base by a military force for the operation of military aircraft.
The United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) is a United States Air Force major command (MAJCOM) and a component command of both United States European Command (USEUCOM) and United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM). As part of its mission, USAFE-AFAFRICA commands U.S. Air Force units pledged to NATO, maintaining combat-ready wings based from Great Britain to Turkey. USAFE-AFAFRICA plans, conducts, controls, coordinates and supports air and space operations in Europe, parts of Asia and all of Africa with the exception of Egypt to achieve U.S. national and NATO objectives based on taskings by the two combatant commanders.
The 48th Fighter Wing is part of the United States Air Force's Third Air Force, assigned to Headquarters Air Command Europe and United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). It is based at RAF Lakenheath, England. The 48 FW is the only F-15 wing based in Europe and consists of both F-15C/D Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. The 48 FW was given the name "Statue of Liberty Wing" on 4 July 1954 and remains the only U.S. Air Force unit with both a name and a numerical designation.
A hardened aircraft shelter (HAS) or protective aircraft shelter (PAS) is a reinforced hangar to house and protect military aircraft from enemy attack. Cost considerations and building practicalities limit their use to fighter size aircraft.
MDP Wethersfield is a Ministry of Defence facility in Essex, England, located north of the village of Wethersfield, about 6 mi (9.7 km) north-west of the town of Braintree. Originally an RAF station, the original accommodation areas have now been converted to become the headquarters and training centre of the Ministry of Defence Police.
Chambley-Bussières Air Base is a former United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle département of France, about ten miles west of the French city of Metz, and about one mile (1.6 km) southwest of Chambley-Bussières, on the south side of the Départemental 901 (D901) (Meurthe-et-Moselle) road.
Évreux-Fauville Air Base is a French Air and Space 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.
Laon-Couvron Air Base is a former French and United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Aisne département of France, less than one mile southeast of the village of Couvron and 6 miles northwest of Laon; on the southwest side of the Autoroute des Anglais 1 Mile (1.6 km) east of the village of Couvron-et-Aumencourt.
Quartier La Horie is a French Army base. It is located in the Moselle département, about 2 miles(3 km) west of the town of Phalsbourg, on the north side of the Route nationale 4 (N4) Highway adjacent to the village Saint-Jean-Kourtzerode; 29 miles (47 km) northwest of Strasbourg.
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Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) were temporary advance airfields constructed by the Allies during World War II during the liberation of Europe. They were built in the UK prior to the invasion and thereafter in northwest Europe from 6 June 1944 to V-E Day, 7 May 1945.
RAF Westonzoyland is one of the country's oldest airfields being established in the early 1920s. Somerset, England. The airfield is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) east-southeast of Bridgwater; about 125 miles (201 km) west-southwest of London.
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Nancy-Ochey Air Base is a front-line French Air and Space Force base located approximately 11 km west-southwest of Neuves-Maisons in the Département de Meurthe-et-Moselle, France.
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Laon-Athies Air Base is an abandoned military airfield, which is located near the city of Laon in the Aisne department of France.
Péronne-St Quentin Airfield is a recreational aerodrome in France, located 11 miles (18 km) west of Saint-Quentin; 121 miles (195 km) north of Paris. It supports general aviation with no commercial airline service scheduled.
Cambrai-Niergnies Airport is a regional airport in France, located 3 miles (4.8 km) south-southeast of Cambrai; 100 miles (160 km) north-northeast of Paris.
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.
Quartier Général d'Aboville, formerly Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, is a French Army artillery base in France. It is located two miles (3.2 km) southwest of the city of Chaumont, Haute-Marne, just to the west of the Route Nationale 67 (N67) highway about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of Semoutiers-Montsaon in the Haute-Marne département of northeast France. During the early years of the Cold War, Chaumont-Semoutiers air base was used by United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/ .
