| Chièvres Air Base
|
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|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: EBCV | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Operator | U. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around S. Army Garrison BENELUX | ||
| Location | Chièvres | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 200 ft / 60 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 08/26 | 6,271 | 1,911 | Concrete |
Chièvres Air Base (ICAO: EBCV) is a United States military airbase, located in the Belgian town of Chièvres about 12 miles from SHAPE, which is mainly used to provide logistic support to NATO and SHAPE. The term above mean sea level ( AMSL) refers to the Elevation (on the ground or Altitude (in the Air) of any object relative to the A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A runway ( RWY) is a strip of land on an Airport, on which Aircraft can take off and land. A runway ( RWY) is a strip of land on an Airport, on which Aircraft can take off and land. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Concrete is a construction material composed of Cement (commonly Portland cement) as well as other cementitious materials such as Fly ash and Slag The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those For the lord of Chièvres advisor to Emperor Charles V, see William de Croÿ. Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe ( SHAPE) is the central command of NATO Military forces It is currently operated by the U. S. Army Garrison BENELUX.
Contents |
History
World War I and II
The first airfield at Chièvres was established in 1917 by the Germans. Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
At the end of 1939, the Belgian military started works to turn Chièvres into a diversion airfield. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The German invasion found the work incomplete and in June 1940 the Germans started rebuilding and expanding the airfield. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
On September 27, 1940, the Corpo Aereo Italiano stationed Fiat BR.20M Cigogna (43° Stormo) and Cant Z.1007bis bombers (172° Squadriglia Ricognizione Strategica Terrestre) at the base. The " Italian Air Corps " ( Corpo Aereo Italiano, or CAI) was an Italian expeditionary force that participated in the Battle of Britain during the WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout These planes participated in several raids against Britain during the Battle of Britain during which they received heavy casualties and by December 1940 they were recalled to Italy. The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and The Luftwaffe then used the base to station bomber-units equipped with the Ju 88, Ju 188, He 111 and Ju 86. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The base also served as a diversion field for Luftwaffe fighters.
By September 1, 1944, the last Luftwaffe aircraft had evacuated Chièvres and the installation were heavily damaged. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. On September 3, the Allied troops arrived and took over command of the airbase and U. S. Army engineers started rebuilding the base infrastructure.
In October 1944, the P-47D Thunderbolts of the 361th Fighter Groups were stationed at Chièvres. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout During the Battle of the Bulge the base was also used by the Hawker Typhoons of 123 Wing RAF. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout In March 1945, 352 Fighter Group, equipped with P-51D Mustangs were stationed at the base. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar
After the German surrender, Chièvres became a transit station for US soldiers returning home as well as being used as a German POW camp. By the end of 1945, the base was turned over to the Belgian authorities.
Cold War years
In 1947, the base was rebuilt and expanded to serve as a jet-fighter base. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. On 1 December 1950 the 7th Fighter Wing, equipped with the Gloster Meteor, was stationed at Chièvres and one year later they were joined by the 10th Fighter Wing, operating Spitfire XIV. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout After reconversion to the F84E Thunderjet, the 10th Wing left Chièvres in 1953 for Kleine Brogel in Limburg. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Peer is a Municipality located in the province of Limburg, Flemish Region, Belgium.
In June 1956, the 7th Wing converted to the Hawker Hunter Mk. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout 4 and two years later to the Hunter F6. In 1963, the 7th Wing was disbanded and on December 31, 1967, the Belgian authorities officially turned over Chièvres Airbase to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.
The Americans established the NATO/SHAPE Support Group (US)in 1968 at Caserne Daumerie adjacent to the air base and just east of the town of Chièvres, to operate the base and provide logistic support to NATO and SHAPE. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This small unit was part of Theater Army Support Command (TASCOM), which was part of U. S. Army Europe (USAREUR). The NATO/SHAPE Support Group was later renamed 80th Area Support Group (NATO/SHAPE Support Group).
Post Cold War years
In 2005, the 80th Area Support Group (NATO/SHAPE Support Group) was later renamed USAG BENELUX (NATO/SHAPE Support Group). Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
In 2007, construction work is started on a 94-room Army lodge at Chièvres Air Base in Belgium. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. A future project will include a $17 million commissary for Chièvres. One major project nearing completion is the runway renovation effort which sees the runway lengthened and resurfaced. [1]
The 309th Airlift Squadron, part of the 86th Airlift Wing, uses Chièvres for C-37 Gulfstream V. The 309th Airlift Squadron ( 309 AS) is part of the 86th Airlift Wing at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The 86th Airlift Wing (86 AW is a United States Air Force wing currently assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Even though the U. S. Air Force's 309th Airlift Squadron operates the airfield and runways, overall operations are entrusted to the USAG BENELUX, a U. S. Army unit. This make Chievres Air Base the only actual "base" in the Army since Army installations are usually referred to as a "post" or "airfield".