Orly Air Base: Difference between revisions
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For the French civilan use of this facility, see Paris - Orly Airport
During World War II Orly Airport was used by the occupying German Luftwaffe and was repeatedly bombed by the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force (USAAF), with runways, buildings and hangars being destroyed.
After the Battle of Normandy, Orly was repaired by the USAAF Ninth Air Force in July and August 1944 and used as tactical airfield A-47. The 50th Fighter Group flew P-47 "Thunderbolts" until September from Orly then liaison squadrons used the airfield until October 1945.
Until March 1947 the American USAAF 1408th Army Air Force Base Unit was the primary operator at Orly Field, when control was returned to the French Government. Orly was reactivated as a commercial airport on 1 January 1948, however the United States Air Force's 1630th Air Base Squadron leased a small portion on the east side of the Airport as an air transport and cargo facility until 1967.
Post World War II international diplomatic and military travel was changing from ship and rail to aircraft transportation, requiring a special air terminal in the Paris area for NATO meetings. The primary use of Orly Airport was to meet the needs of political and military leaders going to Paris or traveling southeast to Fontainebleau, or west to Camp des Loges and Rocquencourt.
In 1954 USAF C-124 transports assisted the French by airlifting 500 paratroop/commandos and their equipment to Indochina, landing at Da Nang's Tourane Airfield during March. It was the longest troop airlift in history at that time. Later, wounded French soldiers were flown back to Orly from Saigon by USAF transports after the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in July.
By 1955 military flight operations from Orly were greatly reduced as the civil use of Orly was expanded. The United States Air Force's presence was reduced to supporting VIP transports and diplomatic flights, with most cargo and transport operations being shifted to Chateauroux-Deols Air Base about 125km southwest of Paris.
In 1967 the USAF closed their operations at Orly Airport, ending military use of the facility.
References
- McAuliffe, Jerome J: U.S. Air Force in France 1950-1967 (2005), Chapter 14, Paris-USAF Operations.