Orly Air Base: Difference between revisions
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On [[1 July]] [[1952]], HQ [[USAFE]] assumed command of Orly Air Base because the majority of its work was in support of USAFE missions. A small detachment from MATS remained as a tenant unit to manage passenger traffic. The 1606th ABGp was redesignated as the '''7415th Air Base Group'''. The 1950 lease was expanded to provide additional property for a headquarters building. officers club, NCO club, airmen's service club, personnel office, a new passenger terminal, billeting for 450 troops, a 500-man mess hall, motor vehicle shop, aircraft parking apron for fifteen assigned aircraft, and an expanded dispensary with twenty-five hospital beds. Additional construction during 1954/55 completed the largest USAF air terminal in France, a new AFEX snack bar, a large service club, group headquarters building, fire station, Air Police center, officers open mess, BOQ, VIP billets, and a vehicle repair shop. Most buildings were single story concrete masonry construction, however a few portable prefab buildings were erected to save construction time and funds. |
On [[1 July]] [[1952]], HQ [[USAFE]] assumed command of Orly Air Base because the majority of its work was in support of USAFE missions. A small detachment from MATS remained as a tenant unit to manage passenger traffic. The 1606th ABGp was redesignated as the '''7415th Air Base Group'''. The 1950 lease was expanded to provide additional property for a headquarters building. officers club, NCO club, airmen's service club, personnel office, a new passenger terminal, billeting for 450 troops, a 500-man mess hall, motor vehicle shop, aircraft parking apron for fifteen assigned aircraft, and an expanded dispensary with twenty-five hospital beds. Additional construction during 1954/55 completed the largest USAF air terminal in France, a new AFEX snack bar, a large service club, group headquarters building, fire station, Air Police center, officers open mess, BOQ, VIP billets, and a vehicle repair shop. Most buildings were single story concrete masonry construction, however a few portable prefab buildings were erected to save construction time and funds. |
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Clearances for diplomatic flights were processed through [[Châteauroux-Déols Air Base|Chateauroux AD]] prior to [[1 July]] [[1957]]. After that date Orly AB was designated as a foreign clearance base, thereby reducing request time for diplomatic clearances into the [[Middle East]] and [[Africa]]. |
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The primary mission of the 7415th ABG was meeting and. greeting VIPs visiting the Paris region. VIPs were later defined as distinguished visitors (DV). DVs included President Eisenhower, the Secretaries of State and Defense, and an army of curious visitors to attend international meetings and attend NATO meetings inParis. From 1955 through 1959 approximately 800 DV per month passed through Orly AB. Some summer months over 200 Congressmen would stop in Paris. A summit meeting in Europe could draw 1,100 to 1.350 DV guests. The 7415th protocol officers would have to provide aircraft parking, transportation and drivers, luncheons, photographers, press rooms, secure telephone communications, and security police. There are no reports of any Congressman requesting a driver and staff car to visit a main USAF air base in France. At four summit meetings, arrangements were made with Orly Airport management to close an active runway and use it for DV aircraft parking. Space at Orly was becoming critical in the late 1950s. |
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=== Air Terminal === |
=== Air Terminal === |
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From [[1953]] through [[1958]], USAFE operated "Kinderlift" flights during the months of July and August. This program flew about 2,000 underprivileged German children each year from [[Berlin]] to [[West Germany]] for a month's vacation in German and American homes. The 7415th ABG supplied aircraft and crews for 100 of these missions in [[1957]], flying 160 hours between Berlin and [[Rhein-Main Air Base]] or [[Hanover]]. |
From [[1953]] through [[1958]], USAFE operated "Kinderlift" flights during the months of July and August. This program flew about 2,000 underprivileged German children each year from [[Berlin]] to [[West Germany]] for a month's vacation in German and American homes. The 7415th ABG supplied aircraft and crews for 100 of these missions in [[1957]], flying 160 hours between Berlin and [[Rhein-Main Air Base]] or [[Hanover]]. |
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=== Phasedown/Closure === |
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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. |
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The 7415th ABG was informed in [[November]] [[1955]] by Aeroport d'Orly officials that most of the USAF facilities would have to be abandoned at the end of [[1957]] to allow for planned airport expansion. USAFE and the French Government could make no agreement for a replacement airfield near Paris. [[Évreux-Fauville Air Base|Évreux Air Base]] was considered as a replacement for the Orly operations but no decision occurred. Orly International Airport was reworked several times during the late 1950s and 1960s, but the Orly Air Base operation continued until [[March]] [[1967]]. |
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In [[1967]] the USAF closed their operations at Orly Airport, ending military use of the facility. |
In [[1967]] the USAF closed their operations at Orly Airport, ending military use of the facility. |
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Revision as of 00:11, 25 February 2007
For the French civilan use of this facility, see Paris - Orly Airport Template:Airport frame Template:Airport title Template:Airport image Template:Airport infobox Template:Runway title Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Airport image Template:Airport end frame Paris-Orly Air Base was located at Aeroport de Paris-Orly, nine miles (15 km) south of Paris off Autoroute A6/A10m with a highway exit directly into the base. The primary use of Orly Air Base was to meet the needs of NATO political and military leaders going to Paris area, with secondary functions as a personell processing center for inbound and outbound personnel assigned to France and as a limited operational transport base
Origins
Orly Airport was opened in 1932 as a secondary civil airport to Le Bourget. 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.
USAF/NATO Use
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.
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 first NATO tenant at Aeroport Orly-Paris was the United States Air Force Military Air Transport Service in June 1950. Agreement was reached on 10 November 1950 on a new lease to allow for aircraft parking. Also located on this parcel were five usable Quonset huts.
On 1 April 1951 the Air Base Squadron was expanded to support the air transport needs of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), which was activated on the same day in Fontainebleau. Another important mission developing at Orly Air Base was providing aircraft and facilities to maintain the flying proficiency of USAF pilots assigned to the Paris region. On 10 October 1951 the 1630th AB Squadron was upgraded to the 1606th Air Base Group.
On 1 July 1952, HQ USAFE assumed command of Orly Air Base because the majority of its work was in support of USAFE missions. A small detachment from MATS remained as a tenant unit to manage passenger traffic. The 1606th ABGp was redesignated as the 7415th Air Base Group. The 1950 lease was expanded to provide additional property for a headquarters building. officers club, NCO club, airmen's service club, personnel office, a new passenger terminal, billeting for 450 troops, a 500-man mess hall, motor vehicle shop, aircraft parking apron for fifteen assigned aircraft, and an expanded dispensary with twenty-five hospital beds. Additional construction during 1954/55 completed the largest USAF air terminal in France, a new AFEX snack bar, a large service club, group headquarters building, fire station, Air Police center, officers open mess, BOQ, VIP billets, and a vehicle repair shop. Most buildings were single story concrete masonry construction, however a few portable prefab buildings were erected to save construction time and funds.
Clearances for diplomatic flights were processed through Chateauroux AD prior to 1 July 1957. After that date Orly AB was designated as a foreign clearance base, thereby reducing request time for diplomatic clearances into the Middle East and Africa.
The primary mission of the 7415th ABG was meeting and. greeting VIPs visiting the Paris region. VIPs were later defined as distinguished visitors (DV). DVs included President Eisenhower, the Secretaries of State and Defense, and an army of curious visitors to attend international meetings and attend NATO meetings inParis. From 1955 through 1959 approximately 800 DV per month passed through Orly AB. Some summer months over 200 Congressmen would stop in Paris. A summit meeting in Europe could draw 1,100 to 1.350 DV guests. The 7415th protocol officers would have to provide aircraft parking, transportation and drivers, luncheons, photographers, press rooms, secure telephone communications, and security police. There are no reports of any Congressman requesting a driver and staff car to visit a main USAF air base in France. At four summit meetings, arrangements were made with Orly Airport management to close an active runway and use it for DV aircraft parking. Space at Orly was becoming critical in the late 1950s.
Air Terminal
The air terminal at Orly replaced the troopship as the common carrier for USAF personnel heading to France. The 7113th Personnel Processing Squadron operated the Paris Air Passenger Center (PAPC) in Paris. PAPC processed 15,300 inbound and 21,100 outbound personnel during the last six months of 1957. Outbound Air Force troops were given a three hour time block to report to PAPC, then moved by bus to Orly AB for their flight back to CONUS. The average processing time for inbound troops assigned to France was three hours. This time was measured from aircraft off-loading at Orly to bus off-loading at a Paris train station for their trip to their new assignments in France.
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MATS terminal counter, April 1955. -
AFEX Snack Bar, April 1955. -
MATS waiting room, April 1955.
By 1955 there were forty units attached to the 7415th ABG for administrative and logistical support around France. The 7415th operated fifteen C-47A Skytrains, one C-54G Skymaster, one C-121A Lockheed Constellation, and one Convair C-131B Samaritan aircraft based at Orly for VIP transportation within Europe (Special Air Support), and for proficiency flying. The 7415th Food Service section was always busy, preparing 4,600 in-flight meals per month for passengers on outbound military flights as well as operating the base mess hail for unit and transient personnel.
Operational Transport Use
Several special airlift operations were conducted from Orly Air Base. 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. It was the longest troop airlift in history at that time.
The troopers wore civilian clothes and departed Orly AB at 0310 hours in the morning. The C-124s continued across the Pacific to their home base, making the airlift an around-the-world flight.
A second airlift, "Operation Wounded Warrior'," made the longest medical evacuation flight when the first C-118Bs from Westover AFB, Massachusetts, landed at Orly on 3 July 1954. The aircraft was returning forty-seven wounded French soldiers from Saigon. These veterans had fought in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. After boarding the wounded in Saigon, the C-118 "Liftmaster" flew eastward to Japan, Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, across the Atlantic to the Azores, and on to Paris. A total of 500 seriously wounded men were returned by USAF-MATS. The French Army and government officials were deeply appreciative of the airlift effort supplied by the United States.
From 1953 through 1958, USAFE operated "Kinderlift" flights during the months of July and August. This program flew about 2,000 underprivileged German children each year from Berlin to West Germany for a month's vacation in German and American homes. The 7415th ABG supplied aircraft and crews for 100 of these missions in 1957, flying 160 hours between Berlin and Rhein-Main Air Base or Hanover.
Phasedown/Closure
The 7415th ABG was informed in November 1955 by Aeroport d'Orly officials that most of the USAF facilities would have to be abandoned at the end of 1957 to allow for planned airport expansion. USAFE and the French Government could make no agreement for a replacement airfield near Paris. Évreux Air Base was considered as a replacement for the Orly operations but no decision occurred. Orly International Airport was reworked several times during the late 1950s and 1960s, but the Orly Air Base operation continued until March 1967.
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.