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Chateauroux-Deols Air Base is a former USAF base in France. It is located in the Indre Département of France , located about 3 miles north of Chateauroux and about 5 miles east of Deols . ORIGINS The airport at Chateauroux started in the late 1920 's as a civil transport airfield, providing regional air service within France. About 1935/36, a large aircraft factory was established there, building Bloch bombers for the French Air Force . After the fall of France, the factory was used by the Luftwaffe for the production of sub-assemblies for various German aircraft. What would become Chateauroux Air Base was bombed several times by the United States Army Air Force and the RAF during World War II . After the war ended, the factory attempted to restart production for the French Air Force , but by 1950 it was closed. NATO ACQUISTION In 1950, the faciilty was offered to NATO to develop a depot and maintence facility for the United States Air Force for joint use by the French and the Americans to support both civil and military aircraft. The final agreement was signed on 27 February 1951 . USAF USE USAF reservists were being mobilized as part of the Korean War at the time, and about 1,500 personnel were mobilied to be deployed to France. The inital contingent of USAF personnel arrived at Chateauroux on 10 January 1951 to get the facility up and operational as soon as possible. 73rd Air Depot Wing Chateauroux Air Base was the home of the 73rd Air Depot Wing . The 73rd ADW was the first large USAF unit to move into France , being established on 21 July 1951 The 73rd ADW was required for USAFE logistical support and MDAP (Mutual Defense Assistance Program) support to all NATO countries and intended to replace the Erding Air Depot in West Germany . At Chateauroux, the 73rd operated the Central Air Material Area, Europe (CAMAE). The wing began operations immediately as supply center for the new USAF bases in France, as considerable construction materials were required in their construction. The Chateauroux Air Depot was very busy procuring supplies and parts, contracting services, and maintaining all USAF equipment. One of their unusual tasks was the support of new aircraft procurement. Two fighters, peculiar to NATO and not flown by the USAF, were purchased with MDAP funds: 221 North American F-86Ks and 225 Dassault Mystere IV-As . The F-86Ks were produced by Fiat in Italy and Chateauroux managed the US government furnished equipment they required. F-86K Sabre interceptors were supplied to France , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Turkey , and West Germany . The Mystere IV-A, produced by Dassault Aviation at Bordeaux, were only flown by French fighter squadrons as part of 4th ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force) . These aircraft programs helped develop NATO's manufacturing capacity. In addition to its usual maintenance projects the Chateauroux depot established maintenance contracts with many European airlines and aircraft manufacturers. KLM , SABENA , Air France , Air Italia , SAS , CASA , Fiat , Fairy, SNCNF-Marseilles, and SNCASO-Toulouse provided IRAN (inspect and repair as necessary) services on USAFE & NATO aircraft. Contractor maintenance reduced the time and expense of returning aircraft to CONUS depots. Maintenance costs were lower in NATO countries than at US depots. Sub Depots In addition to the main facilty at Chateauroux, the 73rd Air Depot Wing operated several Sub-Depot facilities for supplies and equpment. These were located at Bordeaux for clothing and medical supplies; Niort for aircraft ammunition; Metz for vehicles and construction supplies; St. Mihiel for conventional ammunition storage; Les Moulins for vehicle storage and maintenance, and Villefranche for parts storage. USAF Closure On 7 March 1966 , French President Charles De Gaulle announced that France would withdraw from NATO's integrated military structure. The United States was informed that it must remove its military forces from France by 1 April 1967 . The 73rd operated the depot until departure of all US forces from France, leaving Chateauroux Air Base on 20 March 1967 . CURRENT USES After the USAF's departure in 1967 , Chateauroux was developed into a commercial airport, buisness jet center and an aircraft overhaul facility. Most of the USAF presence has been erased by new construction and expansion of the facility, however a few old buildings remain being used for various non-military activities. Much effort and money has been invested in Chateauroux over the years since the departure of the Americans. REFERENCES
SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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