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Laon-Couvron Air Base is a former USAF base in France. It is located in the Aisne-Oise Département of France , less than one mile southeast of the village of Couvron and 6 miles northwest of Laon . ORIGINS Laon Air Base was developed from a 1930's French Air Force airfield that was briefly used by the Royal Air Force before being overrun by the Germans during the Battle Of France in 1940 . The Luftwaffe moved in shortly afterwards and used it during the occupation as a base for fighters attacking the USAAF Eighth Air Force bombing attacks of France and Germany. In August 1944 , the Laon area was liberated by the Third Army and the USAAF Ninth Air Force used the base until the German surrender in May 1945 . USAAF Groups which used Laon AB were the 366th Fighter Group, flying P-47 "Thunderbolts" and the 409th Light Bombardment Group, flying the A-26C Douglas "Invader" . After World War II, Laon Air Base was returned to the French on 23 October 1945 and the facility was unused for several years. NATO ACQUISITION With the outbreak of the Cold War in the late 1940's, with the Berlin Airlift and the ongoing threat from the Soviet Union to Western Europe, negotations begain in November 1950 between NATO and the United States to establish air bases and station combat wings in France to meet European defense needs. During the negotiations for selection sites, the World War II airfield at Laon was one of the first facilities offered by the French Government for expansion into a modern air base. The existing World War II base had serviceable concrete runways, dispersal hardstands and an existing infastrcture of hangars, administrative buildings, streets and functional utilities. It was agreed that Laon Air Base would be developed and that a USAF light bomber wing would be stationed there as soon as possible. USAF USE On 15 June 1951 construction began to upgrade the wartime facilities to NATO standards. Water wells were dug and new water lines and sewage pipes were laid. A new water treatment plant, along with upgrading roads were built. A new jet runway was constructed over the existing wartime secondary runway. By 1954 the base was ready for use by operatonal Air Force Wings. 126th Bombardment Wing (Light) The first USAF unit to use Laon AB was the activated Air National Guard 126th Bombardment Wing , flying the World War II vintage Douglas B-26B/C "Invder" light bomber. The 126th BW was called to active service on 1 April 1951 and was initally deployed to Bordeaux AB in November 1951 . On 25 May 1952 the wing was relocated to Laon, with Bordeaux becoming a support base. The wing consisted of the 108th, 168th and 180th Light Bomb Squadrons. The aircraft were marked by various color bands on the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Black/Yellow/Blue for the 108th; Black/Yellow/Red for the 168th, and Black/Yellow/Green for the 180th. At Laon, the 126th used its B-26's for training and maneuvers at Laon until December until being relieved from active duty and transferred, without personnel and equipment, back to the the control of the Illinois Air National Guard on 1 January 1953 . 38th Tactical Bombardment Wing On 1 January 1953 , the flying assets of the 126th Bomb Wing were transferred to the 38th Tactial Bombardment Wing . The 38th's squadrons were designated the 71st, 405th, and 822nd Bomb Sudrons. The wing continued flying the B-26's until 1956 . In 1956 , the 38th Bomb Wing converted to the Martin B-57 "Canberra" . It's mission was to provide a nuclear deterrent for NATO . The B-57 was a replacement for aging Douglas B-26 "Invader." Because English Electric was unable to meet the USAF delivery schedule, the design was licensed to Martin for US manufacture. In 1958 , General De Gaulle announced that all nuclear weapons and delivery aircraft had to be removed from French soil by July 1958 . Since NATO strategy had evolved into "massive nuclear retaliation" this meant all tactical fighter and bombing wings had to depart France. The 38th TBW was inactivated at Laon on 18 June 1958 . 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing In January 1958 the announcement was made that the 32nd and 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons were to receive the McDonnell RF-101C "Voodoo" . The 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and the 302nd and 303rd squadrons were to move to Laon AB where they would displace the 38th Bombardment Wing. This move was in accordance with USAFE s plan to realign the posture of various bases in anticipation of aircraft conversion. The 66th was to convert to the RF-101 Voodoo. Considerable construction was necessary at Laon before and during the transition phase, in particular the preparation of runway overuns. In August and September respectively the 302nd and 303rd TRS’ moved from Sembach AB Germany to their new base. Just prior to the move, in a public relations exercise, the 302nd engaged in some large scale oblique photo coverage of all towns and cities within a 30 mile radius of Laon . The processed photos were presented to the various town and city officials as a means of introducing the newcomers to the community. 1959 was heralded by the not unexpected news that the 302nd and 303rd TRS were to be deactivated and their places in the 66th taken by the 17th and 18th TRS from Shaw AFB , South Carolina . These two units arrived at Laon in May , 1959 , with the 302nd and 303rd officially deactivated on 20 June . All the RF-84s were ferried to the IRAN facility at Naples for eventual distribution to NATO forces. Many of the pilots of both these squadrons were transferred to the new Voodoo squadrons. USAF Closure On 7 March 1966 , Gen Charles De Gaulle announced that France would withdraw from NATO's military structure but not leave the political organization. He gave NATO forces one year (until 1 April 1967 ) to depart France. On 10 June 1966 the 7379th Tactical Group was activated at Laon AB to facilitate the closure of the base. There was no space available in Germany to relocate the 66th TRW, so the Strategic Air Command 's standby base at RAF Upper Heyford , England , was transferred to USAFE and the wing relocated to the UK after eight years at Laon AB. The relocation of the 66th TFW was completed by November 1966 . On 17 March 1967 the remaining USAF equipment and personnel were transferred out of Laon and the base was returned to the French. Laon-Couvron AB USAF Emblems USAF Aircraft Types At Laon AB CURRENT USES With the withrawl of the USAF, the French Army moved into Laon Air Base and renamed the facility Quartier Mangin sur l'ancienne Base de Convorn. Since 1980 it has been the home of the '''1er Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (1er RAMa)''' self propelled Marine Artillery Regiment. Many of the old USAF buildings remain and are used by the French. The three large hangars have been removed. New buildings have been erected and the facility is well maintained. The main runway is used for helicopter operations. REFERENCES
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