About

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. It is currently operated by the U.S. Army Garrison BENELUX.

History

World War I and II

The first airfield at Chièvres was established in 1917 by the Germans.

At the end of 1939, the Belgian military started works to turn Chièvres into a diversion airfield. The German invasion found the work incomplete and in June 1940 the Germans started rebuilding and expanding the airfield.

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. 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 Luftwaffe then used the base to station bomber-units especially of Kampfgeschwader 6 (KG6) equipped with the Ju 88, Ju 188, He 111 and Ju 86. 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. 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 USAAF Ninth Air Force 361th Fighter Group were stationed at Chièvres. During the Battle of the Bulge the base was also used by the Hawker Typhoons of 123 Wing RAF. In March 1945, 352d Fighter Group, equipped with P-51D Mustangs were stationed at the base.

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. 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. After reconversion to the F84E Thunderjet, the 10th Wing left Chièvres in 1953 for Kleine Brogel in Limburg.

In June 1956, the 7th Wing converted to the Hawker Hunter Mk. 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).

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. 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

Chièvres Air Base aerial view.In 2005, the 80th Area Support Group (NATO/SHAPE Support Group) was later renamed USAG BENELUX (NATO/SHAPE Support Group).

In 2007, construction work started on a 94-room Army lodge. 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.

The 309th Airlift Squadron, part of the 86th Airlift Wing, uses Chièvres for C-37 Gulfstream V. 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".

Chièvres

Chièvres is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Chièvres had a total population of 6,198. The total area is 46.91 km² which gives a population density of 132 inhabitants per km².

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chievres_Air_Base

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General Info
Country	Belgium
ICAO ID	EBCV
Time	UTC+1(+2DT)
Latitude	50.575833 50° 34' 33.00" N
Longitude	3.831000 003° 49' 51.60" E
Elevation	193 feet 59 meters
Type	Military
Magnetic Variation	000° W (05/06)
Beacon	Yes
Operating Agency	U.S.AIR FORCE
Near City	Casteau
Operating Hours	SEE REMARKS FOR OPERATING HOURS OR COMMUNICATIONS FOR POSSIBLE HOURS
International Clearance Status	Airport of Entry
Daylight Saving Time	Last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October

Communications
TWR	136.5 122.1 233.6 257.8
PTD	279.1
GND	141.75 308.85
BRUSSELS DEP	126.625
ASOS 3 DSN 361-6051, C32 (0) 68276501.	371.625
BRUSSELS APP	126.625 389.375 362.3
Communications Remarks
PTD	(Call OPS dispatch 20 min prior to arr)

Runways
ID	Dimensions	Surface	PCN	ILS
08/26	5386 x 164 feet 1642 x 50 meters	PART CONCRETE, PART ASPHALT, OR PART BITUMEN-BOUND MACADAM.	025FCWT	YES

Navaids
Type	ID	Name	Channel	Freq	Distance From Field	Bearing From Navaid
VOR	CIV	CHIEVRES	-	113.2	At Field	-
TACAN	CIV	CHIEVRES	079X	-	At Field	-

Supplies/Equipment
Other Fluids	DE-ICE, Anti-icing/De-icing/Defrosting Fluid (MIL A 8243)
JASU	AM32A-60A AIR: 150+/-5lb/min (2055+/-68cfm) at 51+/- psia, AC: 120/208v, 400 cycle, 3 phase, 75kva, 0.75pf, 4 wire, DC:28v, 200 amp, 5.6kw A/M32A-86 AC:115/200v, 3 phase, 90 kva, 0.8pf, 4 wire, DC: 28v,1500 amp, 72kw

Remarks
FLUID	De-Ice
FUEL	J8
JASU	2(AM32-60A) 3(AM32-86D) 24 hr PN.
MISC	Intl aircrews must ctc SHAPE intl motorpool C32 (0) 65-444736, 72 hr in advance for Tran. Req dur inclement wx, aircrews provide PIREP to twr. Exp 1-2 hr dly for gnd transportation aft duty hr. Due to lctn of wind sensor, Rwy 08 winds areest UFN. No COMSEC avbl, tran aircrews should plan to arr with adequate amount in case of extn dly. RSC/RCR not rpt in wx obsn (RSC-Runway Surface Condition). Request RSC/RCR fr Twr.
NS ABTMT	Ovft of HQ bldg, hosp (650M NW of HQ bldg) or hsg areas proh.
OPR HOURS	RWY CLSD TO ALL FIXED-WING ACFT. Opr 0800-1600Z++ Mon-Fri for rotor-wing acft only, clsd SHAPE and US hol, review NOTAMS for afld opr hours. Aircrew will ctc Chievres Airfield Management C+32 (0) 68275411/5501, DSN 361-5411/5501, fax extn5573 for PPR and apch pro briefing. For all acft with VIP code 5 and blw ldg other than nml duty hr, rqr SHAPE (ACOS/LOG) apvl. Apvl will be relayed to Airfield OPS for issuance of PPR, see RSTD. Drct any other afld questions to Airfield Management.
RSTD	Req PPR 72 hr PN rqr, PPR times are slotted, acft arr 30 min prior or 30 min after apv. If arr Sat, Sun or Mon PPR must be req NLT Thur prior. Before eng starts, ctc GND CON. Non-duty hr POC, DSN 361-5501/5411/5211/5465. WARNING - Bird sanctuary 2.5 NM N of RCL - DO NOT OVERFLY or be rgt of crs on FNA. Individuals doing apch trng which violate the proh area will be denied further trng. No RSRS auth at Chievres. Ltd amount of FLIP avbl for tran crews. Farming ops wi rwy and helipad clr zones.
TFC PAT	INST APCH PRO ILS RWY 26 NA UFN. Helicopters will apch TACAN via twy Delta, then trns to Bravo twy North of hangar1 before proceeding to Alpha twy for parking.Note: Ceil req 500' abv tfc pat alt or greater for the VFR pat to be used. See VFR ARR/DEP RTE, EUROPE.
TRAN ALERT	No hgr space, tie downs, fleet svc or maint avbl. Ltd maint platform, fuel and marshalling avbl.

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