67-413: Transit Center at Manas (formerly Manas Air Base and unofficially Ganci Air Base ) is a former U.S. military installation at Manas International Airport , near Bishkek , the capital of Kyrgyzstan . It was primarily operated by the U.S. Air Force . The primary unit at the base was the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing . On 3 June 2014 American troops vacated the base and it was handed over back to
134-417: A contract to acquire 14 NH90 helicopters, claiming that the supplier could not deliver and sustain the availability of combat capable aircraft that Norway required. All NH90 flight operations are discontinued, all acquired aircraft are planned to be returned to the manufacturer, and in due course Norway intends to acquire a new aircraft. On 14 March 2023, RNoAF announced a contract for six SH-60 Seahawk as
201-444: A large dining facility, a gymnasium, and a chapel. There was also a library where books and magazines were available for active duty airmen. It also hosted forces from several other International Security Assistance Force member states. Several events, such as the shooting of a local civilian and rumors of fuel dumping, had led to strained relations with some of the local population. Powers such as Russia and China had been pushing for
268-705: A part of the Operation Enduring Freedom . One of the missions was Operation Desert Lion . On 27–28 January, Norwegian F-16s bombed Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin Fighters in the Adi Ghar Mountains during the beginnings of Operation Mongoose . In 2004, four F-16s participated on NATO's Baltic Air Policing operation. Beginning from February 2006, eight Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s, joined by four Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16s, supported NATO International Security Assistance Force ground troops mostly in
335-502: A pasture next to the ramp to make room for coalition aircraft, and large, semi-permanent hangars were constructed to house coalition fighter aircraft. Additionally, a Marsden Matting parking apron was built along the Eastern half of the runway, along with a large cargo depot and several aircraft maintenance facilities. A tent city sprang up across the street from the passenger terminal, housing over 2,000 troops. The American forces christened
402-699: A replacement for the NH90 . The three first helicopters will be delivered in 2025. In April 2024 the Strategic Defense Plan announced the intention to acquire one extra C-130J Super Hercules and undisclosed number of helicopters to support the Army and special force. The plan also proposes increasing NASAMS's batteries to 6. As well as increasing the Army's air defense to 2 batteries. 2 batteries of layered air defenses with ballistic capacity will also be introduced (Patriot or new NASAMS with long-range missiles) The RNoAF
469-580: A single C-130. The Dutch, commanded by LtCol Bob "Body" Verkroost, remained until the presidential elections of 9 October 2004 elected Hamid Karzai as president of Afghanistan. The last F-16 mission was flown on 19 November 2004 at which time the F-16s were withdrawn to their homebase of Volkel Airbase in the Netherlands, while the KDC-10 flew the personnel back to Eindhoven Airport . The Dutch returned with F-16s to
536-482: Is organized in five Air Wings. These are divided into a total of one Control and Reporting Centre, nine flying squadrons as well as two ground based air defense units. The former distinctiontion between a Main Air Station ( hovedflystasjon ) and an Air Station ( flystasjon ) was replaced by a new distinction between an Air Force Station ( flystasjon ) and an Air Force Base ( Luftforsvarets base ). NOTE: Norway
603-530: Is participating in three NATO programs giving them access to an Airbus A330 MRTT , 3 C-17 ’s and 5 RQ-4D Phoenixs . Previous aircraft flown included the Dassault Falcon 20 , F-16 Fighting Falcon , North American F-86K , Republic F-84G , F-104 Starfighter , Northrop F-5 , Lockheed T-33 , Fairchild PT-26 , Catalina PB5Y-A , Douglas C-47 , DHC-3 Otter , Noorduyn Norseman , Cessna O-1 , Bell UH-1B , Bell 47G , P-3 Orion , NHIndustries NH90 and
670-1275: Is the air force of Norway . It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian Armed Forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peacetime establishment is approximately 2,430 employees (officers, enlisted staff and civilians). 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF. After mobilization , the RNoAF would consist of approximately 5,500 personnel. The infrastructure of the RNoAF includes seven airbases (at Ørland , Rygge , Andøya , Evenes , Bardufoss , Bodø , and Gardermoen ). It also has one control and reporting centre (in Sørreisa Municipality ) and three training centres: Værnes in Stjørdal Municipality (about 32.7 kilometres (20.3 mi) northeast of Trondheim ), Kjevik in Kristiansand Municipality , and at KNM Harald Haarfagre/ Madlaleiren in Stavanger Municipality . Military flights started on 1 June 1912. The first plane, HNoMS Start ,
737-583: Is the main international airport in Kyrgyzstan , located 25 kilometres (16 mi) north-northwest of the capital, Bishkek . The airport was constructed as a replacement for the former Frunze (now Bishkek) airport that was located to the south of the city, and named after Kyrgyz epic hero, Manas , suggested by writer and intellectual Chinghiz Aitmatov . The first plane landed at Manas in October 1974, with Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin on board. Aeroflot operated
SECTION 10
#1732851351938804-584: Is viewed by some analysts as an effort to "out-bid" the Americans. Referring to the closure of Manas Air Base, Pentagon spokesman Geoff S. Morrell directly accused Russia of "attempting to undermine [American] use of that facility". U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates also said that, "The Russians are trying to have it both ways with respect to Afghanistan in terms of Manas. On one hand you're making positive noises about working with us in Afghanistan, and on
871-667: The 330 (Norwegian) Squadron in May 1941 they were stationed at Reykjavík , Iceland performing anti-submarine and convoy escort duties. The unequal situation led to the rapid defeat of the Norwegian air forces, even though seven Gladiators from the fighter wing ( Jagevingen ) defended Fornebu airport against the attacking German forces with some success—claiming two Bf 110 heavy fighters, two He 111 bombers and one Junkers Ju 52 transport. Jagevingen lost two Gladiators to ground strafing while they were rearming on Fornebu and one in
938-749: The Anti-Aircraft Artillery was integrated into the Royal Norwegian Air Force. In 1999, Norway participated with six F-16s during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia . In October 2002, a tri-national force of 18 Norwegian, Danish , and Dutch F-16 fighter-bombers, with one Dutch Air Force KC-10 A tanker , flew to the Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan , to support the NATO ground forces in Afghanistan as
1005-888: The Finnish Air Force , while most of the aircrew eventually ended up in "Little Norway". The Army and Navy air services established themselves in Britain under the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Norwegian air and ground crews operated as part of the British Royal Air Force , in both wholly Norwegian squadrons and also in other squadrons and units such as RAF Ferry Command and RAF Bomber Command . In particular, Norwegian personnel operated two squadrons of Supermarine Spitfires : RAF 132 (Norwegian) Wing consisted of No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron and RAF No. 332 (Norwegian) Squadron . Both planes and running costs were financed by
1072-534: The KC-135 and C-17 . Around the same time, the Kyrgyz government performed a major expansion and renovation of the passenger terminal, funded in part by the sizable landing fees paid by coalition forces. Several restaurants, gift shops, and barber shops sprang up in the terminal, catering to the deployed troops. The airport terminal underwent renovation and redesign in 2007. The contemporary IATA codename FRU originates from
1139-638: The Kjeller aircraft factory, flight ready, but none combat ready. Some of the Kjeller aircraft had not been fitted with machine guns, and those that had been fitted still lacked gun sights . The ship with the last five 75A-6s that were bound for Norway was diverted to the United Kingdom, where they were taken over by Royal Air Force (RAF). All 19 Norwegian P-36s that were captured by the German invaders were later sold by
1206-582: The Kyrgyzstan military . The base was opened in December 2001 to support U.S. military operations in the War in Afghanistan . The base was a transit point for U.S. military personnel coming from and going to Afghanistan. Recreation facilities included internet cafes, wireless internet, pool tables, free video games, and telephone lines via the DSN that allowed coalition forces to call their homes at little or no cost. The base had
1273-601: The Norwegian Army Air Service (Hærens Flyvevaaben) and the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service (Marinens Flyvevaaben). In the late 1930s, as war seemed imminent, more modern aircraft were bought from abroad, including twelve Gloster Gladiator fighters from the UK, and six Heinkel He 115s from Germany . Considerable orders for aircraft were placed with United States companies during the months prior to
1340-650: The Souda Air Base in Souda Bay on Crete . On 24 March 2011, F-16s from the Royal Norwegian Air Force were assigned to the United States Africa Command during Operation Odyssey Dawn . On 25 March 2011, laser-guided bombs were launched from F-16s of the Royal Norwegian Air Force against Libyan tanks and during the night towards 26 March an airfield was bombed. Forces were also deployed to Operation Unified Protector on 26 March 2011. By July 2011,
1407-556: The USAAF took over the aircraft and used them under the designation P-36G. Also ordered prior to the invasion were 24 Northrop N-3PB float planes built in on Norwegian specifications for a patrol bomber . The order was made on 12 March 1940 in an effort to replace the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service's obsolete MF.11 biplane patrol aircraft. None of the type were delivered by 9 April and when they became operational with
SECTION 20
#17328513519381474-590: The airport ramp at the eastern end of the field. After the 11 September terrorist attacks and the beginning of the United States invasion of Afghanistan , the United States Department of Defense immediately sought permission from the Kyrgyz government to use the airport as a military base. U.S. forces arrived in late December 2001 and immediately the airport saw unprecedented expansion of operations and facilities. The derelict aircraft were rolled into
1541-648: The 86th Contingency Response Group out of Ramstein Air Base in Germany arrived at Manas to open the airfield for military use as part of Operation Enduring Freedom . U.S. close air support aircraft deployed there included U.S. Air Force F-15Es and U.S. Marine Corps F-18s . In February 2002, a detachment of French Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000D ground attack aircraft and KC-135 air-refueling tankers deployed to Manas in support of ground forces in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In March of
1608-556: The Afghan theatre in 2005 but at that time began operating out of Kabul Airport . The Tulip Revolution of March 2005 led to the toppling of Kyrgyz president Askar Akayev . However, American and allied personnel did not find themselves disrupted or affected, according to international news reports. One military member even indicated, "It's been business as usual...We did not miss a single flight." In April 2006, Kyrgyzstan's new president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev , threatened to expel U.S. troops if
1675-633: The British Isles were four German-made Heinkel He 115 seaplane bombers, six of which were bought before the war and two more were captured from the Germans during the Norwegian Campaign . One He 115 also escaped to Finland before the surrender of mainland Norway, as did three M.F. 11s ; landing on Lake Salmijärvi in Petsamo . A captured Arado Ar 196 originating from the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper
1742-614: The F-35 officially took over the Quick Reaction Alert mission, ending the F-16 fleet’s 42 year-long mission and making Norway the first country in the world to field a fighter fleet entirely composed of fifth-generation fighters . In December 2021, Romania expressed their interest to purchase 32 F-16As. The first three aircraft were delivered in November 2023. In June 2022, Norway terminated
1809-467: The German authorities to the Finnish Air Force , which was to use them to good effect during the Continuation War . The other order for P-36s was for 36 Hawk 75A-8 (with 1200 hp Wright R-1820 -95 Cyclone 9 engines), none of which were delivered in time for the invasion, but were delivered to " Little Norway " near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There they were used for training Norwegian pilots until
1876-734: The MAP (Military Aid Program). The expansion of the Air Force happened at a very rapid pace as the Cold War progressed. Throughout the Cold War the Norwegian Air Force was only one of two NATO air forces— Turkey being the other—with a responsibility for an area with a land border with the Soviet Union , and Norwegian fighter aircraft had on average 500–600 interceptions of Soviet aircraft each year. In 1959,
1943-647: The Norwegian F-16's had dropped close to 600 bombs, some 17% of the total bombs dropped at that time. It was Norwegian F-16s that on the night towards 26 April, bombed Gaddafi's headquarter in Tripoli. From September to December 2011, the Air Force contributed personnel and one P-3 Orion to Operation Ocean Shield . Operating from the Seychelles , the aircraft searched for pirates in the Somali Basin. In April 2016
2010-708: The Philippines pre-dated this instruction). Since that time the air base has been officially called Manas Air Base, after the name of Manas International Airport where it is located. The name "Manas" refers to the Epic of Manas , a world-renowned Kyrgyz epic poem . The facility was renamed "Transit Center at Manas" following a new agreement between the U.S. and Kyrgyz governments, signed in June 2009. Most English-language sources, however, continue to refer to it as "Manas Air Base". The center opened on 16 December 2001. In December 2001,
2077-580: The Royal Netherlands Air Force again returned with 5x F-16 fighter/bomber to provide Close Air Support (CAS) for the ISAF mission, which now encompassed both Kabul and Northern Afghanistan. To supplement the small availability of tanker aircraft, a RNLAF KDC-10 was also deployed which flew regularly to supply Dutch F-16s with fuel. At that time, the Spanish Airforce was also giving support with
Transit Center at Manas - Misplaced Pages Continue
2144-480: The Soviet name of the city of Bishkek, then called Frunze . In 2012, the airport handled 1,056,000 passengers. The airport operates 24 hours a day and its ILS system meets ICAO CAT II standards, enabling flight operations in low ceilings (30 meters or 100 feet) and visibilities (350 m or 1,150 ft). During its existence, Kyrgyzstan Airlines had its head office on the airport property. On 2 January 2002,
2211-525: The State Department and U.S. embassies, supposedly originating from the WikiLeaks archive. "Junior Sergeant Hatfield was subject to severe administrative measures against him, which will have long-term effects and negatively affect his career," the dispatch stated though criminal charges against Hatfield never went to a military court. According to the dispatch, the officer authorized to initiate court-martial
2278-563: The United States would not agree by 1 June to pay more for stationing forces in the Central Asian nation. He later withdrew this threat. On 6 September 2006, U.S. Air Force officer Maj. Jill Metzger went missing after being separated from her group while visiting a shopping center in Bishkek. She was found three days later in the nearby city of Kant . After an Air Force investigation, it
2345-658: The air, shot down by Future Experte Helmut Lent , injuring the sergeant pilot. After the withdrawal of allied forces, the Norwegian Government ceased fighting in Norway and evacuated to the United Kingdom on 10 June 1940. Only aircraft of the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service had the range to fly all the way from their last remaining bases in Northern Norway to the UK. Included amongst the Norwegian aircraft that reached
2412-624: The airline moved its head office to the Kyrgyzstan Airlines Sales Agency building of Manas International Airport. Previously the head office was also on the grounds of the airport. [REDACTED] Media related to Manas International Airport at Wikimedia Commons 43°03′40.7″N 74°28′39.2″E / 43.061306°N 74.477556°E / 43.061306; 74.477556 Royal Norwegian Air Force The Royal Norwegian Air Force ( RNoAF ) ( Norwegian : Luftforsvaret , lit. 'The Air Defence')
2479-786: The base when its lease ran out in 2014. In September 2012, Atambayev repeated his view that "Manas should be a civil airport" which "should not be a military base for any country". He reaffirmed his stance that starting from 2014, Manas airport will only be used to transport passengers. In 2014, American military flights began to fly out of Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport , Romania instead of Manas. 43°03′41″N 74°28′39″E / 43.061306°N 74.477556°E / 43.061306; 74.477556 Manas International Airport Manas International Airport ( Kyrgyz : Манас эл аралык аэропорту , romanized : Manas El Aralyk Aeroportu ; Russian : Международный аэропорт «Манас» ) ( IATA : FRU , ICAO : UCFM )
2546-451: The base. According to Bill Gertz , US State Department officials reportedly overheard that China had asked the government of Kyrgyzstan to close the base to U.S. use in return for $ 3 billion in cash (a sum equal to a tenth of all Chinese foreign aid given from 1950 to 2009). According to Gertz, the Chinese ambassador to Kyrgyzstan subsequently denied to the U.S. ambassador that
2613-399: The changes in the new agreement, activities at the base will continue unaltered, and in fact, as of March 2010, operations had continued. In March 2010 the United States transported 50,000 NATO soldiers to Afghanistan via Kyrgyzstan as it represents the quickest and most efficient route. The new agreement does not appear to restrict the kind of materials U.S. forces can move into and out of
2680-658: The closure of the base and the eviction of U.S. forces was passed by the Kyrgyz parliament by a vote of 78 to one on 19 February 2009. The following day, 20 February, an official eviction notice was delivered to the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, according to the Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs . The news of the base's closure followed the announcement of a new agreement between Russia and Kyrgyzstan in which Kyrgyzstan will receive $ 2 billion in loans and $ 150 million in financial aid from Russia. Most observers see
2747-485: The closure of the base since 2005. In February 2009, the Kyrgyz Parliament voted to close the base after the two governments failed to agree on a higher rent for the property. American and Kyrgyz officials continued negotiations after the announcement, and on 23 June a tentative agreement was reached. Under the new arrangement, the United States will pay $ 200 million, three times the previous rent, for continued use of
Transit Center at Manas - Misplaced Pages Continue
2814-413: The covert cash offer had been made. On 6 April 2010 a second revolution took place. The transit center itself saw few mishaps during the revolution. The 376th Expeditionary Security Forces and augmentees were initially called to combat duty when a Kyrgyz military armored personnel carrier (APC) was taken from a National Guard facility in Bishkek by revolutionaries and was driven to the transit center with
2881-493: The exiled Norwegian government. In the autumn of 1940, a Norwegian training centre known as "Little Norway" was established next to Toronto Island Airport , Canada. The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) was established by a royal decree on 1 November 1944, thereby merging the Army and Navy air forces. No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron defended London from 1941 and was the highest scoring fighter squadron in South England during
2948-503: The facilities. Before the handover to the Kyrgyz military, Kyrgyz forces handled security in the areas surrounding the facility, while American forces provided security for the facility, and the site was then called a "transit center" instead of an "air base". All U.S. forces vacated the base in early June 2014, at which time control of the base was handed over to Kyrgyz authorities. The U.S. lease officially expired in July 2014. The installation
3015-422: The first scheduled flight to Moscow–Domodedovo on 4 May 1975. When Kyrgyzstan gained independence from the Soviet Union in December 1991, the airport began a steady decline as its infrastructure was neglected for almost ten years and a sizable aircraft boneyard developed. Approximately 60 derelict aircraft from the Soviet era, ranging in size from helicopters to full-sized airliners, were left in mothballs on
3082-441: The intent to enter the base and stop any fleeing members of the former government. Small arms fire erupted in several locations around the base to include the flight line. The base commander Colonel Holt had all armed combat units and those that were transiting to or from Afghanistan in combat posture to defend the transit center. On 8 November 2011, newly elected President Almazbek Atambayev announced that he would attempt to close
3149-601: The invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940. The most important of the US orders were two orders for comparatively modern Curtiss P-36 Hawk monoplane fighters. The first was for 24 Hawk 75A-6 (with 1200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G Twin Wasp engines), 19 of which were delivered before the invasion. Of these 19, though, none were operational when the attack came. A number were still in their shipping crates in Oslo harbour, while others stood at
3216-537: The life of a patient, at the hospital in Bodø , was saved when necessary medical equipment was ferried halfway across Norway by an Air Force F-16 jet from Værnes Air Station , in a flight that took 25 minutes. On 29 March 2017, Norway signed a contract for five P-8As, to be delivered between 2022 and 2023. On 3 November 2017, RNoAF took delivery of the first F-35A Lightning II . In March 2021, RNoAF participated in Icelandic Air Policing with four F-35A Lightning II and 130 military personnel. On 6 January 2022,
3283-427: The meantime, U.S. authorities agreed to have Hatfield remain in Kyrgyzstan until the matter was resolved. Another issue to come out of the shooting was that of the compensation offered to Ivanov's family. His employer offered the family $ 50,000 while the U.S. government offered only around $ 2,000. Galina Skripkina, a lawyer representing Ivanov's widow, described the U.S. offer as "humiliating" and said that if it
3350-494: The other hand you're working against us in terms of that airfield which is clearly important to us." However Russian President Dmitry Medvedev distanced his country from the announcement, saying that it was "within the competence of the Kyrgyz Republic" to decide how the Manas base functioned. On 23 June 2009 a new deal was reached between the U.S. and Kyrgyz governments. It was ratified by the Kyrgyz parliament two days later, and signed into law by President Bakiyev on 7 July. Under
3417-460: The people's desire for more participatory democracy. The authorities must respect fundamental human rights such as political, economic and social rights. It is now vital that all parties do their utmost to foster peaceful dialogue on reforms". On 19 March 2011, the Norwegian government authorized the Royal Norwegian Air Force for deployment in Libya . Norway approved six F-16 fighters and personnel. The deployment started on 21 March and operated from
SECTION 50
#17328513519383484-417: The place of the Mirages. Support for the new aircraft came in the form of one Netherlands KDC-10 tanker , and several American KC-135s, which remained assigned until June 2014. At the same time, Spain deployed two Superpuma rescue helicopters from its Army Aviation and at least two C-130s. Several of the servicemen from this unit were killed in an air crash on their way home from the base. In September 2004,
3551-407: The same year, the Royal Australian Air Force stationed two B707 air-to-air refueling aircraft at the base. A Norwegian C-130 deployed there in early 2002; it was withdrawn in October 2002 when a tri-national detachment, known as European Participating Airforces (EPAF) of a total of 18 F-16s, 6 from the Danish , 6 from the Dutch and 6 from the Norwegian F-16 multirole aircraft took
3618-444: The site "Ganci Air Base", after New York Fire Department chief Peter J. Ganci, Jr. , who was killed in the 11 September terrorist attacks . It was later given the official name of Manas Air Base , renamed Transit Center at Manas in 2009, and closed and handed over to Kyrgyz authorities in 2014. In 2004, a new parking ramp was added in front of the passenger terminal to make room for larger refueling and transport aircraft such as
3685-427: The southern provinces of Afghanistan. The air detachment is known as the 1st Netherlands-Norwegian European Participating Forces Expeditionary Air Wing (1 NLD/NOR EEAW). In 2011, a detachment of F-16s were sent to enforce the Libyan no-fly zone . In a statement, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre condemned the violence against "peaceful protesters in Libya, Bahrain and Yemen", saying the protests "are an expression of
3752-458: The terms of the new agreement, U.S. payment for use of the facilities will increase from $ 17.1 million to $ 60 million. An additional $ 117 million will be given to the Kyrgyz government, including $ 36 million for upgrading the airport with additional storage facilities and aircraft parking, $ 21 million for fighting drug trafficking in the country, and $ 20 million for economic development. The facility's official title also
3819-400: The two events as connected, and believe that Russian financial assistance was offered on the condition that U.S. forces were expelled from Kyrgyzstan. As of 2009, the U.S. government provided $ 150 million in aid annually to Kyrgyzstan. According to General David Petraeus , head of U.S. Central Command , around $ 63 million of that sum is directly connected to the base. The larger Russian package
3886-470: The war. Up until 8 May 1945, 335 persons had lost their lives while taking part in the efforts of the RNoAF. After the war the Spitfire remained in service with the RNoAF into the fifties. In 1947, the Surveillance and Control Division acquired its first radar system, and around the same time the RNoAF got its first jet fighters in the form of de Havilland Vampires . In 1949 Norway co-founded NATO , and soon afterwards received American aircraft through
3953-441: Was General Arthur Lichte, a commander at the airbase, who, "after reviewing the report of the Article 32 investigation and considering the advice of his staff judge advocate...dismissed the charge against SrA Hatfield," the dispatch states. It said that Lichte had ruled for a non-prosecution based "on his own professional and impartial judgment of the facts of the case and the evidence that was available." The paper reported that Lichte
4020-451: Was also flown to Britain for testing. For the Norwegian Army Air Service aircraft the only option for escape was Finland, where the planes would be interned but at least not fall into the hands of the Germans. In all two Fokker C.V.s and one de Havilland Tiger Moth made it across the border and onto Finnish airfields just before the capitulation of mainland Norway. All navy and army aircraft that fled to Finland were pressed into service with
4087-508: Was altered under the new agreement. Instead of being referred to as "Manas Air Base", it became the "Transit Center at Manas International Airport". According to a Kyrgyz government spokesman, the facility will officially cease to be an air base in August 2009, after which point its legal status would be altered to a logistic center. Additionally, security around the base will now be handled by Kyrgyz personnel, as opposed to American servicemen. Several local political observers believe that despite
SECTION 60
#17328513519384154-414: Was bought with money donated by the public and piloted by Hans Dons , second in command of Norway's first submarine HNoMS Kobben (A-1). Until 1940 most of the aircraft belonging to the Navy and Army air forces were domestic designs or built under license agreements, the main bomber/scout aircraft of the Army air force being the Dutch-originated Fokker C.V . Before 1944, the Air Force were divided into
4221-410: Was confirmed in February 2012 that Metzger had indeed been kidnapped as she had claimed. On 6 December 2006, U.S. serviceman Zachary Hatfield fatally shot Alexander Ivanov, a Kyrgyz civilian, at a truck checkpoint at the base. A statement from the base stated the airman "used deadly force in response to a threat at an entry control checkpoint". Ivanov, a truck driver for Aerocraft Petrol Management,
4288-414: Was given the power of referral because he was not previously involved in the investigation of the case, nor in the chain of command relating to Hatfield. In the summer of 2009, after dismissing criminal charges against Hatfield, the U.S. military gave Ivanova's widow $ 250,000. On 3 February 2009, Kyrgyzstan's President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced that Manas Air Base would soon be closed. A bill calling for
4355-462: Was initially named after New York Fire Department Chief Peter J. Ganci, Jr. , who was killed in the September 11 attacks . The all-ranks club/recreation center on base was known as "Pete's Place" in his honor. Shortly after the U.S. Air Force had used the name "Ganci", it was found that an Air Force Instruction (AFI) dictated that non-U.S. air bases could not bear the name of any U.S. citizens (the former Clark Air Base in
4422-409: Was not increased the family would take legal action. However, the U.S. embassy stated that this amount was an interim payment and that final compensation would be determined once the investigation into the shooting was concluded. More detailed data about the hearings on the Hatfield case were published in late December 2010 via the web site Russian Reporter, which issued a series of dispatches from
4489-515: Was waiting to finish the security check before proceeding into the U.S.-controlled area. According to a base spokesman, "As the airman approached the tent, the driver physically threatened him with a knife which was discovered at the scene. The airman drew his 9mm weapon and fired in self-defense." Hatfield fired two shots into Ivanov's chest, killing him. The killing drew widespread condemnation from Kyrgyz authorities and they quickly demanded that Hatfield's immunity from local prosecution be revoked. In
#937062