Misplaced Pages

#390609

61-529: Torrejón Air Base was originally the home of the Spanish National Institute Aeronautics , however following the Pact of Madrid of 26 September 1953, construction began at Torrejón on a new 13,400-foot (4,100 m) concrete runway to replace the existing 4,266-foot (1,300 m) grass airstrip and on a massive concrete apron and other necessary maintenance and shelter facilities to accommodate

122-605: A navigator with the group was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for navigating his damaged plane back to UK from a mission to Bohlen. Lt Hoat was blinded in one eye and his vision in other eye impaired by injury. Despite these injuries, he was able to provide the pilot with directions to safely return the plane and crew to Deenthorpe. The group flew its last combat mission on 20 April 1945 against Brandenberg . The group had flown 254 combat missions from Deenethorpe airfield, 91 aircraft were lost in action with

183-472: A Fortress which failed to get off the ground careened over farmland and came to rest after crashing into a cottage on the edge of the village of Deenethorpe. The surviving members of the crew just had time to evacuate the wreckage and warn the villagers of the imminent explosion of the bomb load before it detonated damaging many houses in the village. The blast was felt in Kettering nine miles away. Lt Carl Hoag,

244-664: A dispersal program. Another reason for establishing Reflex bases was the relatively short range of the B-47, unlike the intercontinental range of the B-36 Peacemaker and B-52 Stratofortress which could remain based permanently in the United States . Also, in this way SAC could spread out its potential as a Soviet target by placing its aircraft, weapons, and personnel on many more bases, with each bombardment wing having two additional installations to which it could disperse. On 5 July 1958

305-520: A large number of operational missions during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm . After the 1991 cease-fire in Iraq , plans proceeded to close Torrejón Air Base. On 28 June, the 613th TFS was inactivated and its aircraft sent to Air National Guard squadrons in the United States. The 612th TFS inactivated on 1 October and the 614th TFS on 1 January 1992. In accordance with the 1988 agreement,

366-715: A major terminal for MAC transatlantic flights. In 1970 the 401st TFW upgraded to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II . In September 1973, an equipment change to the F-4C model took place, then in 1979 to the F-4D. As a result of the withdrawal of USAF forces in South Vietnam, on 15 July 1971 the 307th and 353rd TFS were returned to their home bases, and the 612th and 614th TFSs were assigned to Torrejón. Also in 1972, individual squadron tail codes were eliminated and "TJ" became

427-638: A permanent basis to Torrejón on 27 April 1966, to perform host functions at the base and to support the rotational TDY duty to Italy and Turkey for NATO alerts. The 401st TFW's initial operational squadrons at Torrejón were: 401st TFW squadrons flew the North American F-100D/FSuper Sabre . Due to the demands of the Vietnam War , the 401st had deployed two of its three permanently assigned fighter squadrons (612th, 614th) to South Vietnamese bases ( Phan Rang AB and Phu Cat AB ). To provide

488-627: A result of their efforts. The group was alerted for redeployment to the Pacific Theater and the last plane departed Deenethorpe on 3 June. The ground echelon sailed on the RMS ; Queen Elizabeth on the fifth. Upon arrival in the US, personnel were granted thirty days leave, reassembling at Sioux Falls Army Air Field , South Dakota, but plans had changed and personnel were either transferred to Boeing B-29 Superfortress units or processed for discharge and

549-647: Is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe to be activated or inactivated at any time as needed. It is stationed at Ramstein Air Base , Germany. The group was first activated as the 401st Bombardment Group during World War II . The 401st entered combat with VIII Bomber Command , flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses from RAF Deenethorpe . The group earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for missions over Leipzig on 11 January and 20 February 1944. The 401st Bomb Group had

610-572: Is an autonomous agency of the Spanish public administration dependent on the Secretariat of State for Defence (SEDEF). It is responsible for the aerospace , aeronautics , hydrodynamics , and defense and security technologies research. The INTA was established in 1942, as the National Institute of Aeronautical Technology ( Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeronáutica ), and it was integrated in

671-485: The 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron from Myrtle Beach Air Force Base , South Carolina. The wing's 401st Combat Support Group took over the support functions, personnel, and equipment of SAC's 3970th Strategic Wing . In 1970 the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) upgraded to the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II . In September 1973, an equipment change to the F-4C model took place, then in 1978 to

SECTION 10

#1732852872391

732-703: The Air Defense Command 's 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron arrived at Torrejón from Geiger AFB , Washington . It had an air defence role with North American F-86 Sabres . On 26 April 1960, the 497th FIS transitioned to the F-102 Delta Dagger and operated under SAC control until its transfer to the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) 86th Air Division (Defense) at Ramstein Air Base West Germany on 1 July 1960. This transfer

793-828: The Ministry of the Air . It has its headquarters in Torrejón de Ardoz , near Madrid. Its budget, €190 million in 2019, comes from the Spanish Ministry of Defence and from its own projects with the industry. In 2001, it had 1153 R&D staff with 325 full-time equivalent researchers. As of 2017, INTA had a total of 1500 employees, 80% of them are dedicated to R&D activities. Its two main areas of activity are research and development (for example, in propulsion, materials, remote sensing ) and certification and testing (for example, in aircraft, software, metrology). Main objectives of

854-523: The RMS  Queen Mary and sailed on 27 October disembarking at Greenock on the Firth of Clyde on 3 November 1943. The air echelon staged for deployment at Scott Field , Illinois then flew to England under the control of Air Transport Command via Newfoundland, Iceland and Scotland. On arrival in England, half of the group's aircrews were immediately reassigned to the 351st Bombardment Group . The rest of

915-616: The Second González government ) to negotiate the reduction of the United States military presence in Spain. Spain insisted that the F-16 aircraft be removed from Torrejón as a condition for renewal of the base agreement, and the Spanish government threatened to expel all United States forces in Spain if this demand were not accepted. The United States felt that even though Italy subsequently agreed to station

976-557: The Tactical Fight Wing, 401st , Provisional, which was formed from the wing's support elements. However, after the 1991 cease-fire in Iraq, plans proceeded to close Torrejon Air Base. On 1 October 1991 the wing was redesignated the 401st Fighter Wing . Initially, the USAF decided to return the wing to the US and inactivate it. However, the remaining members of NATO lobbied to keep the 401st in

1037-520: The 3970th Strategic Wing on 1 July 1957. The base hosting Sixteenth Air Force as well as SAC's 65th Air Division (Defense) where it cooperated with Spanish Air Force units in the Air Defense Direction Centers (ADDC). The 65th Air Division directed base construction and the establishment of off-base housing and radar sites. The division's fighter squadrons flew air defense interceptions over Spanish airspace. The division also controlled

1098-406: The 3970th Strategic Wing on 25 June 1966. The 98th SW was inactivated at Lincoln Air Force Base Nebraska that same day with the closure of Lincoln AFB. The 98th SW had no permanently assigned aircraft assigned, however CONUS-based SAC wings deployed aircraft to provide air refueling sup-port to meet the operational, alert, and exercise commitments of SAC, TAC, USAFE, and NATO in an area including

1159-449: The 401st a full operational capability at Torrejón, aircraft and personnel were transferred on a permanent basis to the 401st TFW from Homestead AFB , Florida (307th TFS) and Myrtle Beach AFB South Carolina (353d TFS). As well as the USAFE tactical aircraft, SAC retained a presence at Torrejón with the 98th Strategic Wing flying KC-135 Stratotankers from the base. The 98th SW replaced

1220-517: The 401st had no assigned tactical units, instead it supported rotating squadrons deployed there from other groups. The tenure of the 401st at Aviano AB was brief, as a result of Hurricane Andrew destroying Homestead AFB , Florida in August 1992. The 31st Fighter Wing , formerly at Homestead was transferred to Aviano on 1 April 1994, taking over the assets of the 401st Fighter Wing, which was inactivated. The 401st Expeditionary Operations Group (401 EOG)

1281-490: The 401st wing became the host organization for England AFB when the 834th Air Division and 366th Tactical Fighter Wing inactivated. The 401st TFW Participated in numerous firepower demonstrations, tactical exercises and maneuvers in the United States and overseas, and periodically deployed its tactical squadrons to bases in Europe and the Middle East to support NATO . With the exception of its elements deployed overseas,

SECTION 20

#1732852872391

1342-580: The Block 30 F-16C/D beginning in late 1987, with all aircraft replaced by September 1988. Operational squadrons were: As the time approached in 1987 for the renegotiation of the existing base agreement, which had entered into force in 1983 for a five-year period, pressures mounted for a reduction of the United States military presence in Spain. Communist political groups and elements of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) had campaigned against

1403-483: The Block 30 F-16C/D in July 1988. In January 1988 Spain and the United States announced jointly that agreement had been reached in principle on a new base agreement with an initial term of eight years. The agreement essentially met conditions demanded by Spain that the USAF withdraw from a permanent presence on the base. The F-16 aircraft were to be removed from Torrejon by mid-1991. It was expected that this action would reduce

1464-449: The F-16 wing at Aviano Air Base , the cost of transfer would be high, and the unit would be in a more exposed position to Warsaw Pact forces. In January 1988, Spain and the United States announced jointly that agreement had been reached in principle on a new base agreement with an initial term of eight years, essentially meeting the conditions demanded by Spain. The F-16s were to be removed from Torrejón within three years, by mid-1991. It

1525-551: The F-4D. As a result of the withdrawal of USAF forces in South Vietnam , in 1972 the 307th and 353d fighter squadrons were returned to their home bases, and the 612th and 614th Tactical Fighter Squadrons (TFS) were assigned to Torrejon. Also in 1972, squadron tail codes were eliminated and "TJ" became the tail code for all 401st TFW aircraft. In 1983 the 401st upgraded to the Block 15 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon . The F-16s were upgraded to

1586-618: The Nano-satellites and Mini-satellites programmes; Satellite programmes: All these satellites are totally Spanish in manufacture and design, comprising a low-cost multiuse platform, with modular design subsystems and standard interfaces with the payload module. INTA designed sounding and orbital rockets such as: These operated from the El Arenosillo rocket launch site. This is an incomplete list of facilities: 401st Tactical Fighter Wing The 401st Air Expeditionary Group

1647-470: The Republic of Vietnam. The wing and its remaining squadron transferred to Torrejon Air Base , Spain, replacing a Strategic Air Command wing there. In 1984 the group and wing were consolidated into a single unit. In 1991, United States units departed Spain, and the 401st moved to Aviano Air Base , Italy, where it replaced the 40th Support Wing , originally managing deployed fighter squadrons, but from 1992

1708-489: The Southern Region OF NATO and offered to rebase it using NATO funds. In accordance with the 1988 agreement, the USAF portion of the base was returned to the Spanish government on 21 May 1992, and the 401st Fighter Wing transferred on paper to Aviano Air Base Italy without personnel or equipment. At Aviano it assumed the personnel mission and equipment of the 40th Support Wing , which was inactivated. At Aviano,

1769-405: The USAF portion of the base was turned over to the Spanish government on 21 May 1992, with the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing being transferred to Aviano Air Base, Italy without personnel or equipment. In the mid-1990s Torrejón Air Base was opened to civilian traffic (mostly charter and executive traffic) and was given the name Madrid–Torrejón Airport. Prior to the completion of Barajas Terminal 4 it

1830-468: The USAFE takeover of the base, the Air Force transferred the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing from England Air Force Base to USAFE on a permanent basis to Torrejon to perform host functions at the base and to support the rotational fighter deployments to Italy and Turkey for NATO alerts. The 613th moved with the wing, where it was joined by the 307th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Homestead AFB , Florida, and

1891-560: The active duty 95th Bombardment Group . The 401st was called to active duty on 1 May 1951 during the Korean War . Its personnel were reassigned to other units and it was inactivated on 25 June 1951. The 401st was redesignated as a Tactical Air Command Fighter-Bomber group in 1953 and activated on 8 February 1954 at Alexandria Air Force Base , Louisiana. The group was equipped initially with F-86F Sabres returned from combat in Korea. The group

Torrejón Air Base - Misplaced Pages Continue

1952-412: The bases. Moreover, the base agreement had become a symbol of United States cooperation with Francoist Spain . It was important to many Spaniards to eliminate vestiges of this history by converting Spain's long-standing bilateral relations with the United States into a multilateral undertaking through NATO. The outcome of the 1986 Spanish NATO membership referendum committed the Spanish government (then

2013-709: The breakthrough at Saint-Lô , it also supported the siege of Brest in August and Operation Market Garden in September. During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, the unit attacked transportation and communications in the battle area. It supported airborne forces involved in Operation Varsity in March 1945. The group's worst accident occurred in December 1943 when

2074-466: The eastern Atlantic , most of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East . Even though neither were assigned to the base, when a B-52 and a KC-135 crashed off the coast of Spain in the 1966 Palomares B-52 crash , Torrejón became the focal point for the search for the missing nuclear weapons. Military Airlift Command (MAC) operated the 625th Military Airlift Support Squadron at Torrejón to function as

2135-428: The first combat crews were assigned to the group. In the final stage of training the squadrons dispersed with the 612th remaining at Great Falls, while the 613th trained at Cut Bank Army Air Field , the 614th at Glasgow Army Air Field , and the 615th at Lewiston Army Air Field . After completing training the ground echelon left for overseas on 19 October 1943. After staging at Camp Shanks , New York they embarked on

2196-621: The flight test group of the Spanish Air Force ( Ala 12 of the Spanish Air Force, the 54 Flight Test Group and the 43 Grupo dedicated to aerial firefighting). Currently the Ala 12 of the Spanish Air Force operates two squadrons equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet , the 54 Flight Test Group operates with a very diverse range of airplanes and the 43 Grupo operates with Bombardier 415 and Canadair CL-215 . In order to fill

2257-550: The group became part of Eighth Air Force at RAF Deenethorpe . The 401st was assigned to the 92d Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division . Its tail code was Triangle-S . On 26 November the 401st flew its first combat mission against Bremen , Germany. It did not suffer the combat loss of an airplane until its ninth mission on 30 December. The 401st BG operated chiefly against strategic targets , bombing industries, submarine facilities, shipyards, missile sites, marshalling yards, and airfields . On 11 January 1944

2318-419: The group led the 1st Bombardment Division in an attack against aircraft manufacturing facilities at Ochsersleben , Germany. Although the bombers were able to attack, poor weather conditions prevented the division from receiving effective fighter cover. For over three hours the bomber formation suffered more than 400 attacks by Luftwaffe fighters, including air-to-air rocket attacks. Despite these attacks,

2379-583: The group was drawn from the 395th Bombardment Group at Ephrata and the 383d Bombardment Group at Rapid City Army Air Field , South Dakota. The cadre soon departed for Orlando Army Air Base , Florida, where they conducted simulated combat missions with the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics out of Brooksville Army Air Field . The ground echelon moved to Geiger Field , Washington in May 1943 and to Great Falls AAB , Montana in July. At Great Falls

2440-636: The group was inactivated. During the early years of the Cold War the unit was redesignated as the 401st Bombardment Group , Very Heavy and was allotted to the Air Force Reserve . It was activated on 26 June 1947 by Air Defense Command at Brooks Field , Texas, but there is no indication the group was fully manned or equipped. The 401st was redesignated the 401st Bombardment Group , Medium in June 1949 and moved to Biggs AFB , Texas where it became an associate of

2501-563: The group’s bombs fell within 1000 feet of the aiming point. Beginning in October 1944, the unit concentrated its attacks on Axis oil reserves. In addition to strategic missions, group operations included attacks on transportation, airfields, and fortifications prior to the Normandy invasion. On D-Day the 401st attacked Normandy beachhead areas dropping bombs five minutes before troops landed. The following month it provided close air support for

Torrejón Air Base - Misplaced Pages Continue

2562-740: The largest United States Air Force (USAF) bomber aircraft in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) inventory, with the base intended to support SAC Reflex missions. This was the longest runway in Europe until the construction of the Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport in 1983, and is the ninth longest runway in Europe as of 1 June 2017. USAF support activities began under the 7600th Air Base Group located in Madrid in July 1956, to support construction and base organizational functions. Torrejón Air Base opened officially on 1 June 1957 with SAC activating

2623-533: The lowest loss rate of any group in Eighth Air Force. The group's heaviest combat loss had occurred on 28 May 1944 when it lost seven aircraft. After V-E Day , the group flew missions to Linz , Austria to evacuate British and French prisoners of war. It also flew Trolley sightseeing missions at low level, flying ground support personnel over the Ruhr and Frankfurt am Main to see the damage that had been done as

2684-464: The number of United States personnel in Spain by nearly one-half. Implementation of this agreement was delayed by the 1990/91 crisis in Southwest Asia, when the 401st TFW was one of the first American fighter wings to respond. The 612th TFS deployed to Incirlik Air Base , Turkey as part of the 7440th Composite Wing (Provisional) and the 614th TFS deployed to Doha, Qatar where it became the core of

2745-553: The operations of numerous attached tactical fighter squadrons that were deployed to Spain for temporary duty (TDY). Assigned or attached units of the division participated in numerous exercises with the Spanish Air Defense Command, and in some instances, with the U.S. Sixth Fleet . In addition to the command and control mission, Torrejón Air Base hosted SAC reflex operations. Reflex operations consisted of rotating B-47 Stratojet wings overseas for extended duty as part of

2806-439: The second best rating in bombing accuracy for Eighth Air Force . The group was activated briefly as an Air Force Reserve unit in 1947, but apparently was minimally manned. It was called to active duty in 1951 for the Korean War , but its personnel were used as fillers for other units and the group was soon inactivated. The group was again active in the 1950s as the 401st Fighter-Bomber Group at England AFB , Louisiana. It

2867-736: The space left by the withdrawal of USAF, the Spanish Air Force moved into Torrejón Air Base the following units that were not based there before: the 45 Grupo dedicated to VIP transport and the 47 Grupo dedicated to electronic warfare . Flying and notable non-flying units based at Torrejón. Air Combat Command General Air Command Personnel Command Other European Union Satellite Center NATO Communications and Information Agency Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe National Institute for Aerospace Technology The National Institute for Aerospace Technology "Esteban Terradas" ( Spanish : Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial «Esteban Terradas» or INTA )

2928-480: The tail code for all 401st TFW aircraft. On 31 December 1976 the 98th Strategic Wing was inactivated with its air refueling mission being taken over by the 306th Strategic Wing, based at Ramstein Air Base, West Germany. The 401st transitioned to the new General Dynamics Block 15 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon beginning with the first aircraft deliveries on 5 February 1983. The wing reached full F-16 operational capability on 1 January 1985. The F-16A/B models were upgraded to

2989-603: The unit continued on its mission and struck a telling blow against German aircraft production for which the group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). A little over a month later, on 20 February, the group earned its second DUC for an attack on the Erla Maschinenwerke aircraft manufacturing facilities in Leipzig , Germany. Despite fighter attacks and battle damage to the group's planes, 100% of

3050-532: The wing while it equipped with F-100s before moving to Bien Hoa Air Base , Republic of Viet Nam. The wing then briefly returned to support operations in Europe-Middle East. When the 614th and 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron s moved to Phu Cat Air Base and Phan Rang Air Base in the spring of 1966, the wing was left with a single operational squadron. In 1966 fighter operations at England ceased and were replaced by special operations training. on 27 April

3111-430: The wing and its remaining squadron moved to Europe. Prior to 1965, Torrejon AB hosted deployed squadrons of Boeing B-47 Stratojet aircraft rotating from CONUS Strategic Air Command (SAC) bases. Although B-47 deployments ceased, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker deployments to support Operation Chrome Dome continued, but on a reduced basis, and the base was transferred to United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE). With

SECTION 50

#1732852872391

3172-523: The wing operated from Homestead AFB , Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis from October to December 1962. From February 1964 to November 1965, wing's squadron deployments shifted to the Far East and Southeast Asia in support of operations in that area. In November, the wing's 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron moved to Misawa Air Base , Japan. The 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron was attached to

3233-541: Was activated in 2001 by USAFE to perform combat support duties as part of the Global War on Terrorism at RAF Akrotiri , Cyprus performing KC-135 operations. Detachment 1 was located at Tuzla Air Base , Bosnia and Herzegovina, designated as the 401st Expeditionary Air Base Group . In June 2003 the group moved to Aviano again, where it became the 401st Air Expeditionary Wing , replacing the 16th AEW , inactivating so as to eliminate an overlap in designation and heraldry with

3294-416: Was assigned three of its old squadrons, the 612th , 613th and 614th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons . The group was attached to the 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Alexandria (later England AFB), and its mission was to perform advanced fighter training on high performance jet aircraft. In 1955, the group converted to Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks , performing its training mission until 25 September 1957 when it

3355-481: Was expected that this step would reduce the number of United States personnel in Spain by nearly one-half. Implementation of this agreement was delayed by the 1990-91 crisis in Kuwait , when the 401st TFW was one of the first American fighter wings to respond, with the 612th TFS deploying to its wartime base at Incirlik, Turkey and the 614th TFS becoming the first US military unit to deploy to Qatar . Both squadrons flew

3416-485: Was inactivated and its component squadrons were assigned directly to newly activated 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing . At the same time the wing transitioned into the North American F-100 "Super Sabre" aircraft and gained a fourth tactical squadron, the 615th Fighter-Bomber Squadron . Less than a year after activation, the wing and its squadrons dropped the "Fighter-Bomber" designation for "Tactical Fighter". In 1959

3477-461: Was inactivated in 1957 when Tactical Air Command (TAC) replaced its groups reporting directly to TAC numbered air forces with like numbered wings and its squadrons were transferred to the 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing . The 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing flew North American F-100 Super Sabres at England for the next nine years. In 1965 and 1966 most of the operational squadrons of the wing were transferred to Pacific Air Forces and moved to Japan or

3538-422: Was made in order that all USAF fighter assets in Europe could be concentrated in one command. It operated F-102s until 3 June 1964, when it was reassigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB , California . Its F-102 aircraft were transferred to other USAFE 86th AD FIS squadrons. With the phaseout of the B-47 from SAC in the mid-1960s, the need for SAC European bases diminished. The Sixteenth Air Force

3599-490: Was once again assigned its own tactical units. In 1994, it was replaced in turn by the 31st Fighter Wing . The 401st became a provisional unit in 2001 and is assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate or inactivate as needed for contingency operations. The 401st Bombardment Group was activated March 1943 at Ephrata Army Air Base Washington. Its original squadrons were the 612th , 613th , 614th . and 615th Bombardment Squadrons , The initial cadre for

3660-466: Was turned over to USAFE on 15 April 1966 and the strategic focus changed to tactical. Prior to 1966, Torrejón AB hosted TDY squadrons of tactical aircraft rotating from Continental U.S. Tactical Air Command (TAC) bases which would perform 30-day rotations to Aviano Air Base Italy and Incirlik Air Base , Turkey . With the USAFE takeover of the base, TAC transferred the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing from England Air Force Base , Louisiana to USAFE on

3721-429: Was used on several occasions to reduce congestion at the old overloaded Barajas terminals. Operated by Aena , in 2011 it handled 27,801 passengers and 11,489 flight operations. Beginning February 1, 2013, Torrejón-Madrid Airport was permanently closed to all civilian and general aviation traffic. Since its creation, Torrejón Air Base was also the base of a Spanish Air Force fighter wing, an aerial firefighting group and

SECTION 60

#1732852872391
#390609