Luxeuil - Saint-Sauveur Air Base
Luxeuil Air Base Base aérienne 116 Luxeuil Saint-Sauveur
 Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) Y-8 | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of France | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Armée de l'air | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Luxeuil-les-Bains | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 913 ft / 278 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 47°46′59″N 006°21′51″E / 47.78306°N 6.36417°E | ||||||||||||||
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Luxeuil (French: Base aérienne 116 Luxeuil Saint-Sauveur or BA 116) (ICAO: LFSX) is a medium size air base located at 47°46′59″N 006°21′51″E / 47.78306°N 6.36417°E, near Luxeuil-les-Bains in the Franche-Comté region of France. It has two runways: 113/293 with a length of 2433m, and 038/218 with a length of 2315m.
Overview
The base is used exclusively by the Armée de l'air and hosts two operational units:
- Strike Squadron 1/4 Dauphiné
- Strike Squadron 2/4 La Fayette
Both are equipped with the Mirage 2000N and can be deployed in conventional strike and nuclear deterrence missions, carrying the medium-range Air-Sol Moyenne Portée ASMP mssiles for the latter.
The two units are supported by:
- DAMS (Dépôt atelier munitions spécialisées), Specialised Ammunition Storage, responsible for the nuclear strike alert facilities on the base.
- Tactical Instruction Centre 00.339 Aquitaine, in charge of directing the strike squadrons in their low-altitude all-weather mission.
- Air Defence squadron 04.950 Servance, responsible for anti aircraft defence.
- Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air, responsible for security and ground defence.
History
During World War I Luxeuil Aerodrome was used by the Air Service, United States Army in late 1918 as a main operating base. It was the headquarters of the V Corps Observation Group, between early August and early September during both the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives.[1]
Luxeuil was used as a corps observation (tactical reconnaissance) airfield, with three squadrons flying Salmson 2A2 photo-reconnaissance observation planes. Pilots would be flying over the battlefield, reporting enemy troop movements as well as taking aerial photography and written observation of the area. Artillery adjustments would also be made from the air.[1]
At the beginning of September, V Corps moved to Souilly Aerodrome in preparation for the Meuse-Argonne offensive and the American squadrons left Luxeuil.[1]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
External links
- French Air Force link (French)
- Sqn 01.004 Dauphine (French)
- Sqn 02.004 La Fayette (French)
- Sqn 04.950 Servence (French)
- Template:PDF
- Template:WAD
- Fusiliers Commandos de l'air (French)
