Luxeuil Air Base

Luxeuil Air Base
Base aérienne 116 Luxeuil Saint-Sauveur
Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) Y-8
IATA: none – ICAO: LFSX
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 / 47.78306; 6.36417Coordinates: 47°46′59″N 006°21′51″E / 47.78306°N 6.36417°E / 47.78306; 6.36417
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 2,315 7,595 Asphalt
11/29 2,433 7,982 Asphalt

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 / 47.78306; 6.36417, 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:

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:

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 website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. 1 2 3 Maurer, Maurer (1978), The US Air Service in World War I, The Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF Washington
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