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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0326.PDF
U.S.A.F. in LMBYA FIVE miles east of the city of Tripoli, on Libya's Mediter-ranean coastline, lies Wheelus Air Force Base, the largest andperhaps most active of all overseas bases of the U.S. Air Force. Covering an area of several thousand acres on the site of the centuries-old Mellaha salt-flats, the airfield is the home of the Headquarters of the 17th Air Force, constituent units of which are located in Morocco, Italy, Greece, Crete and Turkey. The primary mission of Wheelus is the support and training of U.S.A.F. European-based fighter-bomber squadrons, and the air defence of the Libyan area. In addition, the size and location of the base makes it an important and busy staging-post in the Military Air Transport Service network.' Some 14,000 Air Force personnel and their dependants are stationed at Wheelus, and an average of 11,000 aircraft movements per month was logged during 1958. Commanded by Maj-Gen. Henry R. Spicer, the 17th Air Force includes among its tasks the operational control of all units in the U.S.A.F.E. southern area; administrative and logistic sup- port for Strategic Air Command, M.A.T.S. and other U.S.A.F. units; technical advice and training facilities for foreign nations; and air defence in co-ordination with NATO, allied and U.S. commanders. The Force was "activated" in April 1953, and its headquarters were at Rabat, French Morocco, until its move to Wheelus in August 1956. The base unit at Wheelus is the 7272nd Air Base Wing, com- manded (as is the station) by Col. Jack W. Saunders. The Wing is divided into three main groups, devoted respectively to air gunnery, operations and support. The total number of Wing units at Wheelus is 14, in addition to 32 lodger units and the rotational squadrons. The training and evaluation of European-based fighter and attack squadrons of the U.S.A.F. is the task of the 7272nd Aircraft Gunnery Group, to which unit squadrons are periodically attached for gunnery, rocketry and bombing practice. Known familiarly as the U.S.A.F.E. Weapons Center, this Group operates two air-to-air ranges over the Mediterranean between 20 and 30 miles from Tripoli; an air-to-ground range at El Uotia, located in the desert some 75 miles to the west; and another desert range for Matador missile launchings. For the air-to-air gunnery and rocketry training, radar- reflecting targets are towed by B-57Es (Martin-built Canberras) of the 7235th Support Squadron, and this squadron also operates the F-100 Super Sabres which are used as chase aircraft for the intercepters under training. Should a fighter's radar lock on to the tug and not the target, the order to break off is given over the R/T by the chase pilot. The operations group in the Wing organization contains a number of constituent units, two of which work in combination to provide effective air defence of the Libyan area. The air- borne arm of this dual group is the 431st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, equipped with F-86D all-weather intercepters; while North American F- 100C Super Sabres used as chase aircraft by 7235th Support Squadron are seen in the heading picture on the ramp at Wheelus. Above, an F-100F two-seat trainer. Below, an F-86D all- weather intercepter at readiness in one of the alert hangars of 431st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, which provides air defence of Libya radar watch and direction of the Sabre "Dogs" is the job of the 633rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. With a search radius extending as far as Benghazi, the 633 radar system plots every aircraft flying in or entering the Libyan defence zone. The information is presented on C.R. screens in the Wheelus Air Defense Direction Center, whose personnel keep in touch with Libyan Air Traffic Control concerning civil and other scheduled aircraft movements. The unit also gives navi- gational aid to aircraft in distress and assists in air-sea rescue. Target-towing tor European U.S.A.F. fighter squadrons is performed at Wheelus by Martin B-57£s (note rear target-release tube) of 7235th Support Squadron. Automatic towing reel-out mechanism is located in the bomb-bay, the rotary door of which is here seen removed
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