Luxeuil is a medium size air base located at, 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 2/4 La Fayette is 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 missiles for the latter.
The two units are supported by:
DAMS, 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.
The airfield was created for the French Aeronautique Militaire in early 1916, on military grounds. On 18 April, the "Escadrille américaine" n° 124 was formed under captain Thénault's command, later to become "Escadrille "La Fayette". The Air Service, United States Army first set up a V Corps Infantry Liaison School in mid-1918, for which 99th Aero Squadron flew training missions from 1 July until 7 September 1918, before it joined V Corps Observation Group on Souilly Aerodrome; during its Luxeuil's time, the squadron dispatched its 3rd Flight to French 33rd Corps Aviation, flying from Corcieux airfield 19–24 July, and from Dogneville airfield 27 July - 28 August. V Corps Observation Group was formed on 1 September 1918 in Luxeuil, but formally organized at Souilly Aerodrome on 7 September. 104th Aero Squadron had been flying from Luxeuil for the American V Corps since 8 August when it joined the newly formed group and followed its HQ to Souilly Aerodrome. From 19 September 1918, 258th Aero Squadron flew missions from Luxeuil Aerodrome; one Flight moved to Bourguignon airfield, near Sochaux, before the whole squadron moved in on 7 November. All those units flew tactical reconnaissance missions for the benefit of Army Corps, 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. The airfield was also used by the French Aeronautique Militaire as a depot, until late 1919. From then on, it saw almost continuous activity until today, still being one of the main French Air Force airbases.
