Incirlik celebrates 53rd anniversary

  • Published
  • By 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  After 53 years, Incirlik Air Base is still providing air support for Air Force operations including the Global War on Terrorism.

In the spring of 1951 construction started 250 miles southeast of Ankara, Turkey on what would later be known as Incirlik Air Base. On Feb. 15, 1955 the base received its first official name Adana Air Base. The Turkish General Staff and the U.S. Air Force signed a joint use agreement for the new base December 1954.

The U.S. Air Force originally planned to use the base as an emergency staging and recovery site for medium and heavy bombers. However, the base proved to be a valuable location for responding to crisis in the Middle East.

Adana AB not only responded to crisis in the Middle East, but conducted operations during the meteorological balloon launching activity in 1955. After the balloon operations, pilots began flying U-2 reconnaissance missions as part of Operation Overflight.

The base became the main U-2's operating location until May 1960 and was renamed Incirlik Air Base on Feb. 28, 1958. Also, in 1958 was the Lebanon crisis, which deployed the Tactical Air Command Composite Strike Force Bravo to Incirlik.

After the Lebanon crisis, the flying mission further diversified when the Turkish Air Force agreed to allow U.S. Air Forces in Europe to use its air-to-ground range at Konya, providing a suitable training area for squadrons to deploy. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s many types of aircraft were deployed to Incirlik in support of various operations throughout the region.

Sept. 15, 1997, the 39th Air and Expeditionary Wing was activated to support and command U.S Air Force assets deployed to Incirlik supporting Operation Northern Watch.

The first rotation of deployed KC-135 Stratotankers and Airmen arrived at Incirlik to support Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom on Aug. 19, 2003. Incirlik provided entertainment, a warm location and a cot to soldiers during what would be described as the largest troop movement in U.S. history.

Incirlik also participated in the Pakistan Earthquake Relief Effort by serving as a staging base for humanitarian relief supplies Oct. 18, 2005. 100 trucks were offloaded and 130 airlift missions conducted delivering 1,647 tons using 996 pallets.

During the July 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, Incirlik provided support to more than
1, 700 displaced American citizens who were in Lebanon. During this time Team Incirlik provided housing, food, chaplain's assistance and play areas for the children.

Incirlik will continue its mission of excellence in ensuring freedom's future.

(Editors note: You can read about Incirlik's coming of age during the last week each month either in the printed paper or online at www.incirlik.af.mil.)

(The 39th Air Base Wing history office contributed to this story)