Chenevières-Saint-Clément Air Base

The closure occurred in two phases. The initial closure as a NATO/USAFE air base in 1967 was a direct result of France's withdrawal from NATO's integrated military command under President Charles de Gaulle. This forced all foreign NATO forces to leave French soil. The final closure by the French Army in the early 2010s was part of a broader French defense restructuring plan aimed at modernizing the armed forces, consolidating assets, and reducing operating costs.

The site has been completely redeveloped and is now home to the 'Pôle Mécanique de Chenevières'. The former military airfield has been transformed into a major automotive and motorsports complex. The main runway is used as a high-speed track and a drag strip. The taxiways and dispersal pads have been integrated into a larger circuit for car and motorcycle racing, track days, and advanced driver training. The facility also includes a karting track, off-road courses, and various businesses related to the automotive industry. The conversion is a prominent example of successful military base redevelopment in France.

Chenevières-Saint-Clément Air Base was a significant Cold War installation. It was constructed between 1953 and 1955 as a NATO Dispersed Operating Base (DOB) for the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). Its primary purpose was to provide a hardened, dispersed location for tactical fighter aircraft in the event of a conflict with the Warsaw Pact. This dispersal strategy was designed to increase the survivability of NATO air power against a pre-emptive strike. The base featured a 2,400-meter (7,900 ft) runway, taxiways, and a 'marguerite' system of circular dispersal pads where aircraft could be parked far apart, often in hardened shelters. Although never home to a permanent flying wing, it was frequently used for exercises and maintained in a state of operational readiness. After its transfer to French control in 1967, it was taken over by the French Army (Armée de Terre) and used primarily as a logistics, storage, and communications depot for several decades.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Chenevières-Saint-Clément as an airport. The site's infrastructure has been fundamentally and permanently altered for its current use as a motorsports complex. The investment in the 'Pôle Mécanique' and its established role in the regional economy make a return to aviation activities virtually impossible.