Laon-Athies Air Base

The primary reason for the closure of Laon-Athies as a major NATO air base was political. In 1966, French President Charles de Gaulle announced France's withdrawal from NATO's integrated military command structure. This decision mandated the departure of all non-French NATO forces and the closure of their bases on French soil by April 1, 1967. Laon-Athies, being a key United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) installation, was consequently closed and returned to the French government. Its subsequent full decommissioning by the French military was due to military restructuring and economic reasons, as maintaining the large facility was no longer a strategic priority.

The former air base has been completely redeveloped for civilian purposes and is now a multi-use site. The vast expanse of the airfield has been repurposed in several ways:

* **Solar Farm:** A large portion of the main runway and adjacent taxiways is covered by one of France's largest photovoltaic power stations, generating renewable energy.
* **Automotive Test Track:** Part of the runway and taxiway system has been converted into a professional automotive test track known as the 'Circuit de Laon', used for vehicle testing, driver training, and motorsports events.
* **Industrial & Business Park:** The site hosts the 'Parc d'Activités du Griffon', an industrial and business park. Many of the original Cold War-era hangars, maintenance buildings, and administrative structures have been repurposed for use by various commercial and industrial companies.
* **Agriculture:** Some of the peripheral areas of the former base have been returned to agricultural use.

The distinctive 'marguerite' dispersal pads (circular hardstands for parking individual aircraft) and the main runway outline are still clearly visible from satellite imagery, but they are now integrated into these new uses.

Laon-Athies Air Base has a rich history spanning three major conflicts:

1. **World War II:** The airfield was originally constructed by the German Luftwaffe between 1943 and 1944 during the occupation of France. Following the Allied invasion of Normandy, it was captured by Allied forces in September 1944. The US Army's IX Engineer Command repaired the war-damaged facility, and it was designated as Advanced Landing Ground 'A-69'. It primarily served the Ninth Air Force, hosting the 437th Troop Carrier Group, which flew C-47 Skytrain aircraft. From this base, the 437th participated in Operation Market Garden (the airborne invasion of the Netherlands) and flew combat resupply and casualty evacuation missions until relocating in early 1945.

2. **Cold War:** The base's most significant period was during the Cold War. In the early 1950s, it was selected to be a major NATO air base and was completely rebuilt and expanded to modern jet standards. It was assigned to USAFE and became a critical component of NATO's defense posture in Central Europe. Key units stationed at Laon included:
* **38th Tactical Bombardment Wing (1955-1958):** Flew the Martin B-57 Canberra tactical bomber. This wing was part of the USAFE's nuclear deterrent force.
* **66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (1958-1967):** This was the base's longest-serving host unit. They flew the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash and later the McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo. The 66th TRW's mission was vital for tactical reconnaissance over potential Cold War hotspots, providing critical intelligence to NATO commanders.

The base was a self-contained American community with barracks, family housing, a school, a hospital, and other facilities, representing a significant American military presence in France until the 1967 withdrawal.

3. **Post-USAFE Period:** After 1967, the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) used the base primarily as a storage and logistics depot, with very limited flying operations. It never regained its status as a major active air base.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Laon-Athies as an airport. The extensive and permanent redevelopment of the site into a solar farm, an automotive test track, and an industrial park makes any reactivation for aviation purposes logistically and economically unfeasible. The runway is permanently obstructed, and the infrastructure has been fundamentally altered to support its current industrial and energy-generation roles.