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Lajes Field

(Redirected from RAF Lagens)
For the airport serving Lages, Brazil, see Lages Airport. For the civilian use of the airfield, see Lajes Airport.

Lajes Field or Lajes Air Base (pronounced [ˈlaʒɨʃ]; Portuguese: Base Aérea das Lajes), officially designated Air Base No. 4 (Base Aérea Nº 4, BA4) (IATA: TER, ICAO: LPLA), is a multi-use airfield near Lajes and 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Angra do Heroísmo[1] on Terceira Island in the Azores, Portugal. It is home to the Portuguese Air Force Base Aérea N º4 and Azores Air Zone Command (Portuguese: Comando da Zona Aérea dos Açores), a United States Air Force detachment unit (operated by the 65th Air Base Group of United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa), and a regional air passenger terminal. Located about 3,680 km (2,290 mi) east of New York City and about 1,600 km (990 mi) west of Lisbon, Portugal; the base sits in a strategic location midway between North America and Europe in the north Atlantic Ocean.

Lajes Field
Air Base 4
Base Aérea das Lajes
Base Aérea Nº 4
Lajes, Terceira Island in the Azores
A variety of US Air Force aircraft seen at Lajes, the airfield being used as a stop-off whilst aircraft transit between the Americas and Europe
Nós outros, cuja fama tanto voa
Lajes is located in Azores
Lajes
Lajes
Location in the Azores
Coordinates38°45′43″N 027°05′27″W / 38.76194°N 27.09083°W / 38.76194; -27.09083
TypeMilitary airfield
Site information
OwnerMinistry of National Defence
OperatorPortuguese Air Force (PAF)
Controlled byAzores Air Zone Command
ConditionOperational
WebsiteOfficial website
Site history
Built1934 (1934)
In use1934 – present
Garrison information
Occupants
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: TER, ICAO: LPLA, WMO: 085090
Elevation55 metres (180 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
15/33 3,314 metres (10,873 ft) Asphalt
Airfield shared with Lajes Airport
Source: Portuguese AIP[1]

History

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The origin of the Lajes Field dates back to 1928, when Portuguese Army Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo Gomes da Silva wrote a report on the possible construction of an airfield in the plainland of Lajes, for that branch's aviation service (Portuguese: Aeronáutica Militar). However, the location of Achada on the center of the island was chosen instead at the time for the construction of the field. In 1934, the Achada airfield was condemned due to its inadequate dimensions and adverse weather conditions, resulting in the construction of a landing strip of packed earth and a small group of support facilities by the Portuguese military at Lajes.

World War II

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See also: Portugal during World War II, Operation Alacrity, and North Atlantic air ferry route in World War II

During World War II, the designation of the airfield was changed to Air Base No.4 and the Portuguese government expanded the runway, sending troops and equipment to Terceira, including Gloster Gladiator fighters. The military activities in the Azores grew in 1942, as the Gladiators began to be used to support allied convoys, in reconnaissance missions and on meteorological flights. In addition, the first Portuguese Junkers Ju 52 arrived in July 1942 to fly cargo missions.

 
A Vickers Wellington Mk XIV, No. 172 Squadron RAF undergoing servicing at Lajes airfield during 1944

By 1943, the British and American armed forces were allowed basing rights in Portugal. Within a month of disembarking on Terceira in October 1943, the Royal Air Force had laid pierced steel planking to lengthen the runway at Lajes Field, allowing the Royal Air Force to begin patrols. The first attack on a German U-boat was conducted in November, sinking the submarine; this attack was followed by a dozen more attacks on U-boats by the end of February 1944, after which German forces stayed clear of the British and American patrol areas.[2] The Azores enabled British and American airmen to protect Allied shipping in the area.[3]

On 1 December 1943, British and U.S. military representatives at RAF Lajes Field signed a joint agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and United States Navy (USN) at Lajes Field.[3] The agreement established guidelines and limitations for the ferrying of aircraft to Europe via Lajes Field.[3] In return, the US agreed to assist the British in improving and extending existing facilities at Lajes. Air Transport Command transport planes began landing at Lajes Field immediately after the agreement was signed. By the end of June 1944, more than 1,900 American airplanes had passed through this Azorean base. Using Lajes Field, the flying time relative to the usual transatlantic route between Brazil and West Africa was nearly cut in half from 70 to 40 hours.

 
Lajes Air Base Diagram

Lajes Field was one of the two stopover and refueling bases for the first transatlantic crossing of non-rigid airships (blimps) in 1944. The USN sent six Goodyear-built K-ships from Naval Air Station South Weymouth in Massachusetts to their first stopover base at Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland and then on to Lajes Field in the Azores before flying to their final destination at Port Lyautey (Kenitra), French Morocco.[4] From their base with Fleet Air Wing 15 at Port Lyautey, the blimps of USN Blimp Squadron 14 (ZP-14 or Blimpron 14) conducted night-time anti-submarine warfare (ASW) to search for German U-boats around the Strait of Gibraltar using magnetic anomaly detection (MAD).[5] In 1945, two ZP-14 replacement blimps were sent from Weeksville, North Carolina, to the Bermudas and Lajes before going on to Craw Field (Kenitra Air Base) at Port Lyautey.[6]

Post-war

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Aerial view of Lajes Field, 1946

The United States and the United Kingdom transferred control of Lajes back to Portugal in 1946. The Portuguese redesignated Lajes as Air Base No. 4 and assigned it to the air branch of the Portuguese Army. However, talks between the U.S. and Portugal began about extending the American stay in the Azores. A temporary agreement was reached between the U.S. and Portuguese governments giving the U.S. military rights to Lajes Field for an additional 18 months: the relationship between the Portuguese and American governments continues to this day, where the U.S. military resides under a tenancy status, and the Portuguese government retaining rights of ownership to the land and infrastructure.[3] Lajes Field remains Portuguese Air Base 4 under the direction of Headquarters Azores Air Zone commanded by Portuguese Air Force brigadeiro (equal to a U.S. two-star general).

In 1947, the Portuguese Esquadra 41 started to operate from Lajes, equipped with Boeing SB-17, Grumman HU-16 Albatross, Douglas C-54 Skymaster and, later Sikorsky H-19 helicopters. In 1952, the U.S. Air Force activated the 57th Air Rescue Squadron at Lajes Field, where it was based until inactivated in 1972.[7] These units were responsible for the search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Atlantic between Europe and North America.[8]

In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance was established. Portugal, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other western European countries were charter members of NATO. By reason of the NATO alliance, Lajes was available for use by those countries, and the use of Lajes was one of Portugal's primary contributions to the alliance. However, use of Lajes Field by the U.S. Department of Defense takes place under a U.S.-Portuguese Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), separate and in addition to NATO arrangements.

In 1953, Admiral Lynde D. McCormick, the Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Command organized a subordinate unified command in the Azores called U.S. Forces Azores (USFORAZ). A small staff of United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps personnel composed the joint staff of USFORAZ, serving as the liaison between the U.S. and the Portuguese in the Azores.

In the late 1950s, USAF air refueling/tanker aircraft were stationed at Lajes to provide inflight refueling for U.S. aircraft transiting the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the tanker units left Lajes by 1965, but others returned later, especially the USAF Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. This transfer, coupled with the introduction of newer long-range aircraft, resulted in a gradual decline in Lajes traffic. The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) and its successor, the Military Airlift Command (MAC), became responsible for USAF activities at the base, and for a while the 1605th Military Airlift Support Wing acted as USAF host unit.

Lajes Field also played a crucial role in Cold War politics. From 1932 to 1968, Portugal was under the dictatorship of António de Oliveira Salazar, yet the U.S. Government maintained friendly relations with his Estado Novo government, especially after 1943. The Cold War military importance of Lajes Field outweighed considerations about the Salazar Government's dictatorial rule over Portugal.

In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force EICAP (heavy aircraft advanced training unit) was transferred to Lajes, operating Douglas C-47, Douglas C-54 and later CASA C-212 Aviocar.

During the Portuguese Colonial War, from 1961 to 1975, the Air Force Hospital at Lajes operated as the main centre for treatment and rehabilitation of mutilated and heavy burned soldiers of the three services of the Portuguese Armed Forces.

During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Lajes Field also supported Operation Nickel Grass U.S. airlift missions to Israel, highlighting the importance of the U.S. Air Force base at Lajes.

Another important Cold War operation at Lajes was the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Facility Lajes (NAF Lajes), a tenant activity at the air base. NAF Lajes, and its associated Tactical Support Center (TSC)/Antisubmarine Warfare Operations Center (ASWOC), supported rotational detachments of U.S. Navy P-2 Neptune and later P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft that would track Soviet attack, guided missile, and ballistic missile submarines in the region. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, and end of the Cold War, P-3 operations at Lajes declined, and the Naval Air Facility was inactivated in the late 1990s.

Post-Carnation Revolution

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Following the Portuguese Air Force reorganization of 1978, Lajes Air Base comes to have two resident flying units: Squadron 503 - equipped with CASA C-212 aircraft and Squadron 752 - equipped with Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopters. In 1980, a detachment of Squadron 301 - equipped with Fiat G.91 fighter-bombers - starts to be based at Lajes, this being augmented and becoming Squadron 303 "Jaguares" in 1981.

The Mw7.2 Azores Islands earthquake affected Terceira Island. Damage to Lajes Field was minimal, but Portuguese communities throughout the island suffered extensive damage. Military personnel responded with food, shelter, equipment, and manpower.

In the summer of 1984, Lajes undertook a new mission known as "SILK PURSE." Boeing EC-135s began operating out of Lajes Field as an airborne command post for the U.S. Commander-in-Chief, Europe. Along with the aircraft came the U.S. European Command battle staff and flight crews from United States Air Forces in Europe. This mission was ended in late August 1991.

In 1990, Squadron 303 was disbanded.

Lajes supported the large airlift during the Gulf War. On the first day of the deployment over 90 aircraft transited Lajes. Strategic Air Command (SAC) created a provisional tanker wing, the 802nd Air Refueling Wing (P) Provisional, at Lajes to support the airlift. At the height of the operation a peak of 33 tanker aircraft and 600 troops deployed to Lajes. Soon after the Gulf War ended, Lajes command changed from Air Mobility Command, to Air Combat Command.

In 1993, squadrons 503 and 752 are merged in a single mixed unit operating both C-212 and Aérospatiale Puma, the 711 Squadron "Albatrozes" (Albatrosses).

The resident Portuguese 711 Squadron was deactivated on 30 November 2006. With this act the long-serving Aerospatiale Puma was retired from service.[9] The Puma helicopters were replaced by the modern AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin: the Portuguese government purchased twelve units for SAR, CSAR and Fisheries enforcement. Air Base No.4 received three Merlins on permanent detachment from Esquadra 751 "Pumas" from Air Base No.6 at Montijo, near Lisbon. They saw immediate service starting 1 December 2006. However, maintenance problems developed in the next coming months which, coupled with a shortage of spare parts from the manufacturer, led to such a low serviceable rate forcing the Portuguese Air Force to pull the Merlin from service in the Azores. The last Merlin flew back to Montijo on 19 March 2009. In order not to compromise the SAR mission, the Portuguese Air Force decided to reactivate the Puma fleet: in July 2008 a formation of four Puma helicopters made the trans-Atlantic crossing from Beja to Lajes via Porto Santo Airport on Porto Santo Island and Santa Maria Airport on Santa Maria Island.

Beginning in 1997, large scale fighter aircraft movements under the new USAF operating concept known as the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) filled the Lajes flightline. Lajes also has hosted B-52 Stratofortress and B-1 Lancer bomber aircraft on global air missions, and also supported many routine NATO exercises, such as the biennial Northern Viking exercise. Lajes Field services aircraft from various nations, including Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.[10] The airfield was an alternative landing site for the NASA Space Shuttle orbiter and also now plays as the number one diversion airport for medical or mechanical emergency diversion situations for all types of aircraft. An annual average of 50 aircraft of all types divert to Lajes as a mid Atlantic safe haven.

2000 – present

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The British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Portuguese Prime Minister José Manuel Durão Barroso at Lajes Airfield, 16 March 2003.

In 2009 Lajes provided rescue support of shipping lanes across the Atlantic, a safe haven for medical or mechanical emergency situations in aircraft crossing the Atlantic, and support for the USAF's continuing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fighter, tanker and transport planes frequently stopped there, either east or westbound. The next decade expects to see a rise in the number of U.S. Department of Defense aircraft to transit Lajes supporting the newly created AFRICOM.

In August 2006, Portuguese news agencies reported that both governments were in discussions for a new agreement that could allow the use of Lajes for the training of a permanent F-22 Raptor squadron. Since 1943, the use of Lajes by the U.S. military has allowed Portugal to strengthen diplomatic relations with the U.S. as well as obtain military equipment for the Portuguese Armed Forces, including two A-7P Corsair II squadrons and the co-finance of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft under the Peace Atlantis I program. In August 2010, Portuguese news agencies advised for the termination of the F-22 Raptor plan to use Lajes as a platform for Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) training over the Atlantic Ocean. DoD sources were cited as the plan cancelled due to budgetary constraints. This was regarded locally as a setback for the military environment at Lajes, as well as raising doubts from regional political forces who have concerns regarding the base future as well as the safety of the Azorean employed workforce.

Portugal has explored contingencies in the event the United States military eventually abandons Lajes, including the possibility of entering an agreement with the People's Republic of China. On June 27, 2012, an airplane carrying Premier Wen Jiabao made a four-hour stop at Lajes during which time he toured the island.[11]

On 13 December 2012, the US Department of Defense announced, as part of a larger Air Force effort to shape the force, that Lajes Field will transition from an air base wing to an air base group with a reduction of more than 400 military personnel and 500 family members by the end of fiscal year 2014. This force reduction is estimated to garner a cost savings of $35 million annually.[12]

Role and operations

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Transit stop

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An Indian Air Force Il-78MKI landing in Lajes Field.

The base supports NATO and non-NATO armed forces assets crossing the Atlantic for transport, VIP, exercise, relief or humanitarian duties.

The civilian terminal also plays an important role in support of passenger and cargo airliners, executive, corporate and private jets flying to the island or beyond as the central location in the Azores group of islands makes it an ideal spot for refuelling or stopover. In the past five years, large Antonov An-124 and An-225 aircraft have been seen frequently transporting outsized cargo for destinations in North and South America.

Lajes provides support to 15,000 aircraft, including fighters from the US and 20 other allied nations. The geographic position has made this airbase strategically important to both the United States and NATO's war fighting capability. In addition, a small commercial aviation terminal handles scheduled and chartered flights from North America and Europe, especially mainland Portugal. It also supervises commercial air traffic with the other islands in the Azorean archipelago and trans-Atlantic refuelling and stopovers for commercial airlines, executive and corporate jets, air cargo haulers, small private aircraft, governmental flights, humanitarian missions, and other flights.

Portuguese Air Force

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Azores Aerial Detachment:

United States Air Force

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See also: United States Forces Azores

Lajes Field is the home of the 65th Air Base Group, which in turn is subordinate to the United States Air Forces in Europe. The group provides base and en route support for the U.S. Department of Defense, NATO, and other authorized aircraft transiting the installation. Due to the global economic crisis, the US government decided to reduce the military contingent at Lajes to no more than 170 active duty personnel. Families will relocate stateside or elsewhere, several buildings, dorms and homes will be made redundant. This much reduced effective will still be responsible to keep Lajes operational mission active although at a much reduced scale, with relevant changes to be implemented from March 2014.

In addition to the 65th Air Base Wing, other units at Lajes Field include the U.S. Army Military Traffic Management Command's 1324th Military Port Command in the nearby port of Praia da Vitoria, U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command’s 729th Air Mobility Support Squadron, Detachment 6 of the Air Force Public Affairs Agency, Detachment 250 - Air Force Office of Special Investigations, DLA Disposition Services, and the Defense Commissary Agency.

Lajes Field is also the home of the 65th Communication Squadron, which provides communication in the form of High Frequency Global Communications Systems (HFGCS), ground radio, ground radar, SatCom (Satellite Communications), and cryptography to the base.

Civilian operations

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Civilian operators may use Terceira Airport/Lajes Air Base after requesting a landing permit according to the rules inscribed in the AIP for Portugal, issued by the Portuguese Directorate of Civilian Aviation (INAC).[16]


Based units

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Units based at Lajes Field.[17][18][19]

Those marked GSU and their subordinate units are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Lajes, report to a parent unit based at another location.

Accidents and incidents

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See also

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References

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Notes
  1. ^ a b AIP Part 3 - AD 2 Aerodromes Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Vintras, R. E. (1974). The Portuguese Connection: The Secret History of the Azores Base. London: Bachman & Turner. pp. 90–93. ISBN 0-85974-012-9.
  3. ^ a b c d "Lajes Field History - The U.S. Enters the Azores". Washington D.C.: 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs/Air Force ePublishing. 6 June 2006. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Blimp Squadron 14". Archived from the original on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  5. ^ Kaiser, Don (2011), "K-Ships Across the Atlantic", Naval Aviation News (PDF), vol. 93, archived from the original (PDF) on 17 February 2015, retrieved 6 June 2011
  6. ^ Kaiser, Don (2011). "Blimp Squadron 14". Archived from the original on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  7. ^ "57 Rescue Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 2015-07-31. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  8. ^ Mais Alto 348, p. 37
  9. ^ The deactivation resulted in the storage of one unit at Lajes, one at the Museum at Sintra and the remaining eight helicopters placed in storage at Air Base No.º11 in Beja
  10. ^ "The Official Home Page of the U.S. Air Force" (PDF). www.lajes.af.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Red Flag Over the Atlantic: China is angling to take over a U.S. airbase in the Azores", National Review Online, 5 November 2012
  12. ^ "Lajes Field Drawdown As Part Of Force Structuring Announced". www.af.mil. US Air Force 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  13. ^ "EADS C-295M". Portuguese Air Force. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  14. ^ "BASE AÉREA N.º 4". Portuguese Air Force. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  15. ^ "EH-101 MERLIN". Portuguese Air Force. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  16. ^ A copy can be read off at eAIP Portugal - Home Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ^ "Lajes Field Major Units". Military OneSource. Department of Defense. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Squadron 502 – "Elefantes" (Elephants)". Portuguese Air Force. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Squadron 751 – "Pumas" (Cougars)". Portuguese Air Force. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  20. ^ "PAF DC-4 aircrash" Aviation Safety Network Database. Retrieved: 13 April 2012.
  21. ^ "Avianca Constellation aircrash" Aviation Safety Network Database. Retrieved: 13 April 2012.
  22. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Douglas R6D-1 (DC-6) 131588 Land's End, UK". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  23. ^ "US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos--Third Series (130265 to 135773)". www.joebaugher.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Chronological History of Naval Air Transprt". www.vrc-50.org. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  25. ^ Grossnick, Roy A., United States Naval Aviation 1910-1995, Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, undated Archived 2012-09-12 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 0-945274-34-3, p. 214, claims the date was 11 October 1956.
  26. ^ Lee, Gabriel. "Silicon Valley Scale Modelers". Archived from the original on 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  27. ^ "Venezuelan Air Force C-130 crash" Aviation Safety Network Database. Retrieved: 13 April 2012.
  28. ^ "Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-65-LO Orion off Lajes: 7 killed | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives".
  29. ^ "Air Luxor An-12 aircrash" Aviation Safety Network Database. Retrieved: 13 April 2012.
  30. ^ A330 'glider' drama facts revealed. Flight International, 26 Oct 2004. Retrieved 5 Jan 2007.
  31. ^ "BA offloads British couple at military base over business class row". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  32. ^ "International Flight Network". Twitter. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  33. ^ "Aeromexico B787 has CRACKED WINDSHIELD OVER THE OCEAN and Diverts to Lajes". VASAviation (Air Traffic Control Recordings). YouTube. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
Sources
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