Izmir Air Station is a

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

facility in

İzmir İzmir is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, third most populous city in Turkey, after Istanbul and Ankara. It is on the Aegean Sea, Aegean coast of Anatolia, and is the capital of İzmir Province. In 2024, the city of İzmir had ...

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

. It is located SSW of

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

, on the western coast of Turkey. U.S. responsibilities in the İzmir area began on September 8, 1952 with the activation of

Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe The Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), formerly Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe (LANDSOUTHEAST), is the standing Staff (military), headquarters for NATO land forces which may be assigned as necessary. The Commander of LANDCOM is the primary Gr ...

and the arrival on October 14, 1953 of the Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force at Sirinyer Garrison south of İzmir. The

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

supported these and other

Allied Forces Southern Europe The Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples) is a NATO military command based in Lago Patria, in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy. It was activated on 15 March 2004, after effectively redesigning its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southe ...

organizations, while Detachment 2, 7206th Air Base Squadron, supported USAF installations in the area after April 1, 1954. The

United States Air Forces in Europe United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...

(USAFE) assumed support responsibility for U.S. and NATO entities in the İzmir area on January 1, 1956. USAFE assumed support responsibility for all U.S. and NATO units based at

Çiğli Air Base Çiğli Air Base () is a military airport near Çiğli, a metropolitan district of the city of İzmir in İzmir Province, Turkey. It served as İzmir's airport until the opening of the Adnan Menderes Airport, situated south of the metropolitan ...

and off-base installations of

Çiğli Çiğli is a municipality and Districts of Turkey, district of İzmir Province, Turkey. Its area is 139 km2, and its population is 214,065 (2022). It covers the northwestern part of the agglomeration of İzmir, around the mouth of the river ...

situated throughout the İzmir area on July 6, 1962. Improvements to Çiğli AB consisted of concrete roofs of jet fuel tanks repaired and new water lines, fire hydrants and electric power lines installed during 1962, and a reinforced concrete pad for wing-tank loading built at the north hangar and air conditioning installed in dependent quarters during 1963. Cigli AB gained control of all support activities in and around İzmir on April 1, 1966. The

Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force () is the Air force, air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons, Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire. It was composed ...

assumed control of Cigli AB on July 1, 1970, and Izmir AS then assumed support responsibility for U.S. and USAF units in the İzmir area, with Cigli relegated to standby base status. Following a shooting of a Turkish national border policeman in 1983, NATO was asked to coordinate all activities more closely with command.

Allied Air Command İzmir Allied Air Command İzmir was a military aviation component command of the NATO Military Command Structure from 2004 to 2013. History Previously designated Allied Air Forces Southern Europe (AIRSOUTH) and located in Italy, the Headquarters of th ...

was activated at General Vecihi Akin Garrison (GVAG), Sirinyer, in 2004. Allied Air Command İzmir was succeeded by Allied Land Command, also at İzmir, from December 2012.

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* {{Authority control Turkish Air Force bases Military in İzmir Province Buildings and structures in İzmir Military installations of the United States in Turkey

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