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Saran Army Airfield |
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| History | |||||||||
| 1956 | |||||||||
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Sept 14, 1956) |
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'Smallest-Largest Airline in the World' Saran's Postage-Stamp Field Serves All of France ORLEANS, France, Sept. 13 (Special) -- The Army's airstrip at Saran, France, a few miles from Com Z Hq here, has been called the "smallest-largest airline in the world." For though it services all of France and is operational 24 hours a day, its 2,000-foot runway has a mere postage-stamp appearance. Saran's chief function is to provide fast transportation for the commanding general and his staff to any point in Com Z and beyond. The flight section also has a 600-mile daily run covering all major installations in the sub-commands and has special missions to such distant places as Hamburg, Germany, and Milan, Italy. The strip has been a lifesaver in emergencies. Serum, vaccine and other medical supplies are quickly flown where needed. There was an emergency of a different sort recently when Col Miller T. Nesbitt, flight section chief, flew a new- born baby from Base Section to Stuttgart, Germany. The operation of the airstrip constitutes a fulltime job for the handful of officers and enlisted men at Saran. A brand-new weather station operated by an Air Force lieutenant and Army enlisted personnel makes flying possible at any time and in any weather. Each of the officers in the flight section, besides being a rated pilot, is concerned with some aspect of the field's operation or administration. Since aviation is not a branch of service, each must maintain his proficiency in his own branch. |
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| Flight Section, Communications Zone | |||||||||
| 1954 | |||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, July 27, 1954) | |||||||||
| Air transportation is Com Z's answer to the long distances between the command's scattered installations located on the 600-mile line of communications in France and Germany. Com Z's Flight Section is located at Saran AAF (near Orleans, France) and plays a vital role in supporting the Com Z commanding general and his staff . The Flight Section, currently under the command of Lt Col Elmer P. Fleming, Jr. was formed in 1951. Also in that year, air sections were formed at Com Z's major subordinate commands, Advance Section at Verdun (Verdun AAF) and Base Section at La Rochelle (Laleu AAF). As other subordinate installations were craeted, arrangements were made to use nearby civilian airports to serve those installations. (Three airfields were constructed at or near more remote depots.) The most important Army airfield in France is Saran. The field has night lighting equipment, radio aids and other provisions making it the first all-weather AAF in France (1). Com Z's flight section flies daily courier missions from Saran (Orleans) to Verdun and La Rochelle, carrying priority official mail and documents. There are also frequent flights to HQ USAREUR at Heidelberg. In addition, the air section carries limited amount of cargo (primarily spare parts, medical equipment and priotiyt items) and transports personnel (it averages 400 passengers a month). New pilots arriving in command go through instrument training at Chateauroux Air Base (Central Air Material Area) first. The flight section's planes are serviced and repaired at the aircraft service center at Metz, France (Frescaty Arfield). (The shops at Metz provide maintenance and supply and are capable of rebuilding aircraft. A contract with a civilian company provides for major repair and inspection services. The Metz center also supports the two aviation maintenance companies -- 35th AAM Co, Illesheim and 93rd AAM Co, Stuttgart-Echterdingen -- assigned to 7th Army.) |
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| (1) The airfield at Saran underwent a major improvement effort in 1953-54 (cost: $125,000). The renovation efforts included lengthening the runway (2,100 feet). | |||||||||
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