Izmir Air Station is a United States Air Force facility in ðzmir, Turkey. It is located SSW of Istanbul, on the western coast of Turkey.
U.S. responsibilities in the ðzmir area began on September 8, 1952 with the activation of Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe and the arrival on October 14, 1953 of the Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force at Sirinyer Garrison south of ðzmir. The United States Navy supported these and other Allied Forces Southern Europe 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 (USAFE) assumed support responsibility for U.S. and NATO entities in the ðzmir area on January 1, 1956. USAFE assumed support responsibility for all U.S. and NATO units based at ÃÂiÃÂli Air Base and off-base installations of ÃÂiÃÂli situated throughout the ðzmir area on July 6, 1962.
Improvements to ÃÂiÃÂli 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 ðzmir on April 1, 1966.
The Turkish Air Force assumed control of Cigli AB on July 1, 1970, and Izmir AS then assumed support responsibility for U.S. and USAF units in the ðzmir 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 ðzmir was activated at General Vecihi Akin Garrison (GVAG), Sirinyer, in 2004.
Allied Air Command ðzmir was succeeded by Allied Land Command, also at ðzmir, from December 2012.