Base aérienne 106 Bordeaux-Mérignac

Base aérienne 106 Bordeaux-Mérignac (BA 106) is an operational air base of the French Air and Space Force, located twelve kilometers west of Bordeaux, on the territories of Mérignac and Saint-Jean-d'Illac. It shares its runways with the civil airport of Bordeaux-Mérignac.

The site's aviation history began in 1901 with an aeroclub, followed by early aviators using the Beaudésert land in 1906. Marcel Issartier established an aviation school in 1912. In 1917, the site became a military hospital, notably American. By 1920, the Bordeaux-Teynac air station developed into a military training center. In 1928, the Chamber of Commerce of Bordeaux received a concession for part of the site for mixed aerial activity.

The air base was officially created on November 19, 1936. The French Air Force used its facilities primarily as a crew training center and a bomber depot. On January 1, 1937, the regional air center n°518 was established, followed by the 1st Air Brigade on April 1, 1937. In 1938, the runways were cemented at the request of Air France. During World War II, the German army took possession of the site in July 1940, building a second cemented runway and a dispersion network. The Luftwaffe used the base for maritime reconnaissance with Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor bombers and Junkers Ju 88 fighters patrolling the Atlantic. The base was severely damaged by Allied attacks in March 1943 and August 1944. The Germans destroyed many installations before retreating in August 1944. After the war, the French Air Force regained the base, which was officially designated Base Aérienne 106 on June 20, 1945.

From 1951 to 1964, the base was partly used by US military air units and known as Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Base. The 126th Bombardment Wing (Light) of the USAFE was stationed there from December 1951 to May 1952. During the Cold War, the base hosted the 92nd Bombardment Wing from 1961 until its dissolution in 1978, and the Escadron de bombardement 1/92 Bourgogne until 1974. The Escadron de chasse 4/11 Jura was based there from 1979 to 1992. On May 23, 1995, the base was named “Capitaine Michel Croci” in honor of a pilot who died in Chad in 1984. The Commando parachutiste de l'air n° 30 was stationed at BA 106 from 1994 until 2016.

Currently, BA 106 is an operational air base. The Escadron de transport et d’entrainement 43 Médoc (ETE 00.043), equipped with TBM 700 and AS550 Fennec, provides transport for Air Force personnel and dignitaries. The Centre d’instruction des réservistes (CIIRAA) opened in Bordeaux in 2002. Since 2021, the Escadre aérienne d'appui aux opérations (EAAO 00.513) is attached to BA 106, contributing to projected air bases. The Centre militaire de coordination et de conduite en route (CMCC 85.930) handles military air traffic control. BA 106 also hosts major commands, including the Commandement des forces aériennes (CFA) and the Direction de la maintenance aéronautique (DMaé), which oversees the maintenance of French military aircraft. The base has a capacity for approximately 3,000 personnel.