Base aérienne 702 Avord (Capitaine Georges Madon)

Base aérienne 702 Avord, also known as "Capitaine Georges Madon", is a military air base of the French Air and Space Force, located near Bourges in the Cher department. It is the second largest air base in France. The site was initially a military camp established between 1871 and 1872. An aviation station was proposed in 1908, and the "camp d'aviation" was officially created on July 23, 1912. During World War I, it became the world's first aviation school, training over 9,000 pilots by the end of the conflict. Notable figures like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry were stationed there. In 1935, bombardment groups I/15 and II/15, equipped with Farman F.221 and F.222, formed the 15th night bombardment squadron. During World War II, from 1940 to 1944, the base was occupied by the Germans, who used it as a training center and Luftwaffe bomber base. The grass runway was expanded and concreted by the Organisation Todt. Allied bombings in 1944 led to the systematic destruction of installations by the retreating Germans.

Since 1945, the base has been rehabilitated and continues its military operations. Today, Base Aérienne 702 Avord is a major installation, hosting a military school, an air-defense ground-to-air squadron, and a specialized equipment maintenance and repair group. Since 1991, it has housed an airborne detection unit equipped with AWACS radar aircraft for territorial surveillance. The base is home to the 36th Airborne Command and Control Wing, which includes the 36th Airborne Detection and Control Squadron "Berry" and the Aeronautical Technical Support Squadron 15.036 "Septaine". It also hosts the Air Defense Ground-to-Air Wing – 1st Air Artillery Regiment, including the 02/950 Sancerre Ground-to-Air Defense Squadron with Crotale launchers and the SAMP Mamba system. Additionally, the base operates the 00.319 Transport Aviation School, utilizing Embraer EMB-121 Xingu aircraft. Other units include the EP 1G.702 Protection Squadron, the ESIS 1H.702 Fire and Rescue Security Squadron, the SARAA 702 Air Force Reserve Air Section, the 91/523 Specialized Material Transport Squadron, the 4th Air Engineering Operational Company (4th COGA), and gendarmerie units.