About this Unit
The 7272nd Field Maintenance Squadron (FMS) was a United States Air Force unit stationed at Wheelus Air Base, Libya, during the height of the Cold War. Activated in the late 1950s, the squadron was responsible for providing maintenance support for a diverse fleet of USAF aircraft operating in the Mediterranean region. The 7272nd FMS played a vital role in ensuring aircraft readiness for tactical, training, and strategic missions, particularly during U.S. operations and exercises in North Africa. The unit continued its mission until the closure of Wheelus Air Base in 1970, when U.S. forces withdrew from Libya following political changes in the region.
Historical Facts
• Unique Mission: The 7272nd Field Maintenance Squadron (FMS) was a vital maintenance unit supporting United States Air Force operations at Wheelus Air Base, Libya, during the Cold War era.
• Strategic Location: Wheelus AB, where the 7272nd FMS was stationed, was known as "America's Little America in the Desert" and served as a crucial hub for USAF operations in the Mediterranean and Africa.
• Cold War Role: The squadron played a significant part in maintaining and repairing aircraft, engines, and ground equipment for numerous USAF units operating in the region, particularly during heightened tensions with the Soviet Union.
• Support for Training: The 7272nd FMS directly supported the 7272nd Air Base Wing, which hosted large-scale gunnery and bombing exercises, making Wheelus a premier USAF training site outside the continental United States.
• Aircraft Maintained: The squadron worked on various aircraft, including the F-100 Super Sabre, B-57 Canberra, and C-130 Hercules, ensuring their readiness for both training and operational missions.
• Libyan-American Relations: The presence of the 7272nd FMS and other USAF units in Libya symbolized close military cooperation between the United States and Libya prior to the 1969 Libyan coup d'état.
• Community Life: Members of the 7272nd FMS and their families enjoyed a vibrant base community, complete with schools, clubs, and recreational facilities, making Wheelus AB a unique overseas assignment.
• Historic Transition: After the 1969 coup led by Muammar Gaddafi, the 7272nd FMS and other USAF units were ordered to leave Libya, marking the end of an era for American military presence in North Africa.
• Veteran Legacy: Former members of the 7272nd FMS often recall their service at Wheelus as a formative experience, and reunions are occasionally held to commemorate their unique service overseas.
• Preserved History: Artifacts, photographs, and stories from the 7272nd FMS are preserved by military historians and alumni associations, highlighting the unit's important role in USAF history during the Cold War.
