About this Unit
TUSLOG Detachment 48 was a United States Air Force unit stationed at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, during the Cold War era. Established under the broader TUSLOG (The United States Logistics Group) program in the 1950s, the detachment supported NATO operations and facilitated logistical and administrative support for U.S. forces in the region. TUSLOG Det 48 played a key role in maintaining U.S. strategic presence and readiness on NATO’s southern flank, especially during regional crises. The unit was eventually inactivated as part of post-Cold War drawdowns and restructuring of U.S. forces in Turkey.
Historical Facts
•
Origins of TUSLOG Det 48: TUSLOG Detachment 48 was a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, as part of “The United States Logistics Group” (TUSLOG), which coordinated U.S. military operations in Turkey during the Cold War.
•
Strategic Location: Incirlik AB, where Det 48 was based, is strategically located near the Middle East, the Balkans, and the Soviet Union, making it a key site for U.S. and NATO operations throughout the Cold War and beyond.
•
Cuban Missile Crisis Involvement: During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, U.S. nuclear weapons at Incirlik (often associated with TUSLOG units) played a role in the secret deal that led to the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba and U.S. Jupiter missiles from Turkey.
•
Support of U-2 Reconnaissance Flights: Incirlik AB was a launch site for U-2 spy plane missions over the Soviet Union in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with support from TUSLOG personnel.
•
Vietnam War Logistics: TUSLOG Det 48 supported airlift and refueling operations for U.S. forces transiting between Europe and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War era.
•
Operation Provide Comfort: In the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, Incirlik AB (and TUSLOG successors) became the headquarters for Operation Provide Comfort, the humanitarian mission to aid Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq.
•
Base Life and Community: Det 48 personnel lived in a unique blend of American and Turkish cultures, with base facilities including a BX, commissary, movie theater, and clubs, while also interacting closely with the local Adana community.
•
Secrecy and the "Cover Story": For political reasons, many TUSLOG units (including Det 48) operated under innocuous names and were officially described as “logistics detachments” to minimize the appearance of a large U.S. military presence in Turkey.
•
Cold War Nuclear Storage: Incirlik AB was a key storage site for U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in Europe, and Det 48 played a role in their security and maintenance under NATO nuclear sharing arrangements.
•
Enduring Legacy: While TUSLOG Det 48 was deactivated in the early 1990s, its legacy continues in the ongoing U.S. presence at Incirlik AB, which remains a vital base for U.S. and NATO operations in the region.
