RoAF 95th Air Base

{{Infobox military installation | name = RoAF 95th Air Base | native_name = {{lang|ro|Baza 95 Aeriană "Căpitan Aviator Alexandru Șerbănescu"}} | ensign = Flag of the Romanian Air Force (obverse).svg | ensign_size = 90px | pushpin_map = Romania#Europe | partof = | location = Bacău, Bacău County | country = Romania | image = Baza 95 aeriana - 2019.png | image_size = | caption = Coat of arms of the 95th Air Base | type = | code = | builder = | materials = | height = | built = {{Start date|1968}} | used = 1968–Present | demolished = | condition = | ownership = Ministry of National Defence | operator = Romanian Air Force | controlledby = | garrison = | current_commander = ''General de flotilă aeriană'' Ciprian Marin | occupants = *951st Advanced Air Training Squadron *952nd Helicopter Squadron | battles = | events =  | IATA = BCM | ICAO = LRBC | elevation = {{Convert|185|m|0}} | coordinates = {{Coord|46|31|18|N|26|54|37|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}} | r1-number = 16/34 | r1-length = {{Convert|2,500|m|0}} | r1-surface = Asphalt | footnotes = March: "Drumul spre Casă" (The road to home) }}

The Romanian Air Force '''95th Air Base "Captain Alexandru Șerbănescu"''' ({{langx|ro|Baza 95 Aeriană "Căpitan Aviator Alexandru Șerbănescu"}}) is an air force base adjacent to George Enescu International Airport, Romania, south of Bacău, Bacău County.

The current base was organized on 25 August 1995, having as its purpose the support of the 95th Fighter Group training. From 1 May 2001 until 1 July 2004, during the military reorganization process, the Supersonic Jet Training Center operated in the Bacău air base, preserving the tradition of training the young pilots according to the MIG-21 LanceR program. Since 1 July 2004, the 95th Air Base has undergone a thorough reorganization.

The base is currently the home of the 951st Advanced Air Training Squadron, operating the IAR 99 Șoim, and of the 952nd Helicopter Squadron, operating IAR 330L and IAR 330 SOCAT.<ref name="scramble">{{cite web|url=https://www.scramble.nl/planning/orbats/romania/romania-air-force|title=Romania - Air Force|work=Scramble (NL)}}</ref>

==History== ===Origins=== The unit traces its origins to the Aviation Training Center established on 16 June 1920 in Tecuci from the 4th Aviation Group (''Grupul 4 Aviație'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ziarultecucean.com/2020/06/21/sarbatoare-aviatica-la-tecuci/|title=Sărbătoare aviatică la Tecuci|language=ro|website=ziarultecucean.com|date=21 June 2020}}</ref> In 1924, it became the Aeronautics Training Center. After the Second World War, the training center was reorganized, being eventually disbanded in 1953. The Aviation Training Center was reestablished on 1 December 1968, being headquartered on the Bacău airfield. From 1969 until 1995, the air base was used for the pilots' transition training to supersonic aircraft.<ref name="roaf">{{cite web|url=https://www.roaf.ro/?page_id=2347|title=BAZA 95 AERIANĂ "Erou căpitan aviator Alexandru Șerbănescu"|language=ro|work=roaf.ro}}</ref>

===Post-1990=== thumb|An IAR 99 Șoim of the 95th Air Base Between 1992 and 2003, the base was equipped with Antonov An-2 aircraft which were used for transport and paratrooper missions. On 25 August 1995, the 95th Fighter-Bombardment Air Base was formed, meant to ensure the training and conducting of the combat missions of the 95th Fighter Aviation Group. It also supported the testing of the MiG-21 LanceR project of the Aerostar company. In 1997, it became the first base to receive the MiG-21 LanceR.<ref name="roaf"/>

On 1 May 2001, the base was transformed into the 95th Supersonic Jet Training Center following a restructuring program for the Air Force. In the same year, two helicopter squadrons, equipped with IAR 316 and IAR 330 helicopters, were also added to the base after the disbanding of the 60th Helicopter Group from Tecuci.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scramble.nl/ro.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051228232910/http://www.scramble.nl/ro.htm|title=Romanian Air Force|archive-date=28 December 2005|work=Scramble (NL)}}</ref> On 1 July 2004, the base was renamed to the 95th Air Base.<ref name="roaf"/>

In 2006, the base received the honorific name "Captain Alexandru Șerbănescu". Between 2010 and 2013, the base was called the 95th Air Flotilla. In 2010, it received the IAR 330 SOCAT helicopters, and in 2012 it received the IAR 99 Șoim airplanes.<ref name="roaf"/>

The base was decorated with the Order of Aeronautical Virtue in 2010, and with the National Order of Merit in 2020.<ref name="roaf"/>

==Decorations== The 95th Air Base has received the following decorations:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://canord.presidency.ro/ro/pagina/decoratii-acordate-unor-drapele|title=Decorații acordate unor drapele|language=ro|website=presidency.ro}}</ref> *50px National Order of Merit, Peacetime (Knight – 2020) *50px Order of Aeronautical Virtue, Peacetime (Knight – 2010)

==Gallery== <gallery> File:MiG-21 LanceR B Romania (16837095521).jpg|MiG-21 LanceR B from the Bacău Air Base at Twenthe Airbase in 2000 File:MiG-21UMLancerB.jpg|MiG-21 LanceR B of the 951st Fighter Squadron, Cooperative Key 2003 at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria. File:Romanian Mig-21.JPG|MiG-21 LanceR A of the 951st Fighter Squadron at Archangel 2005 airshow. File:Romanian Mig-21bis.JPG|MiG-21 LanceR B of the 951st Fighter Squadron at Archangel 2005 airshow. </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{in lang|ro}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20140202114521/http://www.roaf.ro/en/unitati/bz95_en.php 95th Air Base on the Romanian Air Force official website] * {{in lang|en}} [https://www.scramble.nl/planning/orbats/romania/romania-air-force Order of Battle of the RoAF]

{{DEFAULTSORT:95th Air Base}} Category:Romanian Air Force bases Category:Buildings and structures in Bacău County Category:1968 establishments in Romania Category:Military airbases established in 1968