Samarra East Air Base

Samarra East Air Base is a former Iraqi Air Force base in the Diyala Governorate of Iraq. It was captured by Coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Overview
Samarra East Airbase is located in Northern Iraq approximately 96 kilometers North of Baghdad, and about 12 kilometers Northeaast of the Tigris river. The airbase was served by a single 9,800 foot long runway. Samarra East occupies a 18 square kilometer site and is protected by a 18 kilometers security perimeter.

The base was s the first airfield built outright in the Iraqi Air Force project "Super-Base" in response to the experiences from Arab-Israeli wars in 1967 and 1973.

Originally, 13 airfields were re-built by British contractors, and on all of them also a number of hardened aircraft shelters was built. Subsequently companies from Yugoslavia - previously engaged in building bridges in Iraq - became involved. Due to their specific construction of these airfields - which included taxi-ways leading right out of Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) and laid diagonally to the runways - they became known as "Trapezoids" or "Yugos".

The facilities were divided into two categories: "surface" and "underground". The "surface" facilities were actually the "softest", and included maintenance hangars of metal construction, and HAS of concrete construction. In total, the Yugoslavs have built no less but 200 HAS on different airfields in Iraq during the 1980s.

The protection of each HAS consisted of one meter thick concrete shells, reinforced by 30 cm thick steel plates. There was only one entrance and this was covered by sliding doors, made of 50 cm thick steel armoured plate and concrete. The HAS' were usually built in small groups - seldom more than five, with each group sharing the same water and power supply, besides having own backup gasoline-powered electrical generator, and each HAS being equipped with a semi-automatic aircraft-refuelling system.

In addition, underground facilities that could shelter between four and ten aircraft on average were constructed. In order to build these the Yugoslavs used equipment and construction techniques identical to that use in underground oil-storage depots, additionally concealing the extension and the true purpose of the whole project. The underground facilities were all hardened to withstand a direct hit by a tactical nuclear bomb, buried up to 50 meters below the ground and consisted of the main aircraft "hangar" (consisting of two floors in several cases, connected by 40ts hydraulic lifts), connected with operations, maintenance, and logistical facilities via a net of underground corridors.

Coalition Military Use
The base was seized by coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. By July 2003 units of the 64th Military Police Company, stationed at at Samarra East Airfield, continued to provide security in the assigned areas for 3/29 FA Battalion in Ad Duluiyah (2nd, 3rd and 4th Platoons) and north of Tikrit for the 4th BCT, 4ID (1 st Platoon). As they continue to make improvements to their living areas, the most notable addition for the soldiers both young and old has been the PlayStation 2 that found its way into the company area. Several tournaments later, the soldiers remain friends despite the occasional dispute over how one beat the other. With fans, generators and more air conditioners said to be on the way, the soldiers will greatly appreciate them as the mercury tops well over 115 degrees on a regular basis these days. The jet hangar that houses some of the HQs along with 2nd, 3rd and 4th platoons does well to protect against bullets and mortars, but does little to combat the heat and sand that are ever-present in this region. The soldiers attempt to keep cool with cool water from freezers and refrigerators as well as the daily supply of ice from a local vendor. The addition of two microwaves to the company has broadened the meal prospects and family members were encouraged to send micro-waveables for the soldiers to break up the routine of MREs. The location is more austere with one hot meal, either breakfast or dinner, each day and an adequate supply of water for drinking, bathing, etc. Despite all of these hardships, the morale is as high as everyone wonders when they are all getting on the freedom bird.

The 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (SBCT) completed its move from Kuwait to Forward Operating Base Pacesetter by 10 December 2003. The base is located about six miles northeast of this city of about 50,000 people and 60 miles north of Baghdad. It doesn't take much rain to turn the base camp into a muddy bog. But just a little of water is enough to put 10 times that much mud on every soldier's boots.

In December 2003, infantrymen from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, took to the roads and villages north of Baghdad, patrolling to keep the peace from Forward Operating Base Pacesetter. Soldiers of Battle Company, 5th Battalion - 20 Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) conduct route reconnaissance, presence patrol, civilian assessment and combat operations contributing to the stability of Samarra, Iraq. The 3rd Brigade is under the operational control of the 4th Infantry Division.

FOB McKenzie is the new name for what was formerly known as FOB Pacesetter. With the transfer of authority came a new name for the base. Under 3-29 FA's leadership, the Forward Operating Base had been Pacesetter, the battalion's symbol and call sign. Under 1-4 CAV's command it is MacKenzie Base, named for Ronal S. MacKenzie, a cavalry colonel in the Frontier Campaigns. Col. MacKenzie, at 29 the commander of the 4th Cavalry Regiment, was charged with keeping the peace on the frontier, and preventing attacks and violence by outlaws and renegade Indians. He did so with well-planned reconnaissance and daring attacks. The renaming of the Base reflects the parallels between Operation Iraqi Freedom and COL MacKenzie's mission to bring peace and justice to a new nation by putting a stop to the violence of insurgents and terrorists.

As of September 2004 there was one shower for every 24 people. One of the bunkers was transformed into a Morale, Welfare and Recreation facility, with a movie theater, performance stage, library, and Internet and phone room, among other amenities.

Mckenzie has faced periods of almost nightly rocket and mortar attacks. The base has seen 21 rockets incoming at McKenzie in a single night.

Current aerial imagery shows that the airfield appears to be disused, however the support area appears to be still in use by United States Army units.