Chièvres Air Base is a United States Air Force operated airfield located 1NM east southeast of the Belgian town of Chièvres and about 12mi from Headquarters, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), in Casteau. It is mainly used to provide logistic support to NATO and SHAPE. The station and support facilities are operated by the United States Army Garrison Benelux for NATO.UnitsThe United States Air Force 424th Air Base Squadron is the operational unit at Chièvres Air Base. It is supported by the 86th Operations Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It functions as the Senior Airfield Authority for the airfield on behalf of the US. The airfield is considered part of SHAPE as NATO provides the US funding to maintain and operate the airfield. Even though the U.S. Air Force's 424th ABS Squadron operates the airfield and runways, overall airfield maintenance operations and the base operations are entrusted to the USAG BENELUX, a U.S. Army unit. This makes Chievres Air Base the only actual "base" in the Army since Army installations are usually referred to as "posts" or "airfields".USAG Benelux provides base support operations and supports retirees and other personnel assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe.HistoryThe first airfield at Chièvres was established in 1914 by the Germans during their occupation of Belgium in World War I.