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Rayak Air Base ((アラビア語:قاعدة رياق الجوية) ''Kaidat Rayak al-jawiya'') is Lebanon's first air base and the place where the Lebanese Air Force was born on June 1, 1949. Located in the middle of the Bekaa Valley to the east, between the towns of Zahlé and Anjar, it symbolizes the Lebanese Air Force best and home for most of the aircraft types that have seen service and the final resting place for almost all retiring planes.〔 〕 The airbase was built before Lebanon's independence, and has been in use since 1914 by various foreign forces such as the German, Ottoman, British and the French. ==History== Rayak Air Base was constructed and used by the Germans in World War I. After the allies took hold of this base, they enlarged it and the French aviation in addition to flight specialists started training a number of Lebanese personnel on aircraft mechanics. On August 1, 1945, Lebanon took hold of its army together with the Battalion of the first airbase (Rayak). During the French Mandate of Lebanon, Rayak Air base was considered to be the "jewel" of the Air bases and the centre of attraction of all other military units, not only in Lebanon but also in mandated Syria and all the Near East. The base had many entertainment facilities, luxuries, flowering gardens, and central heating, which at that time were not found in military sites elsewhere in the region. The French Air Force evacuated the base in 1949, and it was abandoned for a long time, which contributed in turning it into a miserable condition, especially after being looted by its own guards. The army command later decided to rebuild the air base, a reconstruction that took two months and which included the construction of new buildings and infrastructure. The first officers assigned to the base were:〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.lebanesearmy.gov.lb/English/AirforceMain.asp )〕 * Deputy Commander Lt. Ahmad Arab * Administrative officer Antranik Tatoussian * Service battalion officer Victor Charles Recruitment started with one hundred personnel, many of whom already had experience with the French. The first course students' included: * Lt. Ali Abboud * Sergeant John Ayoub * Sergeant Izat Hariri * Civil pilot Hassan Badawi * Civil pilot René Abdallah * Civil pilot Michel Nawfal or Michel Naufal * Civil pilot Emil Succar ... 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rayak Air Base」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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