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 .