The U.S. Engineering Group began construction of the base located approximately 250 miles southeast of Ankara, Turkey, in the spring of 1951. February 21, 1955, the base was officially named Adana Air Base. In mid-1975, the Turkish government announced that all U.S. bases in Turkey would close and transfer control to the Turkish military in response to an arms embargo the U.S. Congress imposed on Turkey for using U.S.-supplied equipment during the invasion of Cyprus. Only Incirlik AB and Izmir Air Station remained open due to their NATO missions, but all other non-NATO activities at these locations ceased.