▁the ▁Africa ▁Squadron ) ▁that ▁made ▁the ▁first ▁trans at l antic ▁crossing ▁of ▁non - rig id ▁air ships ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁ ▁Following ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁the ▁air field ▁was ▁expanded ▁to ▁a ▁major ▁US ▁Naval ▁Air ▁Station ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 1 ▁and ▁renamed ▁NAS ▁Port ▁Ly aut ey . ▁In ▁this ▁capacity , ▁it ▁primarily ▁supported ▁land - based ▁US ▁naval ▁reconna issance ▁aircraft ▁monitoring ▁Soviet ▁naval ▁operations ▁in ▁the ▁eastern ▁Atlantic ▁and ▁Mediter rane an . ▁ ▁A ircraft ▁operating ▁from ▁NAS ▁Port ▁Ly aut ey ▁included ▁the ▁P 4 M ▁Mer c ator ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 s , ▁the ▁P - 2 ▁Ne pt une ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 s ▁and ▁ 1 9 6 0 s , ▁and ▁the ▁P - 3 ▁Or ion , ▁EP - 3 ▁A ries ▁and ▁E A - 3 ▁Sky war rior ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁and ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁until ▁the ▁installation ' s ▁closure ▁as ▁a ▁US N ▁facility ▁and ▁transfer ▁to ▁the ▁Royal ▁Mor oc can ▁Air ▁Force ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 . ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 6 ▁August ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁a ▁coup ▁attempt ▁was ▁launched ▁by ▁the ▁Minister ▁of ▁National ▁Def ense , ▁Moh amed ▁O uf kir , ▁assist ed ▁by ▁Moh amed ▁A me k rane , ▁commander ▁of ▁Ken it ra . ▁Four ▁North rop ▁F - 5