Ramstein Air Base
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Ramstein Air Base (located at ) is a military airbase in Rheinfeld-Pfalz, Germany. The east gate of Ramstein Air Base is about 16 kilometers, or 10 miles, from Kaiserslautern (locally referred to by Americans as "K-Town"). Other nearby civilian communities include Ramstein-Miesenbach, just outside the base's west gate, and Landstuhl, about five kilometers from the west gate.
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[edit] Overview
The host unit at Ramstein Air Base is the 435th Air Base Wing, which supports the 86th Airlift Wing, 38th Combat Support Wing as well as other units at the base and surrounding region.
Ramstein is a NATO support installation; however, is not given the designation of a NATO base. Canadian, German, British, American, French, Belgian, Polish, Czech, Norwegian, Danish and Dutch forces are located at the base. The 86th's mission is the operation and maintenance of airlift assets consisting of C-130s, C-9s, C-20s, and C-21s throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It has been rumored that Ramstein will be turned over to the German military within the next 20 years.
Ramstein's wings are assigned to the newly created HQ Air Command Europe also Headquartered at Ramstein AB.
The base is the largest component of the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), where more than 16,400 American service members and more the 5,400 US civilian employees live and work. US organizations in the KMC also employ the services of more than 6,200 German workers. Air Force units in the KMC alone employ almost 9,800 military members, bringing with them nearly 11,100 family members.
[edit] History
Ramstein Air Base is a great example of international collaboration: designed by French engineers, constructed by Germans and operated by Americans. Construction of the 3,000-acre base began in April 1951 under the provisions of a Franco-American reciprocal agreement, as the surrounding area was under French postwar occupational control at the time.
The building of a major airfield came as no surprise to the local inhabitants who were no strangers to airpower. The World War II Luftwaffe had converted a section of the local autobahn into an airstrip at the beginning of World War II. The airstrip was also used by the advancing U.S. Army Air Forces during the final months of the conflict.
Enough construction was completed by 1952 that Landstuhl Air Base was opened on 5 August 1952. On 1 June 1953 Ramstein Air Base was opened. Landstuhl Air Base was built as an operational Air Base with the runway, control tower, ramps and other flight-related facilities and the associated flying and support units. Ramstein Air Base, on the north of Kisling Memorial Avenue was the location of Headquarters, Twelfth Air Force, and supported family housing, base exchange, commissary, dependents' schools and other administrative offices.
On 1 February 1952, Det 1, 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing arrived at Landstuhl Air Base from Neubiberg Air Base. On 27 April 1953, Headquarters, Twelfth Air Force was activated on Ramstein Air Base. The 86th Air Base Group was activated as the main base support unit for Landstuhl, while the 7030th HQ Support Group was the main base support unit for Ramstein.
On 1 December 1957, the two bases were consolidated into the largest NATO-controlled air base on serve at the continent. It was called Ramstein-Landstuhl Air Base, but later, through common usage, came by its present name, Ramstein Air Base in 1958.
One legacy of the two separate air bases was that the north side of Ramstein retained a separate APO from the south side. The north side (Ramstein AB) was APO New York 09012, while the south side (Landstuhl AB) was APO New York 09009. Also separate Combat Support Groups, the 7030th for the north side, and the 86th for the south side existed. These were consolidated in the 1980's when APO AE 09094 was established as a unified postal address, and the two Combat Support units were merged into the 377th Combat Support Wing.
About 10 minutes from the current Ramstein Air Base is the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, operated by the United States Army. Although part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community, LRMC has a separate history and was never a part of Ramstein or Landstuhl Air Bases, although both facilities have utilized the medical facilities at LRMC since they were established in 1953.
[edit] NATO Command Center
From its inception, Ramstein was deigned as a command base. In 1957 Ramstein provided support for NATO's HQ Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force, which moved to Ramstein from Trier AB on 10 November 1957. Also on that date, HQ Twelfth Air Force was transferred to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas and was assigned to Tactical Air Command. It was replaced by an advanced echelon of HQ USAFE. HQ Seventeenth Air Force, in turn, replaced HQ USAFE at Ramstein on 15 November 1959.
On 31 January 1973 several Headquarters were relocated in and out of Ramstein when Seventeenth AF moved to Sembach Air Base to make room for the expected move of HQ USAFE to Ramstein. This entire operation, code-named Creek Action, was carried out as part of the USAF's new world-wide policy of locating the most vital headquarters in thinly populated rural areas rather than near cities.
As a result of this policy change Ramstein air base became a large multi-national NATO center, since in addition to the USAFE's headquarters it also housed the new NATO headquarters of the Allied Air Forces Central Europe (AAFCE).
The AAFCE also commanded the 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF) and the 4th ATAF. The 4th ATAF, which had been headquartered at Ramstein for many years, included the 1st Canadian Air Group, 1st and 2nd Divisions of Germany's Luftwaffe, and units of the USAFE's 3rd and 17th Air Force.
HQ USAFE completed its move from Wiesbaden to Ramstein on 14 March.
With USAFE's arrival, Ramstein entered a period of expansion unsurpassed in the base's history. The commander of the 86 TFW became host commander of Americans living in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.
HQ Allied Air Force, Central Europe, was established at Ramstein on 28 June 1974. Ramstein subsequently provided support for other headquarters, including the 322d Airlift Division which arrived on 23 June 1978, and SAC's 7th Air Division, which arrived on 1 July 1978.
In December 1980, HQ Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force was moved from Ramstein to Heidelberg and co-located with HQ Central Army Group.
[edit] Operational Units Assigned To Ramstein
Beginning in 1953 Ramstein/Landstuhl Air Base was part of USAFE's Third Air Force, with headquarters at RAF Mildenhall, the United Kingdom.
[edit] 86th Fighter-Bomber/Fighter-Interceptor Wing
In January 1953, Landstuhl AB became the home of the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing, being transferred from Neubiberg Air Base near Munich. Operational squadrons were:
- 526th Fighter-Bomber (red stripe/cowlings)
- 527th Fighter-Bomber (yellow stripe/cowlings)
Note: Both squadrons had elaborate red-and-white checkerboard patterns covering all tail surfaces, with checkerboard patterns on the outer halves of the tip tanks and intakes.
Both of these squadrons were equipped with the Republic F-84 "Thunderstreak". In the fall of 1952, the USAFE Skyblazer acrobatic team was assigned to the 86th FBW. The last demonstration flight was made in July 1953.
In August 1953, the 86th FBS was re-equipped with the North American F-86F Saber. The 527th FIS became a Figher-Day squadron in October 1954, and was inactivated on 8 February 1956. Personnel and aircraft were assigned to the newly-formed 461st FDS at Hahn Air Base in May.
In August 1954 the mission of the 86th was changed to the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, and the F-86D began to repalce the F-86F, which was sent to NATO countries. Two new F-86D squadrons, the 440th FIS from Geiger AFB, Washington and the 496th FIS from Hamilton AFB California arrived at Landstuhl in July 1954. These squadrons were detached to the following bases to stand air defense alert:
- 440th FIS to Erding Air Base, Germany
- 496th FIS to Hahn Air Base, Germany
- 526th FIS remained at Landstuhl (Red tail stripes)
In May 1958 the 406th FIW at RAF Manston England was deactivated. Its three F-86D squadrons, the 512th, 513th and 514th moved to bases on the continent and were also assigned to the 86th. These squadrons were detached to the following bases:
- 512th FIS to Sembach Air Base, Germany
- 513th FIS to Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base France
- 514th FIS to Ramstein (Blue tail stripes)
[edit] 86th Air Division (Defense)
In January 1959 the 525th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Bitburg received it's first Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, designed to upgrade the air defense capabilities of Western Europe. HQ USAFE decided to uprade the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing and centralize command of all the European Air Defense squadrons in USAFE to it. With this change, the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing was redesignated the 86th Air Division (Defense) on 18 November 1960.
At Ramstein, the 526th FIS was equipped with F-102s in 1960, while the 440th, 512th, 513th and 514th FISs began to retire their F-86's during November and December. The squadrons were deactivated on 8 January 1961.
F-102 Squadrons assigned to the 86th AD at detached sites were:
- 32nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Soesterberg AB, Netherlands
- 431st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Zaragosa AB, Spain
- 496th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Hahn AB, West Germany
- 497th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Torrejon AB, Spain
- 525th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Bitburg AB, West Germany
- 526th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Ramstein AB, West Germany
However at the time of their arrival in Europe, the F-102 was already being replaced by the McDonnell F-101B Voodoo and the Convair F-106 Delta Dart in the Aerospace Defense Command as an interceptor, and by much more verstile McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. In USAFE, the 497th FIS transitioned to F-4Cs in 1963 and redesignated 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron and transferred to George AFB, California.
By 1969/1970 the F-102s were phased out of the interceptor role in Europe, and replaced by the F-4C/E. As they left USAFE service, most F-102s were transferred to the Air National Guard where they served into the 1980s.
[edit] 1961 Berlin Crisis
During the Berlin Crisis of 1961/62, the strength of the 86th AD was augmented by two Air National Guard F-104A squadrons:
- 134th Fighter Group: 1 Nov 61 - 15 Aug 62 Tennessee Air National Guard
- 151st Fighter-Interceptor Sq: 1 Oct 1961 – 15 Aug 1962
- 161st Fighter Group: 1 Oct 1961 – 15 Aug 1962 Arizona Air National Guard
- 197th Fighter-Interceptor Sq: 1 Oct 1961 – 15 Aug 1962
[edit] 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
On 7 March 1966, French President Charles De Gaulle announced that France would withdraw from NATO's integrated military structure. The United States was informed that it must remove its military forces from France by 1 April 1967.
As a result, the 26 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, based at Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France and two of its squadrons, the 38th and 32d, equipped with RF-4Cs was relocated to Ramstein on 5 October 1966. The 26th TRW's 22d TRS was reassigned to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho where it became a dual-based squadron, deploying frequently to Ramstein. The 32d TFS was transferred, without personnel or equpment to RAF Alconbury England and its RB-66 aircraft were sent to Takhli Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand.
Assigned squadrons of the 26th TRW at Ramstein were:
- 38th Tactical Reconnaissance (RF-4C, Tail Code: RR)
- 526th Fighter Interceptor/Tactical Fighter (F-102/F-4E (1970) Tail Code: RS)
- 7th Special Operation (C-130, C-47, UH-1)
While at Ramstein the 26th TRW acquired a number of other units with different flying missions. One function gained by the 26 TRW, almost immediately after arriving at Ramstein, was the maintenance and flying of the HQ USAFE liaison aircraft. In addition, the Wing was responsible for flying members of the HQ USAFE staff to Air Force and NATO bases throughout Europe.
In addition, the 26th TRW was only designated a flight, because of its small size. It consisted of a mixture of aircraft, including: T-29s, T-33s, T-39s, C-54s, O-2s, H-19s, and UH-1s.
The 38th TRS was stationed at Ramstein for almost four years (late 1962 to 1966) as part of the 66th TRW, headquartered in France, prior to being moved to the 26th TRW. During this time they flew the RF-101C - a single seat reconnaissance plane. While normally unarmed, it did have nuclear capabilities. The 38th started converting to the RF-4s in the 2nd quarter of 1966.
The 66th TRW moved to England in October 1966, when NATO pulled out of France. The 38th TRS stayed in Ramstein but moved under the 26th TRW, where it remained until in left Ramstein and moved to Zweibrucken.
The 526th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), flying F-102 aircraft, was assigned to the wing in November 1968, thus adding an air defense role to the mission of the wing.
The 86th TFW was activated at Zweibrucken Air Base on 1 November 1969 after the Canadian Air Force turned the facility over to NATO, and USAFE acquired it. With the phaseout of the F-102 from Europe, the 86th Air Division was deactivated on 1 April 1970. With the deactivation of the 86th AD, the 26th TRW became the host unit at Ramstein. The 526 FIS was redesignated the 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) and begun converting to the F-4E fighter aircraft.
In the spring of 1972, the 7th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) was assigned flying C-130Es, C-47As, and UH-1Ns. Because of the special operations mission of the 7 SOS, it reported directly to HQ USAFE for operational control
In 1971 a detachment of the 435th Air Base Wing from Rhein-Main Air Base was assigned to Ramstein and a large cargo aerial port constructed. This allowed Military Airlift Command C-141 and C-5 Galaxy aircraft to use Ramstein as a transshipment point for material, which was then moved within USAFE by C-130 tactical transports.
[edit] 86th Tactical Fighter Wing
As part of operation Creek Action, a command-wide effort to realign functions and streamline operations, USAFE transferred the 26 TRW from Ramstein to Zweibrucken Air Base, Germany, and the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) from Zweibrucken back to Ramstein on 31 January 1973.
These moves were made without the transfer of personnel or equipment with the exception of the 38 TRS, 7 SOS and 81 TFS. The 38th remained under the control of the 26 TRW by moving to Zweibrucken with the wing and the 7 SOS transferred to Rhein-Main Air Base. The 526th TFS remained at Ramstein AB, and it was reassigned to the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying F-4Es. Its tail code was "RS".
On 22 September 1977 the 526th TFS and the newly-activated 512th TFS were was redesignated the 86th Operations Group. The 512th was activated when F-4Es from Bitburg Air Base where tranferred to Ramstein after the F-15As arrived in USAFE. On 14 June 1985 the unit was reestablished and attached to the 86th OG. In April 1991 the 526th TFS converted to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. With the end of the Gulf War, the squadron deployed to Turkey and supported operations in Southwest Asia to ensure that Iraq complied with treaty terms. 526th TFS aircraft twice attacked Iraqi surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites in northern Iraq.
The 86th TFW supported numerous military units located in the area and participated in numerous exercises that provided the wing with air combat tactics training essential to their mission.
In June 1985, the 316th Air Division was activated, centralizing command authority at Ramstein. The 86 TFW became the division's flight operations arm, while the newly formed 377th Combat Support Wing, also activated in 1985, became responsible for the logistical and administrative support on base, replacing the 86th and 7030 Combat Support Wings.
On August 28, 1988, the base was the site of the tragic Ramstein airshow disaster, which killed 67 spectators and 3 pilots, and injured hundreds. The German metal band Rammstein is, in fact, named after the accident.
[edit] Ramstein Air Base Today
The 316th Air Division was deactivated 1 May 1991, and the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing merged with the 377 Combat Support Wing to form the 86th Fighter Wing. In addition the 512th TFS was also deactivated on 1 May, with the squadrons' F-16s being dispersed throughout USAFE.
In June 1992 the 75th Airlift Squadron arrived at Ramstein from Travis Air Force Base California and the wing was redesigned as the 86th Wing. On 1 October 1993, the 76th Airlift Squadron arrived from Charleston Air Force Base South Carolina. On 1 October 1994 the 37th Airlift Squadron arrived from Rhein-Main Air Base.
With the arrival of the cargo and transport squadrons the tactical Fighters of the 526th began to be transferred to other USAFE bases. In July 1994 the 86th Fighter Wing's last F-16 departed Ramstein Air Base and the 526th TFS was deactivated.
With the tactical fighters departed, the wing was re-designated the 86th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1994, with the following flying squadrons:
- 37th Airlift Squadron (C-130H)
- 75th Airlift Squadron (C-9)
- 76th Airlift Squadron (C-20, C-21, CT-43, C-135)
- 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
Also at Ramstein is the 86th Contingency Response Group. This unit is tasked with establishing airfield and aerial port operations and providing force protection at contingency airfields. The unit was activated at Hangar 3 at Ramstein on 26 February 1999, and is the first unit of its kind in the Air Force. The two subordinate units -- the 86th Air Mobility and 786th Security Forces Squadrons -- were also stood up 26 February. The 86th CRG incorporates more than 30 different jobs into one close-knit team. It is a rapid-deployment unit designed at the initiative of Air Force leadership to be a "first-in" force to secure an airfield and establish and maintain airfield operations. The 86th CRG was created specifically to respond to the growing number of fast-moving contingency deployments today’s Air Force experienced in Europe.
In October 2000 The 75th AS provided airlift in support of evacuation operations of U.S. Navy sailors injured as a result of the terrorist bombing of the USS Cole. The mission to Yemen and Djibouti brought 28 sailors to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany.
In 2003, the 435th Air Base Wing assumed the overall host base unit at Ramstein, with the 86th Airlift Wing its operational arm, and the 38th Combat Support Wing commanding support and Geographically Separated Units (GSU)
On 1 November 2005 with the inactivation of the Third Air Force, Ramstein was made part of the new HQ Air Command Europe.
In 2004/2005, Ramstein Air Base underwent an extensive expansion with a major construction project - which is still in progress (as of October 2006) - including an all-new airport terminal, among other new facilities, through the so-called Rhein-Main Transition Program which was initiated in support of the total closure of Rhein-Main Air Base on December 30, 2005 and transferring all its former capacities to Ramstein Air Base (70%) and Spangdahlem Air Base (30%).
While the KMC remains the largest U.S. community overseas at 39,000 people, the defense drawdown continues to shape its future. Due to the departure of other main operating installations, more than 100 geographically separated units receive support from Ramstein.
Ramstein Air Base also served as temporary housing for the United States men's national soccer team during the 2006 World Cup to provide the players' a home-field feeling. However, lacking the necessary luck, the team could not use the 'home advantage' in the Kaiserslautern Military Community and did not advance into the next round, even though their overall performance was better than most expected.
[edit] ADOC Kindsbach
Close to Ramstein was the site of Air Defense Operations Center - Kindsbach, AKA 'Kindsbach Cave' - the site of Europe’s underground Combat Operations Center.
The facility was located in a former German Western Front Command Headquarters. The French took control of the underground bunker after World War II, and USAFE assumed control in 1953. After major renovations, USAFE opened the Kindsbach Combat Operations Center 15 August 1954.
The center was a state-of-the-art 67-room, 37,000-square foot facility where USAFE could have lead an air war against the Soviet Union. The center had a digital “computer” to work out bombing problems, cryptographic equipment for coded message traffic and its own photo lab to develop reconnaissance photos. Responsible for an air space extending deep behind the Iron Curtain, the center interacted directly with the Pentagon, NATO, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and all USAFE bases. With its massive telephone switchboard and 80 teletype machines, the cave was plugged into everything in the outside world. The center was receiving more than 1,000 calls a day.
As a further measure of protection, the cave was fully self-contained with its own water supply, electric backup-generators, climate controls, dining facilities and sleeping accommodations for its 125-man crew. Visitor passes were rarely issued to this secret facility.
Throughout the years, leadership changed but USAFE led the operations through numbered Air Forces. The center’s commander was the USAFE Advanced Echelon. His glassed-in office was on the top floor of the three-story underground command center. Directly under his office was the management for offensive air operations. And the bottom floor office was the management for defensive air operations – to include support for U.S. Army forces and German Civil Defense. All three offices had a full view of the massive Air Operations Center map on the opposing wall.
The AOC was the largest room in the complex. Its three-story map was used to plot minute-by-minute movements of friendly and unidentified aircraft. But the center was much more than just a tracking station, because it could also react to threats. They always knew the current operational status of air weapons in theater including missiles, and could dispatch armed response “at a moments notice.”
Time takes its toll on technology. What was advanced in one era quickly becomes obsolete in the next. By 1984, the Kindsbach Cave had become too small and its cost for renovation too high, and USAFE vacated the facility. On 31 October 1993, control was returned to the German government. Today the Kindsbach Cave remains sealed – a relic of the Cold War in Europe and a monument to an air war that was won without ever having been fought.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
Much of this text in an early version of this article was taken from pages on the Ramstein Air Base website, which as a work of the U.S. Government is presumed to be a public domain resource. That information was supplemented by:
- Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
- Fletcher, Harry R., Air Force Bases Volume II, Active Air Force Bases outside the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989
- Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983
- Martin, Patrick, Tail Code: The Complete History Of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings, 1994
- Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984
- Menard, David W., Before Centuries. USAFE Fighters 1948-1959
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present [1]
