United States Air Force in Germany

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Map Of USAF bases in Occupied Germany - 1947
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Map Of USAF bases in Occupied Germany - 1947
Map Of USAF bases in West Germany during the Cold War - 1975
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Map Of USAF bases in West Germany during the Cold War - 1975
F-80B 49-1007 of the 36th Fighter Wing, Fürstenfeldbruck AB - 1950. This aircraft was part of the USAFE "Skyblazer" aerial demonstration team.
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F-80B 49-1007 of the 36th Fighter Wing, Fürstenfeldbruck AB - 1950. This aircraft was part of the USAFE "Skyblazer" aerial demonstration team.
F-15C Serial 80-082, 53d Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB - 1994
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F-15C Serial 80-082, 53d Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB - 1994

Contents

[edit] Postwar Years

Since 7 May 1945 The United States has maintained air bases in Germany. However, the bases in the U.S. Zone of Occupation in Germany were selected when there were absolutely no requirements for tactical defensive planning. Army Air Force planners simply selected useable former Luftwaffe bases in the American Zone which were repaired and used for transport and occupation duties.

The initial USAF bases and units in the American Occupation Zone in 1947 were:

With the exception of Frankfurt/Main Airport and Tempelholf Airport, these bases were all in Southern Bavaria.

[edit] Cold War

With the advent of the Berlin Blockade and the chilling of relations with the Soviet Union by 1948 it became obvious to USAF planners that these bases were tactically untenable because of their proximity to the East German and Czechoslovakian borders.

With the creation of NATO in response to Cold War tensions in Europe, USAFE wanted its vulnerable fighter units in West Germany moved west of the Rhein River to provide greater air defense warning time. France quickly agreed to provide air base sites within their zone of occupation in the Rheinland-Palatinate as part of the NATO expansion program. These new sites would all be fifty miles or more west of the Rhein River and most were located on rolling hilltops in rural settings.

Land acquisition in the Rheinland-Palatinate was rapid, and during 1951 construction began on six new air bases. These bases were not funded by NATO, but by USAF money partially offset by German war reparation payments, and construction was performed by West German contractors. Completion was on time and the quality was high. Bases at Pferdsfeld and Zweibrücken were built with USAF funds, but were assigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1952.

In 1968 the RCAF moved its forces south to Lahr and Söllingen in Baden-Württemberg. Pferdsfeld AB was turned over to the West German Air Force, and Zweibrücken AB to USAFE.

Major USAFE Air Bases and units in West Germany during the Cold War were:

Note: HQ USAFE was at Wiesbaden Air Base until 1973, then moved to Ramstein Air Base. Wiesbaden Air Base was turned over to the Army in 1975 in exchange for Army facilities in the Ramstein-Kaiserslautern area. The USAF, however, remained at Lindsey Air Station in Wiesbaden until 1993.

These bases served the USAF well for over 40 years, keeping the peace in Western Europe.

[edit] Post Cold War

With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War, there was a drawdown of United States tactical aircraft and personnel in Germany. Today, only Ramstein Air Base and Spangdahlem Air Base remain as active U.S. air bases, supporting operations in the Middle East and Balkans.

Sembach Air Base is still active and is a support facility for Ramstein Air Base. The remaining bases have been returned to the German government. Sembach is also in the process of closing.

About $600 million is now being spent to improve Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases to extend their usefulness for twenty years or more.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • 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
  • Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984

[edit] External links

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