Ramstein Air Base

Ramstein Air Base (located at {{coor dm|49|26.49|N|7|35.50|E|}}) is a U.S. Air Force / NATO military airbase near the town of Ramstein, Germany.

Related Topics:
U.S. Air Force - NATO - Ramstein - Germany

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The host unit at Ramstein Air Base is the 435th Air Base Wing, which supports the 86th Airlift Wing as well as other units at the base and surrounding region.

Related Topics:
435th Air Base Wing - 86th Airlift Wing

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Ramstein is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation. Canadian, German, British, French, Belgian, Polish, Czech, Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch forces are also 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.

Related Topics:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization - C-130 - C-9 - C-20 - C-21

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Ramstein Air Base is a great example of international collaboration: designed by French engineers, constructed by Germans and operated by Americans. The base was constructed in 1951 under the provisions of a Franco-American reciprocal agreement. The surrounding area being under French postwar occupational control at the time.

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Construction was completed in 1953 with two separate installations: Ramstein to the north of the current Kisling Avenue and Landstuhl Air Base to the south.

Related Topics:
1953 - Landstuhl Air Base

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Although called an air base, the north side had no hangars or runway. Runway, control tower, ramps and other flight-related facilities were located at Landstuhl. The northern part of the base being the location of various support functions, higher echelon headquarters, family housing, and dependents' schools whilst the southern area has hosted the aerodrome and its associated flying units.

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In December 1957, the two bases were consolidated into the largest NATO-controlled air base on the continent. It was called Ramstein-Landstuhl Air Base, but later, through common usage, came by its present name, Ramstein.

Related Topics:
December - 1957 - NATO

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In January 1953, the base was home to the 86th Fighter Bomber Wing with its F-84E aircraft, and later all-weather F-86D "Sabre" jets. In August 1954, the name of the wing was changed to reflect a new mission, the 86th Fighter Interceptor Wing.

Related Topics:
January - 1953 - F-84E - F-86D - August - 1954

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In October 5, 1966 the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and its RF-4C aircraft arrived from France and the 86th Fighter Bomber Wing transferred to Zweibruecken Air Base Germany, returning to Ramstein in January 1973 as the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing. AMC strategic airlift has operated at Ramstein since late fall 1971.

Related Topics:
October 5 - 1966 - 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - RF-4C - France - 86th Fighter Bomber Wing - Zweibruecken Air Base - Germany - January - 1973 - 86th Tactical Fighter Wing - Strategic airlift - 1971

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Seventeenth Air Force headquarters moved to Sembach Air Base, Germany, in October 1972, to make room for USAFE headquarters at Ramstein. By March 1973, the USAFE commander in chief's flag was officially transferred to Ramstein.

Related Topics:
Seventeenth Air Force - Sembach Air Base - Germany - October - 1972 - USAFE - March - 1973

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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 what is now known as the Kaiserslautern Military Community, or KMC.

Related Topics:
Kaiserslautern Military Community - KMC

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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.

Related Topics:
June - 1985 - 377th Combat Support Wing

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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.

Related Topics:
August 28 - 1988 - Ramstein airshow disaster

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The 316 AD was deactivated May 1, 1991, and the 86 TFW merged with the 377 CSW to form the 86th Fighter Wing.

Related Topics:
May 1 - 1991

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The 86 FW was redesignated the 86th Wing June 1, 1992. In July 1994, the last of the F-16 "Falcon" aircraft left Ramstein and the wing's C-130 "Hercules" moved in. The wing was redesignated the 86th Airlift Wing October 1, 1994.

Related Topics:
86th Wing - June 1 - 1992 - July - 1994 - F-16 - 86th Airlift Wing - October 1

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In 1995, the host wing at Sembach Air Base was inactivated and the installation became an annex of Ramstein Air Base.

Related Topics:
1995 - Sembach Air Base

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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.

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Ramstein is part of USAFE's Third Air Force, with headquarters at RAF Mildenhall, the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
USAFE - Third Air Force - RAF Mildenhall - United Kingdom

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The 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.

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