Ramstein Air Base is located approximately two miles west of Landstuhl, one-and-one-half miles east of the city of Ramstein, and seven-and one-half miles west of the city of Kaiserslautern. Ramstein AB is in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz and is part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community--the largest American community outside the United States.
Ramstein Air Force Base is the largest USAF installation out of North America and the home of the USAFE Headquarters. It is also the largest NATO base in Europe.
OVERVIEW
Ramstein Air Base is a great example of international collaboration- i.e. designed by French engineers, constructed by German contractors, and operated by the U.S. Air Force. Just as the base's beginning was colorful, so is the history associated with it. With the area under French postwar occupational control at the time, that history officially began in 1951 with the base's construction by as many as 10,000 laborers from Germany and other countries participating in its development under the provisions of a Franco-American reciprocal agreement.
The completion of construction by German firms in 1953 initially resulted in two separate installations--Ramstein to the north and Landstuhl Air Base to the south of Kisling Avenue. Although called an air base, the north side had and still has no hangars or runway. The runway, hangars, control tower, ramps, and other flight-related facilities were located on Landstuhl. (See Map page)
Since its opening, the northern part of the base historically has been the location of various higher echelon headquarters, family housing, dependents' schools, and certain support functions, while the southern area has always been the site of the aerodrome and its various flying units.
In the 1950s, name changes accompanied the growing pains of the new bases. On 1 December 1957, the two bases were consolidated into the largest NATO controlled air base on the continent. It was awkwardly called Ramstein-Landstuhl AB, but later, through common usage, by its present name, Ramstein.
In January 1953, the base was the home of the 86th Fighter Bomber Wing with its F-84F aircraft, and later all-weather F-86D "Sabre" jets, and in August 1954, the name of the wing was changed to reflect a new mission. It became the 86th Fighter Interceptor Wing.
The 86th Fighter Interceptor Wing would later be transferred to Zweibruecken Air Base, Germany, but they would return to Ramstein in January 1973 as the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, The 26th TRW would be assigned in 1966 to Ramstein and later reassigned to Zweibrucken AFB in 1973.
Photo by Keith Kreeger, Zwei, '78-80
Photo by Keith Kreeger, Zwei, '78-80
In the early '50's, the Seventeenth Air Force controlled Air Force assets in central Europe, including bases in Germany. 17th Air Force headquarters moved from Libya to Ramstein on Nov. 15, 1959.
The 526th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was stationed at Ramstein between 1960 to 1970's. The first overseas deployment of the F-102A took place in June of 1958 when the 327th Fighter Interceptor Squadron moved to Thule, Greenland.
The first squadron in Europe to receive the F-102 was the 525th FIS based at Bitburg in West Germany, which received 25 aircraft in early 1959. Five other squadrons in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands eventually got Delta Daggers, including the 526th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Ramstein.
The 526th FIS was the last USAFE active-duty squadron to operate the F-102. The squadron transitioned to F-4E in 1970 and was redesignated 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron . By the end of June 1973, the number of active F-102s had been reduced to ten. (For more on the F-102 got to F-102 Page)
Seventeenth Air Force Headquarters moved to Sembach Air Base, Germany, on Nov. 10, 1972 to make room for United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) headquarters at Ramstein. By March 1973 , the USAFE Commander in Chief's flag was officially transferred to Ramstein from Wiesbaden AB.
The U.S. Air Force went from three Europe-based numbered air forces to two when 17th Air Force inactivated during a ceremony at Sembach Air Base July 31, 1996. It was officially inactivated 30 September 1996.
Air Force units in central Europe now fall under Third Air Force, which has its headquarters at Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall, England. As part of this numbered air force restructuring, 16th Air Force would retain control of operations south of the Alps.
With USAFE's arrival, Ramstein entered a period of expansion unsurpassed in the base's history, as it became the hub of the largest community of Americans outside the United States.
In June 1985, the 316th Air Division was activated, centralizing command authority at Ramstein. The 86th Tactical Fighter Wing 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. 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 July 1994 the last of the F-16 aircraft left Ramstein and the wing's C-130s moved in. The wing was redesignated the 86th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1994, with three flying squadrons. The 37th Airlift Squadron operates C-130 aircraft equipped with the Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System and Air Defense System. The 75th Airlift Squadron operates C-9 Aeromedical Evacuation aircraft, while the 76th Airlift Squadron provides operational support and distinguished visitor airlift throughout the theater.
The present host unit at Ramstein Air Base has been the 86th Airlift Wing since its activation date of 1 October 1994. The 86th Airlift Wing Commander serves a dual role as Wing and Kaiserslautern Military Community commander.
