Editing Ramstein Air Base (section)

=== Operational history ===

==== 86th Wing ====
{{Further|86th Airlift Wing}}
[[File:86th Airlift Wing.png|left|80px]]
[[File:F-4E-F-16C-86thTFW.jpg|thumb|McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, and General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon, of the 526th TFS/86th TFW, both displaying Ramstein 'RS' tailcode, 1985]]
[[File:Ram-c130.jpg|thumb|Lockheed C-130E Hercules of the 37th AS/86th Airlift Wing]]
Reassigned from [[Neubiberg Air Base]], [[West Germany]] in 1952, except for a period between 1968 and 1973, the [[86th Airlift Wing|86th Wing]], under various designations, has been the main operational and host unit at Ramstein Air Base.

Throughout the 1950s, the 86th was primarily a Fighter-Bomber Wing. In 1960, it was realigned to an air defense mission and became the [[86th Air Division]] (Defense). The 86th AD was inactivated in 1968. Returning as an [[F-4 Phantom II]] Tactical Fighter Wing in 1973, the 86th TFW performed that mission until 1994, deploying components to the Middle East during the 1990 [[Gulf War]].

On {{date2|14|August|1976}}, the [[Strategic Air Command]] 306th Strategic Wing was activated at Ramstein with a KC-135 air refueling and an RC-135 reconnaissance mission. The 306th also functioned as the focal point for all SAC operations in Europe and as liaison between SAC and USAFE. The wing moved to [[RAF Mildenhall]], England on {{date2|1|July|1978}}.

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 Air Base Wing|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 {{date2|28|August|1988}}, Ramstein Air Base was the site of the tragic [[Ramstein airshow disaster]], which killed 72 spectators and three pilots, and injured hundreds.

After the [[Cold War]], the 86th was realigned to become the [[86th Airlift Wing]]. On {{date2|1|July|1993}}, the 55th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron moved from the 435th{{nbsp}}AW at [[Rhein-Main Air Base]] Germany to Ramstein. On 1 October, the 75th and 76th Airlift Squadron arrived at Ramstein from the 60th AW at [[Travis Air Force Base]] California, and 437th{{nbsp}}AW at [[Charleston AFB]] [[South Carolina]], respectively. A year later on {{date2|1|October|1994}}, the 37th{{nbsp}}Airlift Squadron was transferred to Ramstein from Rhein-Main.

In 1999, the activation of the 86th Contingency Response Group brought the airfield and aerial port operations and provision of force protection at contingency airfields mission to the wing.

On {{date2|24|May|2004}}, the [[38th Combat Support Wing]] was activated to enhance support to USAFE geographically separated units. This wing was inactivated in 2007. The 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing was activated on {{date2|4|September|2008}}. The wing is the headquarters for the existing 721st Air Mobility Operations Group at Ramstein and the 521st AMOG at [[Naval Station Rota, Spain]]. The 521st AMOW provides an enhanced level of control for the AMC route structure in Europe, which includes critical locations for getting people, cargo and patients to and from current war zones.{{r|m521}}

By 1984, the Kindsbach Cave had become too small and its cost for renovation too high. The USAFE vacated the facility and, on {{date2|31|October|1993}}, control was returned to the German government and the German government returned the facility to the original owner of the land. Today, the Kindsbach Cave is private property, through tours of the cave can be arranged. The cave is overgrown by vegetation, trees, and new housing.

The new [[521st Air Mobility Operations Wing]] stood up on {{date2|4|September|2008}}.{{refn|name="m521"|{{Cite news |last=Saldukas |first=Scott |date=2008-09-10 |title=Wing activation of the 521st AMOW |language=en-US |work=[[United States Air Force]] |url=https://www.ramstein.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/305186/wing-activation-of-the-521st-amow |url-status=live |access-date=2022-05-21 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521180634/https://www.ramstein.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/305186/wing-activation-of-the-521st-amow/ |archive-date=2022-05-21}}}} {{As of|2020|06}}, the commander of the 521st AMOW is Colonel Adrienne Williams.{{refn|{{Cite web |date=July 2021 |title=Adrienne L. Williams |url=https://www.ramstein.af.mil/About/Biographies/Display/Article/2231634/adrienne-l-williams/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521181154/https://www.ramstein.af.mil/About/Biographies/Display/Article/2231634/adrienne-l-williams/ |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=[[United States Air Force]] |language=en-US}}}}

In December 2023 a new Space Force component stands up at Ramstein Air Base.<ref name="ussfComponent">Jennifer Svan [https://www.stripes.com/branches/space_force/2023-09-14/new-spaces-forces-unit-ramstein-11373440.html (14 Sep 2023) Newest Space Force component to stand up at Ramstein Air Base in December]</ref>

==== 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing ====
{{Further|26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing}}
[[File:Tr-26trw.jpg|left|80px]]
[[File:Rs-26trw-rf4c.jpg|thumb|McDonnell RF-4C Phantom IIs of the 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 26th TRW]]
On {{date2|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 {{date2|1|April|1967}}.

As a result, the [[26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing]], based at Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France, and two of its squadrons, the 38th and 32d, equipped with the [[F-4 Phantom II|RF-4C Phantom II]], were relocated to Ramstein on {{date2|5|October|1966}}.

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 as 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.

In 1971 a detachment of the 630th Military Airlift Support Squadron 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.

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.

As part of operation "Creek Action", a command-wide effort to realign functions and streamline operations, HQ USAFE transferred the 26th TRW from Ramstein to [[Zweibrücken Air Base]] and the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing was reassigned from Zweibrücken to Ramstein on {{date2|31|January|1973}}.