Editing Ramstein Air Base (section)

==== 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}}.