| Rhein-Main Air Base | |
|---|---|
| NearFrankfurt,Hesse in Germany | |
 Rhein-Main Air Base in 1995 | |
 | |
| Site information | |
| Type | US Air Force base |
| Owner | German Federal Government |
| Operator | United States Air Force |
| Controlled by | United States Air Forces in Europe |
| Open to the public | No |
| Condition | Closed |
| Website | Official website (archived) |
| Location | |
  Rhein-Main AB  Rhein-Main AB | |
| Coordinates | 50°1′48.7″N8°35′16.97″E / 50.030194°N 8.5880472°E /50.030194; 8.5880472 |
| Grid reference | i |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1936 |
| In use | 1945 (1945)–2005 (2005) |
| Fate | Redeveloped as Terminal 3 ofFrankfurt Airport |
| Events |
|
| Airfield information | |
| Identifiers | ICAO: EDAF,FAA LID: FRF,WMO: 106373 |
Rhein-Main Air Base was aUnited States Air Force air base near the city ofFrankfurt am Main, Germany. It was aMilitary Airlift Command (MAC) andUnited States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) installation, occupying the south side ofFrankfurt Airport. Its military airport codes (IATA:FRF,ICAO:EDAF) are discontinued. Established in 1945, Rhein-Main Air Base was the primary airlift and passenger hub for USAFE. It was billed as the "Gateway to Europe". It closed on 30 December 2005.
During its lifetime, the base's host airlift wing operatedC-130 Hercules andC-9A Nightingale aircraft, as well as supporting many transientC-5 Galaxy,C-141 Starlifter,C-17 Globemaster III,KC-135 Stratotanker, andKC-10 Extender flight operations each day. Daily or weekly contract air passenger flights were also conducted for United States personnel arriving in or leaving Europe.
After theU.S. 7th Army moved through the Frankfurt area, the 826th Engineer Aviation Battalion (EAB), a unit of the IX Engineer Command, arrived at Frankfurt/Rhein-Main Airfield on 26 April 1945. The facility was classified as Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) Y-73. On 11 May 1945, the engineers began the task of clearing rubble and reconstructing major buildings. The Army engineers built new runways, aprons, hardstands, and taxiways leading to the terminal, as well as extending and widening the existing runway.[citation needed]
Frankfurt/Rhein-Main Airfield was initially used by theNinth Air Force as a tactical fighter base.
Tactical air groups initially stationed at the airfield included:
The firstUSAAF transport unit assigned to Rhein-Main was the 466th Air Service Group, activated on 20 November 1945. The 466th operated the aerial port, with a mixture ofC-47 Skytrain,C-46 Commando, andC-54 Skymaster aircraft using the base for transport operations.
Construction of the Rhein-Main transport passenger and cargo terminal was completed in 1946, allowing an increase of air traffic into the base after the closure of the military passenger terminal atOrly Air Base,France. In March 1947, theUSAFE Eastern Air Transport Service opened its hub at Rhein-Main.[citation needed]
The61st Troop Carrier Group (TCG) was reassigned to Rhein-Main on 30 September 1946 from nearbyEschborn Air Base. The group assumed control of the transport mission, carrying out routine operations from the base using C-47 and C-54 aircraft. The 61st TCG comprised the 14th, 15th, and 53rd Troop Carrier Squadrons.
Theongoing dispute overBerlin strained relations between theSoviet Union and the Western Allies (United States,United Kingdom,France). On 24 June 1948, the Soviet Unionblocked access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin, which lay deep within the Soviet-controlled zone of Germany, by cutting off all rail and road routes going through Soviet-controlled territory.
The next day, 25 June, the commander of the American occupation zone in Germany, GeneralLucius D. Clay, gave the order to launch amassive airlift using both civil and military aircraft. Rhein-Main Air Base became the main terminal in western Germany for the Americanairlift. Aircraft of the 61st TCG participated using C-54 Skymasters to ferry coal, flour, and other cargo intoWest Berlin. Additional Troop Carrier Squadrons (20th, 48th and 54th) were assigned to the 61st group.[citation needed]
On 19 November 1948, the513th Troop Carrier Group (Special) was activated at Rhein-Main Air Base to assist in the airlift, also using C-54s. Troop Carrier Squadrons activated with the 513th were the313th,330th,331st,332d, and333d squadrons.
Nearly a year after the blockade began, the Soviet Union lifted it at 00:01, on 12 May 1949. However, the airlift did not end until 30 September, as the Western nations wanted to build up sufficient amounts of supplies in West Berlin in case the Soviets blockaded it again.
Although originally envisioned as a bomber base by USAFE, as a result of the Berlin Airlift, Rhein-Main became a principal European air transport terminal.[citation needed] With the end of the blockade, the 513th TCG was inactivated on 16 October 1949. The 61st TCG returned to routine transport operations until the outbreak of theKorean War, and on 21 July 1950, was reassigned toMcChord Air Force Base,Washington.
The 61st was replaced by the60th Troop Carrier Wing, which transferred fromWiesbaden Air Base, West Germany on 2 June 1950. The 60th was equipped with the heavierC-82 Packet cargo aircraft. In 1953, theC-119 Flying Boxcar arrived, bringing an increased cargo capability to the wing. The 60th TCW consisted of the10th, 11th and 12th Troop Carrier Squadrons.
In 1955, with the opening ofUSAFE bases in France, most heavy transport flights were shifted there and Rhein-Main became a passenger and tactical cargo hub.[citation needed] The 60th Troop Carrier Wing relocated toDreux-Louvillier Air Base, France on 15 October 1955.
The 1614th Support Squadron of theMilitary Air Transport Service's (MATS)1602d Air Transport Wing headquartered atChâteauroux, France provided aircraft maintenance, passenger services, air cargo handling, hotel operations and airlift operational support during the 1950s and 1960s. Rhein-Main was placed under the 7310th Air Base Wing, which for over a decade provided ground service as well as cargo and passenger loading and unloading for USAFE and MATS transports.
USAFE turned over the northern part of the base to the German government for use asFlughafen Frankfurt am Main, the chief commercial airport for the greater Frankfurt area, in April 1959. The remainder of the base remained in USAF hands as the principal aerial port for theUS Department of Defense in Germany.
From 1947 until the 1960s, dependent children of military and government personnel living on base or in the surrounding communities attendedRhein-Main School for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade andFrankfurt American High School above 8th grade.[1]
The 1966 closure of USAFE bases in France increased cargo traffic at Rhein-Main extensively.[citation needed] On 1 July 1969, Military Airlift Command (MAC) transferred the435th Tactical Airlift Wing fromRAF High Wycombe in theUnited Kingdom to Rhein-Main as host unit and upgraded its facilities.
Squadrons assigned to Rhein-Main along with the 435th TAW included the following:
The55th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron flewaeromedical missions throughout the USAFE AOR.
Other Military Airlift Command squadrons were assigned to USAFE bases, notably atTorrejón AB, Spain andInçirlik AB, Turkey. These were also assigned as subordinate units of the 435th TAW.
The 630th MASSq operated Rhein-Main's freight and passenger terminals providing aircraft maintenance for transitoryC-17 Globemaster Iii,C-141 Starlifter andC-5 Galaxy aircraft supporting aerial ports throughoutEurope, theMiddle East, andAfrica. As a result, Temporary Duty (TDY) support of missions was not uncommon.[citation needed] Rhein-Main AB served as the principalPort of Entry for all U.S. servicemen and women serving in West Germany as well as military and diplomatic air freight destined for U.S. bases and embassies throughout USAFE's Area of Responsibility (AOR).
On 1 July 1975, theUSAF andMilitary Airlift Command entered into an agreement with theFederal Republic of Germany that only transport aircraft would be stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base.[citation needed]
On 10 December 1978, a group of military dependents evacuated fromIran on C-141s landed at Rhein-Main after leaving Tehran late the day before.[citation needed] They had spent the first night inAthens, their second leg of the trip was to Rhein-Main, then on toMcGuire Air Force Base. Each plane held approximately 150 women and children.
Later, on 20 January 1981, the American hostages held during theIran hostage crisis were flown to Rhein-Main in aC-9A Nightingale aeromedical aircraft.
On 23 October 1983, thebombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon occurred. Rhein Main AB was instrumental in the processing of the casualties from that bombing in the days and weeks to follow. 241 military personnel perished in the blast.
During theSoviet-Afghan War of the 1980s, Rhein-Main AB was the primary airbase supporting a program run by theDeputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Affairs, under the authority ofGeorge M. Dykes, IV, DoD Director of Humanitarian Assistance, supporting Afghan guerrillas (at that time known as Mujaheddin) in their fight against the Soviet Union.[citation needed] Over 100 Afghan Relief Flights were flown usingC-141 Starlifter andC-5 Galaxy aircraft. Another 10 Pack Animal Transport flights, flown byFlying Tigers Airlines in B747F aircraft, transported Texas mules to Afghanistan in a covert operation providing logistics to the Afghan guerrillas.
These missions were routed through the airbase. They included approximately 50 aeromedical evacuation flights bringing combat wounded Afghan guerrillas, as well as women and children, fromPAF Base Nur Khan, Chaklala, Pakistan to the US and Europe for surgery. These flights were supported by the55th AAS with medical aircrews from the2d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.
On 8 August 1985, theRed Army Faction snuck a car laden with explosives onto the base and parked it behind the headquarters building. At approximately 7:15 AMthe car exploded killingAirman First Class Frank Scarton of Michigan and Becky Jo Bristol ofSan Antonio, Texas, and wounding 20 others.
In 1990, Rhein-Main Air Base was a major staging base for supplies and equipment heading to theGulf War, with many cargo aircraft originating from home bases in the United States stopping at the base on their support missions.
The 37th TAS also took part in airlift operations duringOperations Desert Shield/Storm inSouthwest Asia from 14 August 1990 – 29 March 1991. It also air-dropped humanitarian supplies supportingOperation Provide Comfort for the relief of fleeing Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq in April–May 1991.
Starting in July 1992, the 37th TAS conducted airlift and airdrop missions toBosnia and Herzegovina supportingOperation Provide Promise.
The U.S. stagedOperation Provide Hope, a substantial airlift in February 1992 to the former Soviet Union, from Rhein-Main AB. The operation also had a much larger ground logistics phase, and in late February, a closing ceremony to the airlift phase was held at Rhein-Main AB, using a RussianAntonov An-124 cargo aircraft to transport the last shipment of air-delivered supplies.
On 1 April 1992 the 435th TAW was realigned fromMilitary Airlift Command toUnited States Air Forces in Europe and redesignated as the 435th Airlift Wing (435 AW). The 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron (37 TAS) became the 37th Airlift Squadron (37 AS) on the same date.
At its peak, Rhein-Main AB had a population of 10,000. However, by 1993, USAF officials announced the intent to downsize the base by half.[citation needed]
On 1 July 1993, the 55th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron moved toRamstein Air Base with its C-9A Nightingale aircraft. The 37th Airlift Squadron was subsequently reassigned to Ramstein on 1 October 1994. With these moves completed and most heavyAir Mobility Command (AMC) airlifters moving transcontinental cargo and passenger traffic to Ramstein andSpangdahlem Air Base, the stage was set for a complete closure in 2005.
On 1 April 1995, the 435 AW was inactivated and replaced with the469th Air Base Group underUSAFE command and the726th Air Mobility Squadron (726 AMS) under AMC. The 469 ABG inactivated on 10 October 2005. The 726th Air Mobility Squadron was the last unit at the base.[citation needed]
From September 2001 until 2005, Rhein-Main continued to provide support for transient military cargo aircraft and AMC-chartered civilian airliners supporting military transport activities throughout Europe, also acting as a waypoint for air mobility operations throughout Southwest Asia towards the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Although the primary mission of Rhein-Main was strategic and tactical airlift, the base also operated a substantial set of special operations missions.
The7406th Operations Squadron was activated at Rhein-Main on 10 May 1955 receiving its first aircraft (RB-50s) in March 1956. These jet-powered aircraft were replaced with specially configuredC-130A-II reconnaissance aircraft in 1958, mostly indistinguishable from other common C-130 aircraft. The 7406th operated and maintained the aircraft and provided the front-end flight crews (pilots, navigators, flight engineers, etc.). A separateUSAF Security Service squadron provided the crew as intelligence collection operators on the aircraft.
One of these C-130s (56-0528) was shot down with the loss of a crew of seventeen overYerevan, SovietArmenia on 2 September 1958.[3] Four SovietMiG-17 pilots took turns firing on the unarmed C-130 when the American aircraft penetrated Soviet airspace while on a mission along the Turkish-Armenian border.
Between 5–10 June 1967, during the Arab-IsraeliSix-Day War, the 7406th flew missions over the battle zone gathering electronic intelligence data.
The 7406th continued flying recon missions from Rhein-Main in the C-130B models until 30 June 1973 when the squadron's sister Security Service flying squadron moved toEllinikon International Airport,Athens,Greece (known to the U.S. asHellenikon Air Base). Operational missions were flown until 13 June 1974 from Greece when the unit was disbanded. The 7206th nomenclature continued, embodied in the 7206th Air Base Group as a support group in Athens until 1993. Surveillance missions continued from Hellenikon under the auspices of the 6916th Electronic Security Squadron (ESS).
With the relocation of the 7406th to Greece, the7th Special Operations Squadron was moved from Ramstein to Rhein-Main as one of the units shuffled as part of Operation Creek Action. The 7406th's Hercules aircraft had been used for covertcommunications intelligence (COMINT) missions along theEastern Bloc borders. The 7th SOS'sMC-130Es, code-namedCombat Talon, were no less mysterious and were also striking to look at with their matte black camouflage scheme and two large hooks on the nose. The 7th SOS's MC-130Es were spotted in every corner of Europe.[citation needed]
The 7th SOS was reassigned under the7575th Operations Group in 1977, and then to the39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing on 1 February 1987. It was relocated toRAF Alconbury in theUnited Kingdom in December 1992, coming under a different group in the process.
The 7575th Operations Group operated at Rhein-Main from 1 July 1977 to 31 March 1991. Initially, three unique subordinate units were assigned to the group: the 7405th Operations Squadron, the7580th Operations Squadron, and the 7th Special Operations Squadron. The 7405th had recently moved from Wiesbaden Air Base and converted to flying heavily modified C-130E Hercules reconnaissance aircraft. The 7405th provided the front-end crews as well as some special system operators, while the 7580th was suppliedelectronic warfare officers operatingsignals intelligence (SIGINT) equipment and specialized aircraft maintenance personnel. The mission of the 7405th and 7580th was to conduct covert reconnaissance flights through theWest Berlin Air Corridors, also known as the Berlin corridors and control zone.
The 7575th Operations Group ceased their reconnaissance mission soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and was inactivated shortly after that.
On 23 December 1999, the U.S. and German governments agreed to close the base.[citation needed] The last military flights involving the base took place in late September 2005 with the formal closure ceremony taking place on 10 October 2005. The final handover to the German government occurred on 30 December 2005 and the 726th AMS transferred toSpangdahlem Air Base.
Subsequently, theFrankfurt Airport Authority leveled the entire base, and in October 2015, commenced building what would become a third passenger terminal (Terminal 3) and other airport facilities.[4]
In 2019, it became known that excavated soil from the construction site for Terminal 3 was contaminated withPFAS chemicals with the volume of polluted soil being approximately 600,000 cubic metres. It was considered highly probable that the contamination originated withfirefighting foams which had been used byUSAFE, primarily for training purposes.[5]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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