Editing Ramstein Air Base (section)

==History==

===Development and establishment===
In 1940, construction of today's {{lang|de|[[Bundesautobahn 6]]}} was stopped when [[Theodor Heuss Bridge (Frankenthal)|a bridge]] that was being built across the [[Rhine River]] near [[Mannheim]] collapsed, leaving a section of autobahn that could not be used. A part of the unused autobahn to the west of Mannheim, near [[Kaiserslautern]], was used as an airstrip by the [[Luftwaffe]]. The airstrip was also used by the advancing [[U.S. Army Air Forces]] during the final months of World War{{nbsp}}II. The old autobahn section is still used as the access road to the east and west gates of the base and the [[Bundesautobahn 6|A6]] was rebuilt south of the air base after the war.

During the initial postwar era, the [[United States Army Air Forces|USAAF]] repaired several former [[Luftwaffe]] airfields in [[Bavaria]], part of the American occupation zone of Germany.

The area was a [[swamp]] that had to be built up by {{convert|6|ft|m|0|spell=on|order=flip}}. A train line was laid out from {{lang|de|Einsiedlerhof-Kaiserslautern|italic=no}} in a yoke shape around to the current base and back down to the Landstuhl spur in 1948, by agreement of the U.S. and French Occupational Forces. Trainloads of earth were moved over the line and spread over the base's current area to raise it to its current level. Once the ground was level, construction work began. Two bases were laid out. Landstuhl Air Base on the south side and Ramstein Air Station (station, no airstrip) on the north. From 1948 to the opening of the bases in 1953, it was the largest one spot construction site in Europe employing over 270,000 workers at one time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ramstein Air Force Base in Kaiserslautern, Germany |url=https://militarybases.com/overseas/germany/ramstein/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Military Bases |language=en-US}}</ref>

Enough construction was completed in mid-1952 that Landstuhl{{nbsp}}AB was opened on 5 August. Its facilities included a runway, dispersal hardstands, a [[control tower]], ramps, and other flight-related facilities and the associated flying and support units. On {{date2|1|February|1952}}, Det{{nbsp}}1, 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing arrived at Landstuhl{{nbsp}}AB from [[Neubiberg Air Base]] near [[Munich]].

On {{date2|1|June|1953}}, Ramstein Air Station was opened. Ramstein was the location of headquarters, Twelfth Air Force, and supported family housing, base exchange, commissary, dependents' schools and other administrative offices for the WAFs (Women's Air Force). The barracks that were built at Ramstein AS were used to house WAFs and single women that worked as [[U.S. Government]] employees at both Ramstein{{nbsp}}AS and Landstuhl{{nbsp}}AB. On {{date2|27|April|1953}}, Headquarters, [[Twelfth Air Force]] was activated on Ramstein Air Base, having moved from its joint facilities with HQ USAFE at [[Wiesbaden AB]]. What was not generally known at the time and not made public until after the end of the [[Cold War]] in 1993, was the desire to have HQ{{nbsp}}Twelfth Air Force in close proximity to the Air Defense Operations Center (ADOC){{thinsp|—}}Kindsbach, {{aka}} 'Kindsbach Cave'{{thinsp|—}}the site of NATO's underground combat operations center.

===Operational history===
The 86th Air Base Group was activated as the main base support unit for Landstuhl, while the 7030th HQ Support Group was the main base support unit for Ramstein. On {{date2|1|December|1957}}, the two bases were consolidated into the largest NATO-controlled air base in service on the [[Europe|continent]]. It was called "Ramstein–Landstuhl Air Base", but later, after the West German government continued construction of the A6 autobahn from Kaiserslautern to Saarbrücken, the autobahn cut off access at the south of the base, which is where the main gate was within the city limits of Landstuhl. The main gate was moved to the west side of the base which was located in the town of Ramstein. The two bases were joined and the current Kisling Memorial Drive cut off to the public which unified the bases. In 1961, the base was officially named "Ramstein Air Base."

One legacy of the two separate air bases is that the north side of Ramstein retained a separate APO from the south side. The north side (Ramstein AB) is APO{{nbsp}}AE{{nbsp}}09012, while the south side (Landstuhl{{nbsp}}AB) is APO{{nbsp}}AE{{nbsp}}09009. There existed separate Combat Support Groups, the 7030th for the north side, and the 86th for the south side until their consolidation in the 1980s, when both were merged into the 377th Combat Support Wing. There is still a north and south side [[health club|Fitness Center]]. The current northside Community Center previously housed the WAF NCO Club. As well, there were two [[Movie Theater]]s on the North side and two on the South side. Currently, only two still stand on the north side: a remodeled Nightingale Theater (known before as the Four Corners Theater) on the corner across from the Base gas Station, and the north side AAFES dry cleaners that was known as the Ramstein Rocket Theater.

Near the Ramstein Air Base is the [[Landstuhl Regional Medical Center]] (LRMC), operated by the [[United States Army]]. Although part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community, LRMC has a separate history and was never a part of Ramstein or Landstuhl Air Bases, although both facilities have utilized the medical facilities at LRMC, since they were established in 1953. Currently there are plans on the drawing board from the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] to build a new Medical Center on the current U.S. Army Weilerbach Storage Installation just to the east of Ramstein{{nbsp}}AB. Construction is to be completed in and around 2024.{{update after|2024}} It will be a twelve-story facility to house all departments of LRMC and the current Ramstein AB Clinic along with Dental Clinic facilities for the whole KMC. In turn, the East Gate to Ramstein{{nbsp}}AB will be extended from its current location to just off the Autobahn 6 Einsiedlerhof exit to the base at what is known as the Elvis Gate.

From 2004 to 2006, Ramstein Air Base underwent an extensive expansion with a major construction project – including an all-new [[airport terminal]], among other new facilities, through the so-called Rhein-Main Transition Program which was initiated in support of the total closure of [[Rhein-Main Air Base]] on {{date2|30|December|2005}} and transferring all its former capacities to Ramstein Air Base (70%) and [[Spangdahlem Air Base]] (30%).

Ramstein served as temporary housing for the [[United States men's national soccer team]] during the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006{{nbsp}}World Cup]].{{refn|{{Cite news |last=Mraz |first=Steve |date=2006-06-16 |title=U.S. soccer team at Ramstein as match with Italy draws near |language=en-US |work=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]] |url=https://www.stripes.com/sports/u-s-soccer-team-at-ramstein-as-match-with-italy-draws-near-1.50860 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-08-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521181804/https://www.stripes.com/sports/u-s-soccer-team-at-ramstein-as-match-with-italy-draws-near-1.50860 |archive-date=2022-05-21}}}}

=== Name changes ===
* Landstuhl Air Base, {{date2|5|August|1952}}
* Ramstein Air Base, {{date2|1|June|1953}}
: Landstuhl and Ramstein were separate bases until {{date2|1|December|1957}}
* Ramstein–Landstuhl Air Base, {{date2|1|December|1957}}
* Ramstein Air Base, {{date2|15|August|1958}}{{thinsp|–}}present

=== Major USAF units assigned ===
Source: Fletcher, ''Air Force Bases, Volume II''{{refn|name="Fletcher"|{{Cite book |last=Fletcher |first=Harry R. |url=http://media.defense.gov/2010/May/25/2001330286/-1/-1/0/AFD-100525-060.pdf |title=Air Force Bases, Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America |publisher=Center for Air Force History |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912799-53-7 |series=Reference Series |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |pages=144–146 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521184616/https://media.defense.gov/2010/May/25/2001330286/-1/-1/0/AFD-100525-060.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-21 |url-status=dead}}}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* 86th Air Base Group, 5 April 1952{{thinsp|–}}14 November 1968
: [[86th Airlift Wing|86th Wing (various designations)]], 21 August 1952{{thinsp|–}}18 November 1960; 31 January 1973{{thinsp|–}}'''present'''
: (86th Air Base Group (later under various designations) assigned as subordinate unit, 21 August 1952)
: [[86th Air Division]], 18 November 1960{{thinsp|–}}14 November 1968
* 7030th Combat Support Group, 6 April 1953{{thinsp|–}}1 May 1960
: 7030th Air Base Wing, 5 October 1966{{thinsp|–}}14 June 1985
* [[Twelfth Air Force]], 27 April 1953{{thinsp|–}}1 January 1958
* [[7486th Air Defense Group]], 1 May 1954{{thinsp|–}}25 September 1957
* [[322d Air Division]], 22 March 1954{{thinsp|–}}12 August 1955
: 322d Airlift Division, 23 June 1978{{thinsp|–}}1 April 1992
* [[7455th Tactical Intelligence Wing]], 1 September 1985{{thinsp|–}}1 July 1992
* [[Seventeenth Air Force]], 15 November 1959{{thinsp|–}}7 October 1972; 1 October 2008{{thinsp|–}}24 April 2012
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* HQ, Atlantic Air Rescue Center (various designations), 8 October 1961{{thinsp|–}}30 June 1973
* [[26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing]], 5 October 1966{{thinsp|–}}31 January 1973
* [[USAFE|HQ, USAFE]], 10 March 1973{{thinsp|–}}'''present'''
* [[306th Flying Training Group|306th Strategic Wing]], 15 August 1976{{thinsp|–}}30 June 1978
* [[7th Air Division]], 1 July 1978{{thinsp|–}}1 February 1992
* [[316th Air Division]], 14 June 1985{{thinsp|–}}1 May 1991
* NHQ119 Civil Air Patrol{{thinsp|–}}Ramstein Cadet Squadron{{thinsp|–}}Unit 3395, 1984{{thinsp|–}}'''present'''
* [[377th Combat Support Wing]], 14 June 1985{{thinsp|–}}1 May 1991
* [[435th Air Base Wing]], 15 January 2004{{thinsp|–}}16 July 2009
* [[435th Air Ground Operations Wing]], 16 July 2009–'''present'''
* [[38th Combat Support Wing]], 24 May 2005{{thinsp|–}}30 June 2007
* [[521st Air Mobility Operations Wing]], 4 September 2008{{thinsp|–}}'''present'''
{{col-end}}

=== Major U.S. Army units assigned ===
Source: Fletcher, ''Air Force Bases, Volume II''{{r|Fletcher}}
* [[21st Theater Sustainment Command|21st TSC]] / 39th Movement Control BN. (2008{{thinsp|–}}Present)
* USAREUR Movement Control Team / AMC Logistic Center
* USAREUR Overseas Replacement Center{{thinsp|—}}Contingency Operations / AMC Passenger Terminal

=== 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}}.

=== NATO command center ===
From its inception, Ramstein was designed as a NATO command base. In 1957, Ramstein provided support for NATO's '''HQ Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force''', which moved to Ramstein from [[Trier Air Base]] on {{date2|10|November|1957}} upon the closure of that facility. Also on that date, HQ Twelfth Air Force was transferred to [[Bergstrom Air Force Base]], Texas, and was assigned to [[Tactical Air Command]]. It was replaced by HQ Seventeenth Air Force (USAFE) which was moved from North Africa. In turn, the 17th AF was replaced by its mother unit HQ USAFE from Lindsey Air Station, Wiesbaden, West Germany in 1973. The HQ 17th AF was moved to Sembach AB at that time and controlled all USAF Air Divisions and Wings north of the Alps, with the exception of the British Isles and Scandinavia, which were controlled by HQ 3rd AF at Mildenhall.

On {{date2|31|January|1973}}, several headquarters were relocated into and out of Ramstein, when Seventeenth{{nbsp}}AF moved to [[Sembach Air Base]] to make room for the expected move of HQ{{nbsp}}USAFE to Ramstein. This entire operation, code-named "Creek Action", was carried out as part of the USAF's new worldwide policy of locating the most vital headquarters in thinly populated rural areas rather than near cities. Later, HQ USAFE was moved, due to the fact that US Intelligence found that the Soviets had plans to invade Western Europe through the [[Fulda Gap]] in West Germany. The military thought to move vital HQs the western bank of the Rhine for protection.

As a result of this policy change, Ramstein air base became a large multi-national NATO center: in addition to the USAFE's headquarters, it also housed the new NATO headquarters of the [[Allied Air Forces Central Europe]] (AAFCE).

The AAFCE also commanded the 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF) and the 4th ATAF. The 4th ATAF, which had been headquartered at Ramstein for many years, included the 1st Canadian Air Group, 1st and 2nd Divisions of the West [[German Air Force]], and units of the USAFE's 3rd and 17th Air Force. HQ USAFE fully completed its move from Wiesbaden to Ramstein in early 1991.

With USAFE's arrival in 1973, Ramstein entered a period of expansion. The dual commander of the 316th AD / 86 TFW became host commander of Americans living in the Kaiserslautern Military Community instead of the US Army 21st Commanding General. The Wiesbaden USAF Community was then traded to US Army Control for an even switch. The KMC from the 1950s to the early 1990s had an average population of 110,000 Americans, outnumbering the Germans in Kaiserslautern during that period.

[[File:RAF-Bombenanschlag in Ramstein, 1981.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Aftermath of the [[Red Army Faction]] (RAF) bombing attack of the [[United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa|U.S. Air Forces Europe]] headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, [[West Germany]] (1981).]]
[[Allied Air Forces Central Europe]] was established at Ramstein on {{date2|28|June|1974}}. Ramstein subsequently provided support for other headquarters including the '''322nd Airlift Division''' that arrived on {{date2|23|June|1978}}, and [[Strategic Air Command|SAC]]'s '''7th Air Division''' that arrived on {{date2|1|July|1978}}. In December 1980, HQ Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force was moved from Ramstein to [[Heidelberg]] and co-located with HQ Central Army Group.

In 1984, an enlisted airman (Sgt Darrel Dietlein), assigned to the [[1964th Communications Group]], solicited National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol to charter the first "Cadet Squadron" in West Germany, naming the unit "Ramstein Cadet Squadron" and becoming the unit's first commander as a CAP First Lieutenant. The Ramstein Cadet Squadron was formed with Captain Mark Bailey serving as the unit's first liaison officer, as well as other like minded military volunteers and roughly six cadets. To this day, the squadron enjoys vibrant member participation, as well as base support, hosting the European Encampments along with their traditional military studies, cadet programs and aerospace education efforts. The Ramstein Cadet Squadron commander {{As of|2022|02|lc=y}} is 1st Lt Cody Chenowith. The squadron is the central hub for all CAP units in Europe. Membership {{As of|2024|04|lc=y}} was 55 members. In subsequent years, a companion cadet squadron was formed at Spangdahlem Air Base. Distance learning cadets are located at SHAPE, Belgium and Hohenfels, Germany.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}{{Importance inline|date=November 2023}} Additionally, the Ramstein Cadet Squadron is the second oldest and continuous operating unit on the installation and even predating the 86th Air Wing.

Today, the base is home to the [[Allied Air Command]], which is responsible to [[Joint Force Command Brunssum]], the only and main NATO command unit on Ramstein AB.

=== ADOC Kindsbach ===
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2023}}
Close to Ramstein was the site of '''Air Defense Operations Center (ADOC){{thinsp|—}}Kindsbach''', AKA 'Kindsbach Cave' – the site of Europe's underground combat operations center.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rhynes |first=Trevor |date=22 Aug 2013 |title=AOC Airmen visit historical bunker |url=https://www.ramstein.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/727221/aoc-airmen-visit-historical-bunker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331092635/https://www.ramstein.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/727221/aoc-airmen-visit-historical-bunker/ |archive-date=2025-03-31 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Ramstein Air Base}}</ref>

The facility was located in a former German western front command headquarters. The French took control of the underground bunker after World War II, and USAFE assumed control in 1953. After major renovations, USAFE opened the center on {{date2|15|August|1954}}.

The center was a state-of-the-art, 67-room, {{convert|37000|sqft|m2|adj=on|order=flip}} facility where USAFE could have led an air war against the Soviet Union. The center had a digital computer to work out bombing problems, cryptographic equipment for coded message traffic and its own photo lab to develop reconnaissance photos. Responsible for an air space extending deep behind the [[Iron Curtain]], the center interacted directly with [[The Pentagon]], NATO, [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe]] and all USAFE bases. With its massive telephone switchboard and 80 teletype machines, the cave was well connected to the world, receiving more than 1,000 calls a day.

As a further measure of protection, the cave was fully self-contained with its own [[water supply]], electric backup-generators, [[climate control]]s, dining facilities and sleeping accommodations for its 125-man crew. Visitor passes were rarely issued to this secret facility.

Throughout the years, leadership changed but USAFE led the operations through numbered Air Forces. The center's commander was the USAFE Advanced Echelon. The glassed-in office was on the top floor of the three-story underground command center. Directly under the office was the management for offensive air operations. And the bottom floor office was the management for defensive air operations – to include support for U.S. Army forces and West German Civil Defense. All three offices had a full view of the massive Air Operations Center map on the opposing wall.

The AOC was the largest room in the complex. Its three-story map was used to plot minute-by-minute movements of friendly and unidentified aircraft. But the center was much more than just a tracking station, because it could also react to threats. They{{Who|date=May 2025}} always knew the current operational status of air weapons in theater including missiles, and could dispatch armed response "at a moment's notice".

By the early 1960s, the manual plotting system used to track aircraft at the cave and elsewhere throughout West Germany was too slow and inaccurate for the quick responses necessary. Beginning in 1962, airmen trained in the new 412L air weapons control system began to arrive in Germany and at the cave. Over the next year, the new GE semi-automatic system was installed. When complete at the cave, the current air picture over East and West Germany, as well as parts of the Soviet bloc, was displayed on a {{convert|40|×|40|ft|adj=on|order=flip}} screen with radar information provided by various 412L sites located throughout West Germany. Senior U.S. staff monitored the dynamic display [[24/7]]. Over the next several years, additional 412L sites throughout Germany joined the network, until the manual system had been totally replaced.

=== Drone war control center ===
In April 2015, Ramstein Air Base was reported by German and international media as an important [[Mission control center|control center]] in the [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle|drone]] war staged under the [[Obama administration]] against targets in areas like [[Drone strikes in Pakistan|Pakistan]], [[List of drone strikes in Yemen|Yemen]], [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]] and [[Somali Civil War (2009–present)|Somalia]].{{refn|{{Cite news |date=2015-04-22 |title=US Ramstein Base Key in Drone Attacks |language=en-US |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/ramstein-base-in-germany-a-key-center-in-us-drone-war-a-1029279.html |url-status=live |access-date=2022-05-21 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190627094559/https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/ramstein-base-in-germany-a-key-center-in-us-drone-war-a-1029279.html |archive-date=2019-06-27}}}}{{refn|{{Cite magazine |last=Scahill |first=Jeremy |date=2015-04-17 |title=Germany is the Tell-Tale Heart of America's Drone War |url=https://theintercept.com/2015/04/17/ramstein/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[The Intercept]] |language=en-US |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160130182809/https://theintercept.com/2015/04/17/ramstein/ |archive-date=2016-01-30 |access-date=2022-05-21}}}}{{refn|{{Cite web |date=2015-04-18 |title=Germany's Ramstein airbase 'heart' of US drone program |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-ramstein-airbase-heart-of-us-drone-program/a-18391007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521202249/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-ramstein-airbase-heart-of-us-drone-program/a-18391007 |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=en-US}}}} The German government claimed not to have been informed about this function of the U.S. base.

In a TV and online documentary, the German [[Das Erste]] channel cited 2014 reports from [[Norddeutscher Rundfunk]], [[Westdeutscher Rundfunk|WDR]], and the {{lang|de|[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]}} that revealed Ramstein to be an important hub in the drone war against terror suspects. New data, provided by [[Edward Snowden]] affiliate [[Glenn Greenwald]], supported these reports with [[classified information|classified]] documents from inside the U.S. administration and were also presented in the [[Citizenfour]] video documentary.{{refn|{{Cite web |date=2015-11-11 |title=Der Drohnenkrieg der USA |trans-title=The US Drone War |url=http://www.daserste.de/information/reportage-dokumentation/citizenfour/citizenfour-snowden-neuer-informant100.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830122745/https://www.daserste.de/information/reportage-dokumentation/citizenfour/citizenfour-snowden-neuer-informant100.html |archive-date=2017-08-30 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=[[Das Erste]] |language=de}}}}{{refn|{{Cite web |title=Wie von Deutschland aus der Kampf gegen den Terror gesteuert wird |trans-title=How the fight against Terror is controlled from Germany |url=https://www.lernzeit.de/geheimer-krieg/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521203733/https://www.lernzeit.de/geheimer-krieg/ |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=lernzeit.de |date=19 February 2019 |language=de-DE}}}} The revelation of US drone activities from Ramstein lead to nationwide anti-drone protests under the banner of "Stop Ramstein Air Base".{{refn|{{Cite web |title=Ramstein Air Base anti-drone protests: The Germans taking on the US military |url=https://www.dw.com/en/ramstein-air-base-anti-drone-protests-the-germans-taking-on-the-us-military/a-40432117 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521204114/https://www.dw.com/en/ramstein-air-base-anti-drone-protests-the-germans-taking-on-the-us-military/a-40432117 |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=en-US}}}}

In 2019, three [[Yemen]]is who lost relatives in a 2012 US drone strike took legal action against the German government for aiding the breaking of international law by the United States, by tolerating these operations from Ramstein. The German Higher Administrative Court in [[Münster]] ruled that the German government must take appropriate measures to control whether the US army follows [[international law]] at Ramstein Air Base.{{refn|{{Cite web |title=Court hears case on Germany's role in US drone deaths in Yemen |url=https://www.dw.com/en/court-hears-case-on-germanys-role-in-us-drone-deaths-in-yemen/a-47921862 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190319182548/https://www.dw.com/en/court-hears-case-on-germanys-role-in-us-drone-deaths-in-yemen/a-47921862 |archive-date=2019-03-19 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=en-US}}}} However, the possibilities of Germany to control US activities on their territory are very limited as the United States has jurisdiction over Ramstein Air Base.{{refn|{{Cite web |title=Berlin powerless to challenge US drone operations at Ramstein air base |url=https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-powerless-to-challenge-us-drone-operations-at-ramstein-air-base/a-17545327 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521204907/https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-powerless-to-challenge-us-drone-operations-at-ramstein-air-base/a-17545327 |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=en-US}}}}

=== Illegal arms and munition transports ===
In 2015, the Serbian newspaper {{lang|sr|[[Večernje novosti]]}} reported about Ramstein Air Base being used by the United States Armed Forces to transport arms and munitions to [[Syria]].{{refn|name=":0"|{{Cite news |last=Weißenborn |first=Michael |date=2017-09-13 |title="Sag nichts, frag nicht" |language=de-DE |trans-title="Don't ask, don't tell" |work=[[Stuttgarter Nachrichten]] |url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.us-waffenlieferungen-ueber-ramstein-sag-nichts-frag-nicht.c0c31562-b599-46f3-b809-200defc6077c.html |url-status=live |access-date=2018-01-03 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180619172016/https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.us-waffenlieferungen-ueber-ramstein-sag-nichts-frag-nicht.c0c31562-b599-46f3-b809-200defc6077c.html |archive-date=2018-06-19}}}} At the end of 2017, an anonymous U.S. official stated that the U.S. does, indeed, use Ramstein Air Base to supplement Syrian rebels with arms and munition.{{r|:0}} The [[Cabinet of Germany|German Federal Government]] stated that it did not grant the necessary permits for these transports, nor that it had been informed about them.{{refn|name=":1"|{{Cite news |last1=Obermaier |first1=Frederik |last2=Krüger |first2=Paul-Anton |date=2017-09-12 |title=Heikle Fracht aus Ramstein |language=de-DE |trans-title=Tricky Freight from Ramstein |work=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]] |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/us-waffenlieferungen-heikle-fracht-aus-ramstein-1.3663289 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-01-03 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170913193045/http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/us-waffenlieferungen-heikle-fracht-aus-ramstein-1.3663289 |archive-date=2017-09-13 |issn=0174-4917}}}} The Kaiserslautern [[Public prosecutor's office (Germany)|public prosecutor's office]] did not initiate any official investigations. She checked generally accessible sources, on which some of the press articles mentioned were based, and obtained information from the authorities involved in monitoring foreign trade. According to the review, there was "no evidence of concrete arms transports to Syria via Ramstein". However, the journalistic conclusion cannot be ruled out, according to the prosecution authority.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waffenlieferung: Keine Ermittlungen gegen US-Regierung - Rheinland-Pfalz |url=https://www.rheinpfalz.de/politik/rheinland-pfalz_artikel,-waffenlieferung-keine-ermittlungen-gegen-us-regierung-_arid,1094079.html |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=www.rheinpfalz.de |date=8 February 2018 |language=de}}</ref> Previous investigations of the Ramstein Air Base, such as the [[Abu Omar case]], have proven to be unsuccessful.{{refn|name=":2"|{{Cite news |last1=Obermaier |first1=Frederik |last2=Krüger |first2=Paul-Anton |date=2017-09-20 |title=Millionen Schuss Munition für Kalaschnikows |language=de-DE |trans-title=Million rounds of ammunition for Kalashnikovs |work=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]] |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/us-waffenlieferungen-millionen-schuss-munition-fuer-kalaschnikows-1.3673430 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-01-03 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521211727/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/us-waffenlieferungen-millionen-schuss-munition-fuer-kalaschnikows-1.3673430 |archive-date=2022-05-21 |issn=0174-4917}}}} If the investigations into the arms and ammunition transports had been successful, this would have constituted a violation of the German ''[[Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz]]'' and the Foreign Trade and Payments Act.{{refn|{{Cite web |date=2014-03-28 |title=War Weapons Control Act (Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz, KrWaffKontrG) |url=https://germanlawarchive.iuscomp.org/?p=741 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521212225/https://germanlawarchive.iuscomp.org/?p=741 |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=German Law Archive |language=en-US}}}}{{refn|{{Cite news |date=2017-09-13 |title=USA sollen syrische Rebellen über Ramstein mit Waffen versorgt haben |language=de-DE |trans-title=The US is said to have supplied weapons to Syrian rebels via Ramstein |work=[[Deutsche Welle]] |url=http://www.dw.com/de/usa-sollen-syrische-rebellen-%C3%BCber-ramstein-mit-waffen-versorgt-haben/a-40492184 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-01-03 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521212521/https://www.dw.com/de/usa-sollen-syrische-rebellen-%C3%BCber-ramstein-mit-waffen-versorgt-haben/a-40492184 |archive-date=2022-05-21}}}}

=== Afghanistan Evacuation ===
[[File:Bound for US, Last Afghan evacuees depart Ramstein Air Base October 2021.jpg|thumb|[[2021 Kabul airlift|Afghan evacuees]] board their final flight from Ramstein Air Base in October 2021]]
In late Summer 2021, Ramstein Air Base became the transfer point for thousands of Afghan civilians fleeing Afghanistan following the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|fall of Kabul]] back into [[Taliban]] hands as U.S. and NATO forces withdrew from the country. Civilian airlines under the [[Civil Reserve Air Fleet]], such as [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]], [[American Airlines|American]], [[Eastern Airlines, LLC|Eastern]], and [[United Airlines|United]] were allowed to land at Ramstein and serve as flights to take Afghan families and other supporters of the U.S. and NATO forces to new lives in the United States. Those who had to stay on the base were cared for in makeshift living centers which were set up to tend to their needs until they could be processed and flown to the United States. {{refn|{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0FpVoBzSGY |title=Life of Afghan Refugees in Germany (US Military Ramstein Air Base) |date=2021-09-06 |publisher=Armed Forces Zone |access-date=2021-09-25 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/D0FpVoBzSGY |archive-date=2021-11-17 |url-status=live |via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}}}{{refn|{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycklnx3UyEs |title=See inside US air base preparing Afghans for new life in America |date=2021-08-21 |publisher=CNN |access-date=2021-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926025849/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycklnx3UyEs |archive-date=2021-09-26 |url-status=dead |via=[[YouTube]]}}}}

=== Russo-Ukrainian War ===
{{Further|2022 Ramstein Air Base meeting}}
On {{date|26 April 2022}}, Ramstein Air Base hosted a meeting of the International Advisory Group on Ukraine's Defense and Counteraction to Russia, convened by US Secretary of Defense [[Lloyd Austin]] to synchronize and coordinate Ukraine's military assistance in the war with Russia. The event was attended by the heads of defense agencies of 42 countries. The meeting was attended by Minister of Defense of Ukraine [[Oleksii Reznikov]].{{refn|{{Cite news |title=Nimetsʹkyy parlament pidtrymav postachannya vazhkoho ozbroyennya Ukrayini |script-title=uk:Німецький парламент підтримав постачання важкого озброєння Україні |trans-title=The German parliament has supported the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/31825144.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521213634/https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/31825144.html |archive-date=2022-05-21 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |date=28 April 2022 |language=uk |accessdate=2022-04-28|last1=Свобода |first1=Радіо }}}}

The participating countries agreed on financial assistance to Ukraine and the supply of "heavy" weapons. They also allowed Ukraine to strike at Russian strategic sites with Western weapons. The next meetings are planned to be held monthly.{{refn|{{Cite web |title=40 krayin proty Putina. Pidsumky zustrichi na aviabazi u Ramshtayni |script-title=uk:40 країн проти Путіна. Підсумки зустрічі на авіабазі у Рамштайні |trans-title=40 countries against Putin. Results of the meeting at the air base in Ramstein |url=https://glavcom.ua/country/politics/40-krajin-proti-putina-pidsumki-zustrichi-na-aviabazi-u-ramshtayni-841361.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220521214154/https://glavcom.ua/country/politics/40-krajin-proti-putina-pidsumki-zustrichi-na-aviabazi-u-ramshtayni-841361.html |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Главком |date=27 April 2022 |language=uk}}}}

An RAAF E-7A Wedgetail is based at Ramstein from October 2023, for a six-month deployment to supplement NATO AEW&C.