Bitburg Air Base is a American air force base located 2 mi (3 km) SE of Bitburg , 20 mi (32 km) N of Trier, and 135 mi (217 km) W of Wiesbaden Germany. The U.S. Air Force redirects here, for the official song, see The U.S. Air Force (song) The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... An Air Force Base (AFB) is a term used to designate a military base of a number of air forces, including the United States Air Force (USAF) and the South African Air Force (SAAF). ... Bitburg is a city in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate which currently has Bitburg Air Base and Spangdahlem Air Base, two American airbases, nearby. ... The city of Trier (Latin: Augusta Treverorum; French: ; Luxembourgish Tréier; Italian: ; Spanish: ) is situated on the western bank of the Moselle River in a valley between low vine-covered hills of ruddy sandstone. ...

In early 1951, under US Army oversight, the French government began construction of what would become Bitburg Air Base in West Germany's Eifel Mountains. Located in the French zone of occupation, the air base was situated on farm land that had been a Wehrmacht tank staging and supply area for the Battle of the Bulge in early 1944. 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Wehrmacht troops of the Heer (military land forces) marching at a military parade in honour of the 50th birthday of Adolf Hitler, on April 20th, 1939. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Ardennes: Battle of the bulge Combatants United States United Kingdom Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower George Patton Bernard Montgomery Walther Model Gerd von Rundstedt Strength Dec 16 - start of the Battle: about 83,000 men; 242 Sherman tanks, 182 tank destroyers, and... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...

The air base and its housing area occupied nearly 1,100 acres, with a 8,200 foot long runway (with 1,000 foot overruns at each end, total length would be 10,200 feet).

36th Fighter Wing

North American F-86F-25-NH Sabre 52-5385 at Bitburg, 1955. Today, this aircraft is on display at the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum, Kamp Zeist, Netherlands.

22d TFS F-105s with French Air Force Dassault Mystère B2s from Cambrai Air Base - 1964

F-4Es of the 525th Tactical fighter squadron - 1972

McDonnell Douglas F-15D-25-MC Eagle Serial 79-0008 of the 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron

In July 1952 the 53rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron (FBS) from the 36th Fighter-Bomber Wing (FBW), from Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base a few miles west of Munich arrived at the newly-built base. Throughout the summer, elements of the 36th FBW moved into Bitburg, with the wing officially arriving in November 1952. Under various designations, the 36th would remain at Bitburg for the next 40 years. Image File history File links 36tfw-emblem. ... Image File history File links F-86f-36fdw-1955. ... Image File history File links F-86f-36fdw-1955. ... Image File history File links F-105-Mystere-36thtfw-1965. ... Image File history File links F-105-Mystere-36thtfw-1965. ... Image File history File links F-4e-525tfs-bit-72. ... Image File history File links F-4e-525tfs-bit-72. ... Image File history File links F-15D-79-008-525tfs-bit. ... Image File history File links F-15D-79-008-525tfs-bit. ... Look up July in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base is located near the town of Fürstenfeldbruck in Bavaria, near Munich Germany. ... Munich: Frauenkirche and Town Hall steeple Munich (German: München, pronounced listen) is the capital of the German Federal State of Bavaria (German: Freistaat Bayern). ...

With its arrival the 36th FBW was equipped with the Republic F-84E "Thunderjet". Operational squadrons were: The Republic Aviation F-84 Thunderjet was an American-built turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. ...

• 22d Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Red motif)
• 23d Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Blue motif)
• 53d Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Green motif)

In August 1953, the North American F-86F "Sabre" was introduced to the wing, replacing the F-84s. In August 1954, the wing was redesignated as the 36th Fighter-Day Wing. August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The North American F-86 Sabre was a subsonic combat aircraft developed for the US Air Force. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1956, the wing received the North American F-100 "Super Sabre," marking the first time a wing in USAFE flew supersonic jets. On 9 July 1958, the 36th was redesignated the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing. 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... F-100A Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a jet fighter aircraft that served with the USAF from 1954 to 1971 and with the ANG until 1979. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In January 1959 the 86th Air Division at Ramstein Air Base assinged the 525th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron to Bitburg. These F-102 Delta Dagger interceptors were designated as part of the integrated air defense structure of USAFE, but were not part of the 36th TFW. The F-102s were identified by blue stripes on their tails. January is the first month of the year and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Boeing C-17A Lot XII Globemaster III Serial 00-0172 Spirit of the Cascades at the Ramstein cargo terminal. ... The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger fighter aircraft was part of the backbone of the United States air defenses in the late 1950s. ...

In November 1959, the 36th was assigned to 17th Air Force. In May 1961, the wing received the Republic F-105 "Thunderchief" and continued to fly the jet fighter until it received the McDonnell F-4D "Phantom II" aircraft in 1966. In 1970 the Tail Code concept was established, with the following squadron insignia: 22d TFS "BR", 23d TFS, "BS", and 53d TFS "BT". Look up November in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, commonly known as the Thud by its crews, was a single-seat supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. ... The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II[2] was a two-seat supersonic long-range all-weather fighter-bomber produced for the United States military by McDonnell Douglas. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ...

During November 1968 the F-102s of the 86th AD were sent to Air National Guard units at CONUS and the 525th FIS was re-equipped with F-4Es and assigned to the 36th TFW. The F-4s were tail coded "BU" and had blue stripes on their tails. Look up November in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

On 4 January 1969 the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron was activated at Spangdahlem Air Base and assigned to the 36th TFW. The 39th TEWS flew the Douglas EB-66C/E "Destroyer" aircraft which engaged in various forms of electronic warfare. The B-66s were identified with tail Code BV, with a black stripe on tail. January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Spangdahlem Air Base is a United States Air Force base located near the small German town of Spangdahlem, near the city of Trier. ...

In August 1972 the 52d TFW was activated at Spandahlem. With this activation, the 39th TEWS and the 23d TFS were transferred to the 52d TFW. The tail coding of the 36th TFW aircraft were also standardized with "BT. August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

In 1977 Project Ready Eagle brought the McDonnell-Douglas F-15A to the 36th TFW. The first F-15A's arrived at Bitburg on 7 January 1977. These were two TF-15A trainers (serial numbers 75-049 and 75-050), that had flown non-stop from Langley AFB Virginia in seven and a half hours. For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... January 7 is the seventh day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia is home of Air Combat Command, leading the premier combat air forces of the world. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ...

These Eagles were to be used primarily for ground crew familiarization in anticipation of the arrival of the 525th TFS's first F-15As. The 23 aircraft for this first operational squadron left Langley on 27 April 1977 for a mass Atlantic crossing. Over the following months the aircraft for two other squadrons (22nd TFS and 53rd TFS) arrived. The 36th TFW's full strength of 79 fully-operational F-15As was reached in December 1977. Project Ready Eagle was completed in precisely one year. April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

On 1 October 1994 Bitburg AB was closed by the Base Closure Committee in 1994 when it was turned over to the German government. The 36th Fighter Wing was deactivated in place, then reactivated without personnel or equipment at Andersen AFB, Guam the same day, taking over as the host unit there as the 36 Air Base Wing. October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Andersen Air Force Base, is a base of the United States Air Force located on the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, on the north end of the island approximately 15 miles (24 km) from the capital, Agana. ...

Post Cold War Era

Bitburg Air Base was temorarily reopened by US Air Force in 1996 when repairs were need to the flightline of nearby Spangdahlem Air Base and is now known as the Bitburg Annex. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Spangdahlem Air Base is a United States Air Force base located near the small German town of Spangdahlem, near the city of Trier. ...

Bitburg Air Base "Base Housing" is currently serving as housing for part of the Spangdahlem Air Base and the Bitburg Annex contingents. The base housing is also provided for a nearby Army base in Butzweiler. Bitburg High School is the American high school located on the base, with the mascot being the Barons. Spangdahlem Air Base is a United States Air Force base located near the small German town of Spangdahlem, near the city of Trier. ... Bitburg High School is part of the Kaiserslautern School District and has a student population of approximately 300 with a faculty of thirty-five. ... High school - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

As of August 2006, Bitburg is in the process of being closed and returned back to the Germans. Housing from Bitburg is being moved to Spangdahlem AB.

See also

• United States Air Force In Germany

Map Of USAF bases in Occupied Germany - 1947 Map Of USAF bases in West Germany during the Cold War - 1975 F-80B 49-1007 of the 36th Fighter Wing, Fürstenfeldbruck AB - 1950. ...

References

• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984

• Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History

• Fletcher, Harry R., Air Force Bases Volume II, Active Air Force Bases outside the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989

• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present [1]

External links

• Bitburg Air Base Closure
• Bitburg Barons Alumni Association
• Reunion Website for the 36th TFW and Bitburg Air Base
• Bitburg AB Photo Website
• F-100s of 36th TFW (via F-100.org

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 49.95° 6.55°
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA