Allied Air Forces Central Europe
Encyclopedia
Allied Air Forces Central Europe (AAFCE) was the headquarters for NATO air forces in Central Europe from 1951 to 1967 and from 1974 to 1993.
(France), and originally activated in April 1951. It reported to Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT), which in turn reported to Allied Command Europe, headquartered at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
in Belgium. The post of Commander was replaced by Deputy C in C, HQ Allied Forces Central Europe on 1 Mar 1967.
The Headquarters was re-established on 28 June 1974 at Ramstein Air Base
, Germany as a principal subordinate command under Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT). Ramstein Air Base
is located in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. Its task was to provide central direction and control for the NATO air forces in the European Central Region through the co-ordination of the two existing headquarters, Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF), based at Rheindahlen
, which covered the northern part of the region, and Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force (4ATAF), based at Heidelberg
, which was responsible for the southern area.
officers:
. The post of Commander was invested in C in C, RAF Germany. 2 ATAF was disbanded on 30 June 1993, and its role taken over by AIRCENT the next day. While the peacetime headquarters was always at Rheindahlen
near Monchengladbach
, the war base was just over the border in the Netherlands, at what Warplane, published by Orbis Publishing in 1985, called a 'classified location' (JOC Maastricht; also PWHQ 2ATAF & NORTHAG till it was moved to "Castle Gate"
).
In Belgium
today there are two airbases where airplanes assigned to NATO are stationed. One is Florennes Airbase, the other one is Kleine Brogel Air Base
. Kleine-Brogel is a base where F-16s with a nuclear capacity are based. Melsbroek (co-located with the national airport Zaventem) is home to the 15th Air Transport Wing operating C-130's and a fleet of civilian jets.
In the Netherlands the Soesterberg Air Base
, used by the USAFE, was closed after the Cold War, and the 298 and 300 Squadron are to be moved to Gilze-Rijen Air Base
. The Leeuwarden Air Base
is the home of the annual NATO exercise "Frisian Flag".
, and units of the USAFE's Third
and Seventeenth Air Force
.
United States Air Forces in Europe
(USAFE) aircraft and personnel assigned to AAFCE have been located at bases including Ramstein, Sembach, and Spangdahlem. Sembach Air Base, used by the 601st Tactical Control Wing during the Cold War, was returned to German control and became an annex of Ramstein Air Base in 1995. USAFE
also maintains another base in Germany at Spangdahlem. The 52d Fighter Wing
there maintains, deploys and employs F-16C and A/OA-10 aircraft and TPS-75 radar systems in support of NATO and national defence directives.
During the early 1990s, following the relaxation of the tensions between East and West, a major reorganisation of the NATO command and control structure was planned. As part of this, and to take account of the decrease in the number of allied aircraft in Europe, a rationalisation of the Central Region air force headquarters occurred during 1993 with the closing of 2ATAF and 4ATAF and the expansion of AAFCE to meet the new increased task as it absorbed functions previously undertaken by the ATAFs.
A further consequence of the NATO reorganisation was an increase in the area of responsibility for Allied Forces Central Europe by the addition, on 1 January 1994, of Denmark and the northern parts of Germany, both of which were previously under AFNORTH command. As a result, Denmark joined the six nations, which staffed the headquarters since its inception: Belgium, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.
With the accession of three new members, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic in March 1999, Poland and the Czech Republic became part of the Central Region and have since then contributed to AIRCENT’s task and mission. On 1 September 99, HQ AIRCENT implemented the future HQ AIRNORTH structure, including now personnel from Norway, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy and Spain.
On 3 March 2000, HQ AIRNORTH was set up by amalgamation of the former HQ AIRNORTHWEST (High Wycombe, UK) and HQ AIRCENT, and by transfer of the air responsibilities of HQ BALTAP which became JHQ NORTHEAST (Karup/DA), and HQ NORTH which became JHQ NORTH (Stavanger/NO).
With the accession of seven new members (Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia) in March 2004, the Baltic States Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as well as Slovakia became a part of the Region North, On 1 July 2004, HQ AIRNORTH was renamed Component Command-Air Headquarters Ramstein and a new internal HQ-structure was implemented.
The Commander at HQ AC Ramstein is a United States Air Force
General, currently General Mark A. Welsh
, who also serves in the U.S. national appointment of Commander United States Air Forces Europe. He is the designated Commander Allied Air Command for Joint Force Command Brunssum, the Air Advisor to COM JFC Brunssum, the Regional Air Commander (RAC), the Regional Air Defence Commander (RADC) and the Regional Airspace Control Authority (RACA). Air-Com Ramstein has a multinational staff, which may include liaison elements from other NATO headquarters and national commands as specified in agreements. The Deputy Air Commander is ordinarily a German or a British 3-star, now appointed by rotation. The current Deputy Commander, Allied Air Command Ramstein, is Lieutenant General
Friedrich-Wilhelm Ploeger, who assumed that post first of July 2010.
Recent exercises that the Command has been involved in have included Exercise BOLD AVENGER 2007,
when took place from 3–14 September 2007 at Ørland Main Air Station
, Norway, Exercise COOPERATIVE ARCHER 2007, held from 9–20 July 2007 in Tbilisi
, Georgia, Exercise ALLIED REACH 2007, held at the Ramstein headquarters, and Loyal Arrow
2009 in Sweden.
On a regular base Baltic Region Training Events (BRTE) are held designed to offer training opportunities for enhancing interoperability, building capabilities and continuing the integration of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Baltic Region Training Event BRTE V
History
It was first based at FontainebleauFontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
(France), and originally activated in April 1951. It reported to Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT), which in turn reported to Allied Command Europe, headquartered at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
in Belgium. The post of Commander was replaced by Deputy C in C, HQ Allied Forces Central Europe on 1 Mar 1967.
The Headquarters was re-established on 28 June 1974 at Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, Germany as a principal subordinate command under Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT). Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
is located in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. Its task was to provide central direction and control for the NATO air forces in the European Central Region through the co-ordination of the two existing headquarters, Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF), based at Rheindahlen
Rheindahlen
Rheindahlen may refer to*RAF Rheindahlen*Rheindahlen Military Complex*Rheindahlen, Mönchengladbach...
, which covered the northern part of the region, and Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force (4ATAF), based at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, which was responsible for the southern area.
Commanders
The command was held first by US Air Force General Lauris Norstad and subsequently by five senior Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officers:
- Apr 1951 General (USAF) Lauris Norstad
- 16 Jul 1953 Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Basil EmbryBasil EmbryAir Chief Marshal Sir Basil Edward Embry GCB, KBE, DSO & Three Bars, DFC, AFC, RAF, was a senior Royal Air Force commander... - 1 Jan 1956 Air Chief Marshal Sir George MillsGeorge Mills (RAF officer)Air Chief Marshal Sir George Holroyd Mills, GCB, DFC, RAF was a senior Royal Air Force commander. After his retirement from the RAF, Mills served as Black Rod in the Houses of Parliament until 1970...
- 20 May 1959 Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry BroadhurstHarry BroadhurstAir Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst GCB, KBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, AFC, RAF , commonly known as Broady, was a senior Royal Air Force commander.-Early life:...
- 1 Mar 1961 ACM The Earl of BandonPercy Bernard, 5th Earl of BandonAir Chief Marshal Percy Ronald Gardner Bernard, 5th Earl of Bandon, GBE, CB, CVO, DSO, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the mid-20th century. He was a squadron, station and group commander during World War II and the fifth Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps after the War...
- 1 Dec 1963 ACM Sir Edmund HudlestonEdmund HudlestonAir Chief Marshal Sir Edmund Cuthbert Hudleston GCB, CBE, ADC, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:...
- 1965–66 German General Johannes SteinhoffJohannes SteinhoffJohannes Steinhoff was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace of World War II, and later a senior West German air force officer and military commander of NATO. Steinhoff was one of very few Luftwaffe pilots who survived to fly operationally through the whole of the war period 1939-45...
was Chief of Staff and acting commander
Second Allied Tactical Air Force
2nd ATAF, formed in 1958, directed NATO air units in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the northern part of Germany in support of Northern Army GroupNorthern Army Group
The Northern Army Group was a NATO military formation comprising four Western European Army Corps, during the Cold War as part of NATO's forward defence in the Federal Republic of Germany.- History :...
. The post of Commander was invested in C in C, RAF Germany. 2 ATAF was disbanded on 30 June 1993, and its role taken over by AIRCENT the next day. While the peacetime headquarters was always at Rheindahlen
Rheindahlen
Rheindahlen may refer to*RAF Rheindahlen*Rheindahlen Military Complex*Rheindahlen, Mönchengladbach...
near Monchengladbach
Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach , formerly known as Münchengladbach, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located west of the Rhine half way between Düsseldorf and the Dutch border....
, the war base was just over the border in the Netherlands, at what Warplane, published by Orbis Publishing in 1985, called a 'classified location' (JOC Maastricht; also PWHQ 2ATAF & NORTHAG till it was moved to "Castle Gate"
Castlegate bunker
Static War Headquarters Castlegate is a NATO command and communications bunker located approximately 2 km north-east of the town of Linnich, Germany. SWHQ Castlegate is operated in caretaker status for Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum by a German military contingent.-External links:****...
).
In Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
today there are two airbases where airplanes assigned to NATO are stationed. One is Florennes Airbase, the other one is Kleine Brogel Air Base
Kleine Brogel Air Base
Kleine Brogel Air Base is a Belgian Air Component military airfield located in Kleine Brogel, a municipality of Belgium. It is home to the 10th Tactical Wing, operating F-16 Fighting Falcons.It has been subject to much political controversy because of U.S...
. Kleine-Brogel is a base where F-16s with a nuclear capacity are based. Melsbroek (co-located with the national airport Zaventem) is home to the 15th Air Transport Wing operating C-130's and a fleet of civilian jets.
In the Netherlands the Soesterberg Air Base
Soesterberg Air Base
Soesterberg Air Base was a Royal Netherlands Air Force military airbase located in Soesterberg, eastnortheast of Utrecht. It was first established as an airfield in 1911, and in 1913, the Dutch Army bought the field and established the Army Aviation Division.For almost 40 years, United States...
, used by the USAFE, was closed after the Cold War, and the 298 and 300 Squadron are to be moved to Gilze-Rijen Air Base
Gilze-Rijen Air Base
Gilze-Rijen Air Base is a military airbase in the Netherlands located between the cities of Breda and Tilburg, in the Noord-Brabant province. It is mainly, but not exclusively used as a base for attack helicopters. The airfield has two runways, the longest, complete with instrument landing...
. The Leeuwarden Air Base
Leeuwarden Air Base
Leeuwarden Air Base is a military airbase used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force - Dutch: Koninklijke Luchtmacht , . The airbase is one of the two F-16 Fighting Falcon bases of the RNLAF...
is the home of the annual NATO exercise "Frisian Flag".
Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force
The 4th ATAF, which had been headquartered at Ramstein for many years, included the 1st Canadian Air Group, 1st and 2nd Divisions of Germany's LuftwaffeLuftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, and units of the USAFE's Third
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
and Seventeenth Air Force
Seventeenth Air Force
Seventeenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe during its years of active service...
.
United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
(USAFE) aircraft and personnel assigned to AAFCE have been located at bases including Ramstein, Sembach, and Spangdahlem. Sembach Air Base, used by the 601st Tactical Control Wing during the Cold War, was returned to German control and became an annex of Ramstein Air Base in 1995. USAFE
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
also maintains another base in Germany at Spangdahlem. The 52d Fighter Wing
52d Fighter Wing
The 52d Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.-Mission:The 52 FW maintains, deploys and employs F-16CJ and A/OA-10 aircraft and TPS-75 radar systems in support of NATO and the national defense directives...
there maintains, deploys and employs F-16C and A/OA-10 aircraft and TPS-75 radar systems in support of NATO and national defence directives.
Headquarters Allied Air Forces Central Europe (AAFCE)
Headquarters Allied Air Forces Central Europe (AAFCEwas established on 28 June 1974 at Ramstein Air Base, as a principal subordinate command under Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT). Its task was to provide central direction and control for the air forces in the European Central Region through the co-ordination of the two existing headquarters, Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF), based at Rheindahlen, which covered the northern part of the region, and Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force (4ATAF), based at Heidelberg, which was responsible for the southern area.During the early 1990s, following the relaxation of the tensions between East and West, a major reorganisation of the NATO command and control structure was planned. As part of this, and to take account of the decrease in the number of allied aircraft in Europe, a rationalisation of the Central Region air force headquarters occurred during 1993 with the closing of 2ATAF and 4ATAF and the expansion of AAFCE to meet the new increased task as it absorbed functions previously undertaken by the ATAFs.
Allied Air Forces Central Europe (AIRCENT)
This change in structure was marked by a ceremony at Ramstein on 1 July 1993, when the headquarters was officially formed and renamed AIRCENT.A further consequence of the NATO reorganisation was an increase in the area of responsibility for Allied Forces Central Europe by the addition, on 1 January 1994, of Denmark and the northern parts of Germany, both of which were previously under AFNORTH command. As a result, Denmark joined the six nations, which staffed the headquarters since its inception: Belgium, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Allied Air Forces Northern Europe (AIRNORTH)
On 3 March 2000, HQ AIRNORTH was set up by amalgamation of the former HQ AIRNORTHWEST (High Wycombe, UK) and HQ AIRCENT, and by transfer of the air responsibilities of HQ BALTAP which became JHQ NORTHEAST (Karup/DA), and HQ NORTH which became JHQ NORTH (Stavanger/NO).
With the accession of seven new members (Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia) in March 2004, the Baltic States Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as well as Slovakia became a part of the Region North, On 1 July 2004, HQ AIRNORTH was renamed Component Command-Air Headquarters Ramstein and a new internal HQ-structure was implemented.
Headquarters Allied Air Command Ramstein
With effect of 1 March 2010 the Headquarters was renamed to Headquarters Allied Air Command Ramstein (HQ AC Ramstein)The Commander at HQ AC Ramstein is a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
General, currently General Mark A. Welsh
Mark A. Welsh
Mark A. Welsh III is a United States Air Force four-star general who currently serves as the 34th Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe which he also concurrently serves as Commander, Allied Air Command Ramstein, Germany and Director, Joint Air Power Competence Center at Kalkar, Germany...
, who also serves in the U.S. national appointment of Commander United States Air Forces Europe. He is the designated Commander Allied Air Command for Joint Force Command Brunssum, the Air Advisor to COM JFC Brunssum, the Regional Air Commander (RAC), the Regional Air Defence Commander (RADC) and the Regional Airspace Control Authority (RACA). Air-Com Ramstein has a multinational staff, which may include liaison elements from other NATO headquarters and national commands as specified in agreements. The Deputy Air Commander is ordinarily a German or a British 3-star, now appointed by rotation. The current Deputy Commander, Allied Air Command Ramstein, is Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Friedrich-Wilhelm Ploeger, who assumed that post first of July 2010.
Recent exercises that the Command has been involved in have included Exercise BOLD AVENGER 2007,
when took place from 3–14 September 2007 at Ørland Main Air Station
Ørland Main Air Station
Ørland Main Air Station is situated at the mouth of the Trondheimsfjord in the municipality of Ørland, in the center of Norway. Ørland is operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force and is an important air base not only for Norway, but also for NATO...
, Norway, Exercise COOPERATIVE ARCHER 2007, held from 9–20 July 2007 in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, Georgia, Exercise ALLIED REACH 2007, held at the Ramstein headquarters, and Loyal Arrow
Loyal Arrow
Loyal Arrow was a major exercise of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization held in Northern Sweden in 8 June 2009 – 16 June 2009...
2009 in Sweden.
On a regular base Baltic Region Training Events (BRTE) are held designed to offer training opportunities for enhancing interoperability, building capabilities and continuing the integration of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Baltic Region Training Event BRTE V