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63-669: [REDACTED] County of Luxembourg 1239–1353 [REDACTED] Duchy of Luxembourg 1353–1795 [REDACTED] French Republic 1795–1804 [REDACTED] French Empire 1804–1815 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Prussia 1815–1871 [REDACTED]   German Empire 1871–1918 [REDACTED]   Weimar Republic 1918–1933 [REDACTED]   Nazi Germany 1933–1945 [REDACTED]   Allied-occupied Germany 1945–1949 [REDACTED]   West Germany 1949–1990 [REDACTED]   Germany 1990–present The city's name derives from its Celtic toponym , Beda . Bitburg originated approximately 2,000 years ago as

126-555: A 1089 document, he is referred to as "comes Henricus de Lutzeleburg". By 1083, this lower town contained two churches and bridges over the Alzette and Petruss rivers. Its inhabitants' occupations included fishing, baking, and milling. In the same year, the Benedictine abbey of Altmünster was founded on the hill behind the castle by Conrad I, Count of Luxembourg . In 1136 when Count Conrad II of Luxembourg died without heirs,

189-590: A 39th TEWS Navigator/Bombardier stepped in as additional duty Public Information Officer and initial Wing Historian to record events and prepare Col Clifford's Dec Arrival. A few PIO personnel from Bitburg were assigned to the Information office from 36th TFW Information Office. Upon activation in Germany, the 52 TFW assumed control of the two squadrons the 36 TFW had located at Spangdahlem: During warm seasons in 1970 and 1971 operations shifted back to Bitburg while

252-566: A ceremonial visit by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to the nearby Kolmeshöhe Military Cemetery – which among its 2,000 graves included those of 49 members of the Waffen-SS . The most widely known Bitburg enterprise, and landmark of the city, is the Bitburger brewery . Its Pilsener -style lager beer ranks No. 3 among Germany's best selling beers , with sales of 3.86 million hectolitres (in 2008). In 1995,

315-570: A detachment of the 10th TRW. On 25 August 1959, the 10th TRW ended its six-year stay at Spangdahlem and moved to RAF Alconbury , United Kingdom . On 25 August 1959, the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing moved to Spangdahlem AB from the Etain-Rouvres Air Base, France , and assumed host unit duties. In 1957, the French Government decreed that all nuclear weapons and delivery aircraft had to be removed from French soil. As

378-512: A new USAFE wing, the new Wing Commander was to be the first black USAFE Wing CO Col Thomas E Clifford who had been 35th TFW DCO at Da Nang AB Viet Nam. The old 49th Wing HQ mostly vacant while 7149th inactive era was assigned a few personnel to begin the transition in October 1971. Recent promoted Col John J (Jack), Gaudion, former 23 TFS Sqdn CO became Base Commander designate and Captain Don I Phillips

441-749: A result of the drawdown of F-16s, the 22d and 23d Fighter Squadrons were inactivated on 13 August 2010 and formed a single "new" squadron, the 480th Fighter Squadron . In February 2012, it was announced that the 81st Fighter Squadron would be inactivated in 2013, leaving the 52d Fighter Wing with just one squadron. In February 2015, the 354th Fighter Squadron was deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to Spangdahlem in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve with twelve A-10Cs and approximately 300 airmen. The unit will train alongside NATO allies and deploy to locations in Eastern European NATO nations to further enhance interoperability. The A-10s were

504-635: A result, the nuclear-capable North American F-100C/D Super Sabres of the 49th TFW had to be removed from France. Squadrons of the 49th TFW at Spangdahlem were (squadron tail colour stripe): The 49th TFW flew F-100s until 1961 when it converted to the Republic F-105D/F Thunderchief , commonly known as the "Thud". The 49th TFW was only the third USAF unit to operate the F-105. The 49th received two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for F-105 operations at Spangdahlem. On 9 March 1967,

567-594: A stopover for traffic from Lyon through Metz and Trier to Cologne . The first name mentioned was Vicus Beda . Emperor Constantine the Great expanded the settlement to a road castle around 330, the central part of which forms the town centre today. Bitburg is first documented only after the end of the Roman Empire around 715 as castrum bedense . It subsequently became part of Franconia . The first mention of Bitburg in historic annals occurred in connection with

630-611: Is a NATO air base with the United States Air Force as a tenant constructed between 1951 and 1953 and located near the small German town of Spangdahlem , approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) north-northeast of the city of Trier , Rhineland-Palatinate . After emerging as the victors in the Second World War , the Western Allies (France, US, UK) occupied western Germany under the terms of

693-399: The 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB , Virginia (USA) , or to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath , United Kingdom . In April 2010, the wing's strength was reduced by one third. 20 F-16Cs were flown to the 148th Fighter Wing , Minnesota Air National Guard and one F-16 was transferred to Edwards Air Force Base , California . All aircraft were from the 22nd Fighter Squadron. As

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756-517: The 52d Air Expeditionary Wing , operating out of Powidz AB, Krzesiny AB, and Poznan, Poland . During the second quarter of FY 99, the 52nd witnessed the inactivation of the 53rd Fighter Squadron. The 53d had called Spangdahlem Air Base home since February 1994 when the squadron moved from Bitburg Air Base . As the squadron prepared for its inactivation in March 1999, all of the F-15s were transferred to

819-439: The 701st Munitions Support Squadron, Kleine Brogel AB , Belgium; 702nd Munitions Support Squadron, Büchel AB , Germany; 703nd Munitions Support Squadron, Volkel AB , Netherlands; and 704th Munitions Support Squadron, Ghedi AB , Italy. Each squadron is responsible for the ownership, custody, accountability and release of war reserve munitions. Air Mobility Command (AMC) supports cargo and passenger traffic at Spangdahlem. With

882-579: The 92nd Air Refueling Wing , based at Fairchild Air Force Base , as well as six EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft of the US Navy 's Electronic Attack Squadron 134 (VAQ-134), based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island . On the airfield it is a part of the major maneuver from June 12 to June 23, 2023, held under the leadership of the German Air Force Air Defender 23 it is the greatest exercise of air forces since NATO

945-681: The Abbey of Echternach . From the Early Middle Ages to the Renaissance , authors attributed different names to Luxembourg, such as: Lucilinburhuc , Lutzburg , Lützelburg , Luccelemburc , Lichtburg . The name is usually translated from the Latin as "little castle". However, modern historians believe that the etymology of the word Luxembourg is a derivation of the word Letze , meaning fortification, which might have referred to either

1008-769: The Biden administration reviewed the previous administration's proposals. It was confirmed in December 2021 as part of the Department of Defense's Global Posture Review that the planned move of F-16s had been cancelled. In the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , twelve F-35A Lightning II fighter of the 34th Fighter Squadron , based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah deployed to Spangdahlem in February 2022. In March 2022, they were joined by four KC-135 Stratotankers of

1071-654: The Eifel Region in general. In the cultural centre Haus Beda are exhibited works of the Düsseldorf painter Fritz von Wille (1860–1941), the Eifel's most widely known artist. More than 100 paintings are on display, including Die blaue Blume , Mosenberg , Burg Reifferscheid im Winter and Ein klarer Tag . Bitburg is partnered or twinned with: County of Luxembourg The County of Luxembourg ( French : Luxembourg ; Luxembourgish : Lëtzebuerg )

1134-729: The Kingdom of Prussia , where until 1822 it belonged administratively to the province of Lower Rhine, and afterwards to the Rhine province. With the unification of Germany under Prussian dominance in 1871, Bitburg became part of the German Empire, and after World War I the Weimar Republic of Germany. In the interwar years, Bitburg, like most of the Eifel region, was impoverished and comparatively backward. Economic growth began after

1197-629: The Nazi Seizure of Power and the Nazi regime's introduction of employment-boosting public works projects, including infrastructure for war, particularly the Westwall ; new armed forces barracks; and the development of the Nims - Sauer Valley railway. It is said that the building now used as the post office at Bitburg Annex (what is left of Bitburg Air Base) was the headquarters for Adolf Hitler when he

1260-779: The Potsdam Agreement . With the creation of NATO in response to Cold War tensions in Europe, USAFE wanted its vulnerable fighter units in West Germany moved west of the Rhein River to provide greater air defense warning time. France agreed to air base sites within its zone of occupation in the Rheinland-Palatinate. Spangdahlem base was constructed between 1951 and 1953 at a cost of roughly $ 27,000,000 using French and German contractors, working under

1323-718: The 10th TRW were: Upon its arrival at Spangdahlem AB, the 10 TRW operated Lockheed RF-80A Shooting Star for daylight aerial recon and the Douglas RB-26C Invader for night recon missions. The RB-26s were replaced in October 1954 by Martin RB-57A Canberras and the RF-80s in July 1955 by Republic Aviation RF-84F Thunderjets . In 1957 the RB-57s and RF-84s were transferred to Chateauroux-Deols Air Depot and

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1386-563: The 1288 Battle of Worringen . Nevertheless, Count Henry VII , whose father Henry VI had been killed in battle, settled the quarrel by marrying Margaret of Brabant in 1292. In 1308, he was elected King of the Romans and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1312, the first of three emperors provided by the House of Luxembourg. His son, John the Blind , became King of Bohemia in 1310, whereafter

1449-570: The 1st and 38th were re-equipped with the Douglas RB-66 Destroyer . Three additional squadrons, the 19th and 30th (8 January 1958) and 42d Tactical Reconnaissance (8 December 1957) were assigned to the 10th TRW from the 66th TRW,(Sembach AB), flying variants of the RB-66. The 19th TRS operated from RAF Sculthorpe United Kingdom during 1958, moving to Spangdahlem in 1959. The 42nd TRS flew from RAF Chelveston and remained there as

1512-462: The 23d and 480th TFSs. These were later replaced with Block 50 versions beginning in 1993. The last USAF operational model F-4E Phantom II aircraft departed Spangdahlem AB in December 1987. In late 1990, the 81st TFS reorganized to exclusively fly the F-4G, then deployed 24 aircraft to Sheikh Isa Air Base , Bahrain for Operation Desert Storm combat operations. 52d Fighter Wing On 1 October 1991,

1575-580: The 363rd TRW Combat Crew Instructors had themselves trained the previous few years. In January 1969, the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing , located at nearby Bitburg Air Base , assumed operational control of Spangdahlem, and became a dual-based wing. Squadrons from the 36 TFW assigned to Spangdahlem were: The 23 TFS carried out tactical fighter training missions, while the 39 TEWS was a newly formed squadron to conduct electronic warfare missions and train ground radar site crews all around NATO in electronic warfare based on SEA strike force experience needed to protect

1638-670: The 42 TRS remained at Spangdahlem until their move to the UK. The 1, 19, and 30 TRS flew the RB-66B and the 42 TRS flew the RB-66C and WB-66D. This movement of squadrons came about due to the introduction of the AFM 66-1 combined maintenance concept. It was decided to keep aircraft of one general type in the same units for maintenance and supply considerations. Fighter units got the RF-101 and bomber units got

1701-503: The 52 TFW was redesignated the 52d Fighter Wing as part of a sweeping, Air Force-wide restructure. The 510th Fighter Squadron was moved to Spangdahlem with the closure of RAF Bentwaters United Kingdom on 4 January 1993 as the lone A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron in USAFE. Also in early 1993, the 81st FS was reorganized to fly a mixture of F-4Gs and Block 30 F-16C/Ds. The F-4Gs were withdrawn and sent to AMARC in February 1994. With

1764-534: The 52d TFW into the first and only all-defense suppression wing outside of the United States. Under this configuration, each of the wing's three fighter squadrons flew E and G model F-4s paired together into Wild Weasel "hunter/killer" teams capable of locating and destroying enemy radar-guided, surface-to-air threats in all weather. In April 1987, the 52d began changing with the times and replaced its aging Phantoms with Block 30/32 F-16C/D Fighting Falcons for

1827-415: The 52nd Fighter Wing were planned to relocate to Italy, whilst units based at RAF Mildenhall, which had been scheduled to relocate to Spangdahlem, would no longer move. Following the announcement, officials at the 52nd Fighter Wing said that Spangdahlem would remain open to carry out other missions carried out by the wing, separate from F-16 operations. However, in February 2021, the plans were put on hold as

1890-719: The Ardennes–Luxembourg branch became extinct and the county, by order of Emperor Lothair II , passed to Conrad's maternal cousin Henry the Blind from the House of Namur . When Henry the Blind died in 1196, Count Otto I of Burgundy (a son of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick Barbarossa ) raised claims to the throne. Henry the Blind's daughter, Ermesinde , married Count Theobald I of Bar , thus securing her own succession as Countess of Luxembourg. The town of Luxembourg became

1953-625: The EIC, changes would be made to the mission at Spangdahlem, including the relocation of the 606th Air Control Squadron to Aviano Air Base , Italy , in order to free up space and infrastructure for the future relocation of the 352nd Special Operations Group from RAF Mildenhall , UK . The US European Command Force Posture review was announced on 29 July 2020, which indicated the US military would be reducing its presence at Spangdahlem. The 480th Fighter Squadron and its F-16 Fighting Falcons and other elements of

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2016-749: The East during the Migration Period in the 5th century, the Luxembourg region became part of Francia and the Carolingian Empire . In 843, Luxembourg became part of Middle Francia ( Treaty of Verdun ), then Lotharingia in 855 ( Treaty of Prüm ) and, finally, of Upper Lorraine in 959. Since 925, it has belonged to East Francia , predecessor of the Kingdom of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, and large parts were held by

2079-546: The RB-66 and these units combined accordingly. With the departure of the 49 TFW, the 7149th Air Base Group was activated to serve as a caretaker unit for a number of support organizations that remained behind after the departure of the 49 TFW. Although it did not have any assigned aircraft, the 7149 TFW would have served as a nucleus on which to build if the 49 TFW had been ordered to return to Europe to bolster NATO air forces. As part of "REFORGER" (return of forces to Germany) US Army, USAF units returned as "Crested Cap" including

2142-675: The Wing began receiving the McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II . The 49 TFW remained at Spangdahlem AB until 1 July 1968 when it relocated to Holloman Air Force Base , New Mexico , to serve as the US Air Force's first dual-based, NATO-committed wing. The 38 TRS was never equipped with RB-66B models. When the 10 TRW re-equipped with the RB-66 the 38 TRS and the 32 TRS moved away from Spangdahlem (to France I believe) and re-equipped with RF-101s. The 1, 19, 30, and

2205-568: The activation of the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 15 November 1976. On 1 January 1977, the 52 TFW had the following operational squadrons: In 1979, the more capable Wild Weasel F-4G had replaced the EF-4Cs of the 81 TFS, and in 1980 through 1982, F-4Es replaced the F-4Ds of the 23d and 480th TFSs. A complete reorganization of wing aircraft and aircrews occurred in November 1983, transforming

2268-619: The centre of a state of strategic value in the Low Countries . Its fortifications were steadily enlarged and strengthened over the years by successive owners, which made it one of the strongest fortresses in Europe. Through its formidable defences it became known as the "Gibraltar of the North". The Luxembourg counts lost the Limburg heritage when they were defeated by the Dukes of Brabant in

2331-540: The city came under French administration, and in 1798 became part of the newly created Département des Forêts . This led to a short lived economic upturn, and Bitburg received among other things a court and a land registry. In 1815, under agreements at the Congress of Vienna following the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte , Bitburg was, after having been a part of the Duchy of Luxembourg for centuries, transferred to

2394-612: The closure of the Rhein-Main Air Base in 2005, the Rhein-Main Transition Program was initiated to transfer all its former transport capacities to Ramstein Air Base (70%) and Spangdahlem AB (30%). The 726th Air Mobility Squadron supports cargo and passenger traffic as part of its airlift mission, providing command and control, maintenance and aerial port capability to all AMC aircraft transiting

2457-698: The construction of a partial city wall and moat . In addition to the small town near the Bockfiels and the Roman road, a further settlement was established in the Alzette Valley, today the Grund quarter of Luxembourg. By 1060 the fortress had been extended by Siegfried's descendants. Conrad I (d. 1086) was the first to call himself a "Count of Luxembourg". His son, Henry III , was the first count known to have established his permanent residence there, as in

2520-504: The control rods. One of the mechanics, TSgt. Thomas Mueller, was charged with negligent homicide and killed himself during his military trial. The 52d made history in 1997 with its first-ever deployment to a former Warsaw Pact nation. In September the 52d participated in EAGLE’S TALON-97, the first bilateral exercise involving US and Polish Air Forces. Units from the 52d deployed under the air expeditionary force (AEF) doctrine and formed

2583-561: The dynasty moved their seat of power to Prague Castle . The Duchy of Luxembourg was formed when the counties of Luxembourg, Durbuy , Laroche and Vianden (a vassal county since 31 July 1264), the Marquisat of Arlon , and the districts of Thionville , Bitburg and Marville were combined. Luxembourg was an independent fief of the Holy Roman Empire until 1353, when the Luxembourg emperor Charles IV elevated it to

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2646-746: The entire 49th TFS in early 1969 and in 1970 and 1971 from Holloman AFB, NM. After 1969 the two 36th TFW assigned squadrons, 23rd TFS in F-4Cs and 39th TEWS in EB-66E and 2 EB-66C's were back in the runway alert facility, previously used by 49 TFW F-105s and F-4s, reactivated in Dec 1969. 23rd TFS simply moved to next Eifel Mtn hill top into old 49th TFW squadron buildings and 39th TEWS began assembling in April with aircraft from 4417th CCTS and personnel from both Shaw AFB, SC and returning SEA EB-66 combat crewmembers many of whom

2709-451: The first of several theater security package deployments to Europe, U.S. Air Force officials said, adding that rotations generally will last six months, depending on mission and United States European Command requirements. On 8 January 2015 the US Secretary of Defense announced the results of the European Infrastructure Consolidation (EIC) review, which was to realign several missions in US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa. Under

2772-415: The fleet against SAM, AAA and fighter aircraft based in the East Iron Curtain Soviet Block nations. Spangdahlem retained status of a Nuclear Strike base and also housed USAFE Eifel Control in the Base Operations Tower. Orders for 39th TEWS personnel originally were to Bitburg AB but shortly prior it was realized the additional 2,000 feet of runway on the larger inactive hilltop at Spang was a great benefit to

2835-466: The former French barracks. After the First Gulf War most of the USAF forces were moved to the larger Spangdahlem Air Base , about 12 km east of Bitburg. In 1994, NATO turned the Bitburg Air Base over to the city, which devoted it to public works projects. The Nims - Sauer Valley railway was abandoned step by step, beginning in 1969. Parts of it were converted into a bicycle path ( Radweg ). In 1985, Bitburg came to international attention due to

2898-405: The former NATO base was designated the Bitburg Airfield Trade Area , providing commercial development district where 180 enterprises have established themselves. Bitburg-Erdorf station is part of the Eifel line (KBS 474). Trains that pass through include: The Regional Museum of Bitburg-Prüm is housed in a former agricultural school. It contains numerous artifacts of the history of Bitburg and

2961-403: The history of Luxembourg began with the castle's construction, it seems that Siegfried and his immediate successors did not make the castle their primary residence. During the following years, a small town and market grew around the new castle. Its first inhabitants were probably servants of Count Siegfried and clergy of Saint Michael's Church. The settlement soon received additional protection by

3024-425: The most important political forces of the 14th century, contending with the House of Habsburg for supremacy in the Holy Roman Empire . The historic region of Luxembourg was settled by Celtic tribes in the 2nd Century BCE. After the conquests of Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars from 58 to 51 BC, it was incorporated into the Roman province of Germania Inferior . Upon the invasion of Germanic Franks from

3087-450: The older EB-66 which had gained weight on modifications at Tulsa Plant where heavier cables for greatly increased jamming capability from RB-66B to EB-66E were added without removing the earlier in hard to get to areas. Near same time, plans to modify the early turbo jet engines to modern high bypass design were not considered with plans to retire the 1950s design in very few years and end of SEA needs. Modern miniature electronics were to allow

3150-422: The remains of a Roman watchtower or to a primitive refuge of the Early Middle Ages. The first known reference to the territory was by Julius Caesar in his Commentaries on the Gallic War . The ruined, supposedly Roman, fortification called Lucilinburhuc was first mentioned in 963, when Count Siegfried acquired it from Wikerus, Abbot of St. Maximin's Abbey in Trier . Siegfried first appeared about 950. He

3213-456: The runway was resurfaced at Spang. During this period the hardened NATO "Tab-V" shelters were constructed at both bases while operations around them continued. EB-66s were too large and remained parked around the ramp at the large hangar. End of runway alert aircraft F4s and EB-66's were under shelter for weather protection only. "V" or Victor Alert denoted nuclear forces from the British bombers Victor and Vulcan beginning with that letter. "E" Alert

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3276-445: The signing in 1239 of the Trier-Luxembourg Treaty between Archbishop Theoderich II of Trier and Countess Ermesinde II of Luxemburg, under which the town came under the archbishopric's protection. Bitburg received a town charter in 1262 from Count Henry V of Luxembourg . In 1443, Bitburg came under the sway of the Duchy of Burgundy , then in 1506 was acquired by the Austrian Netherlands , which controlled most of modern Belgium. In 1794

3339-420: The status of a duchy for his half-brother, Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg . Upon the extinction of the Luxembourg dynasty, the duchy passed to the House of Valois-Burgundy in 1443, and then to the Archduchy of Austria in 1482. It was integrated into the Burgundian Circle of the Holy Roman Empire, by Emperor Charles V in the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 . During the French Revolutionary Wars , Luxembourg

3402-514: The strike aircraft to carry their own modular ECM components in a great 30 minute rush to the border and roll back of enemy forces. This was envisioned as "Plugging the Fulda Gap" with WW 2-style massed armored Soviet forces. On 31 December 1971 the 52d Tactical Fighter Wing was transferred without personnel or equipment from Suffolk County AFB , New York to Spangdahlem. The unit had been a sort of personal National Guard wing for top World War II P-47 ace Gabby Gabreski . Inactivated then reactivated as

3465-539: The supervision of a French government agency. The initial USAF military presence began on 1 September 1952 with the arrival of the 7352d Air Base Squadron on 1 September 1952 from Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base near Munich . The mission of the 7532d ABS was to prepare the facility for an operational wing. On 10 May 1953 the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was reassigned to Spangdahlem AB from Toul-Rosieres Air Base , France. The base population at this time totaled slightly more than 1,900 personnel. Operational squadrons of

3528-452: The withdrawal of the Phantoms, the 510th Fighter Squadron was replaced by the 81st FS at Spangdahlem and was transferred to Ramstein Air Base to absorb the F-16 assets of the 512th FS there. In February 1994, the 53d Fighter Squadron relocated to Spangdahlem from Bitburg after its closure with F-15C/Ds. The 480 FS was also inactivated during October 1994, being replaced by the 22d Fighter Squadron from Bitburg. The 606th Air Control Squadron

3591-424: Was a State of the Holy Roman Empire . It arose from medieval Lucilinburhuc ("Little Fortress") Castle in the present-day City of Luxembourg , purchased by Siegfried, Count of the Ardennes in 963. His descendants of the Ardennes–Luxembourg dynasty began to call themselves Counts of Luxembourg from the 11th century onwards. The House of Luxembourg , a cadet branch of the Dukes of Limburg , became one of

3654-473: Was also assigned to the 52d Fighter Wing but remained at Bitburg until September 1995 before moving to Spangdahlem. After the restructuring and the closure of Bitburg and transfer of 36 FW squadrons to Spangdahlem, the operational squadrons of the 52d Fighter Wing were: In May 1995 Major Grey Lowry was killed when his 53d Fighter Squadron F-15C crashed at Spangdahlem AFB. Investigation showed that during routine maintenance, mechanics had crossed and mis-connected

3717-402: Was annexed to the department of Forêts . Following agreement at the 1815 Congress of Vienna , some of the former duchy's territory became the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg under the rule of, but not part of, the Kingdom of the Netherlands , after which it joined the German Confederation . Spangdahlem Air Base Spangdahlem Air Base ( IATA : SPM , ICAO : ETAD , former code EDAD)

3780-425: Was announced. Spangdahlem is home of the 52nd Fighter Wing , which maintains, deploys and employs Lockheed Martin Block 50 F-16CM/DM . The wing supports the Supreme Allied Commander Europe with mission-ready personnel and systems providing expeditionary air power. The wing also supports contingencies and operations other than war. The wing also supports geographically separate units throughout Europe, including

3843-580: Was for ECM. The 39 TEWS was disbanded and personnel reassigned on 1 January 1973. Aircraft were returned to Shaw then retired by 1975. In turn, it was replaced in the electronic warfare role by the 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron , flying the McDonnell Douglas EF-4C Phantom II , being transferred to Spangdahlem from Zweibrücken Air Base , Germany under project "Creek Action" on 15 January 1973. The 4th TFW had Three short-term deployments (F-4E) for European contingency support in March 1974, July and September 1975 The 52 TFW gained its third fighter squadron with

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3906-457: Was in the city. In late December 1944, Bitburg was 85 percent destroyed by Allied bombing attacks, and later officially designated by the U.S. military as a "dead city." Subsequently, the town was occupied by Luxembourg soldiers, who were replaced by French forces in 1955. In 1952 a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) base was opened at Bitburg by the U.S. Air Force. At the end of the 1980s, French troops were withdrawn and NATO took over

3969-414: Was possibly a son of Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine , and his mother Cunigunda was a granddaughter of the West Frankish King Louis the Stammerer . In the following years, Siegfried built a new castle on the site of the ruins, on a rock later called " Bockfiels ". The castle dominated a stretch of the old Roman road linking Reims , Arlon and Trier that provided prospects for trade and taxation. Although

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