Ramstein Air Base, United States Air Force base in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force installation in Ramstein-Miesenbach in southwestern Germany. The facility has two parallel runways and serves as headquarters for American air forces in Europe and the NATO air command structure.
French forces and American engineers built the base between 1949 and 1952 on open ground. The installation opened officially in June 1953 and has since grown and been modernized continuously.
The facility takes its name from the nearby town and forms part of the largest American military complex outside the United States. Around six thousand civilian workers from the region work here and contribute to the daily operations of the installation.
The base is a restricted military area and not open to the public. Visitors need prior authorization or an invitation and must present valid identification at the gate.
In 2021 the facility served as a transit hub for Afghan civilians following the fall of Kabul. Within weeks thousands of people were housed and cared for on the grounds before traveling onward to other countries.
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