page_title: Rhein-Main Air Base
section_title: Air Transport
hierarchical_section_title: Rhein-Main Air Base / Air Transport
caption_attribution_description: English: Airlift Memorial (remembering air lift 1948/49) as a copy of Berlin Airlift Memorial was built in 1985 on the advanced landing ground "US Rhein-Main Air Base Gateway to Europe Germany" (RM AB GE). Handover to German government (to Fraport Frankfurt Airport) occured per Dec. 31st, 2005 - Foto 2007 Wolfgang Pehlemann Steinberg Ostsee DSCN268 Deutsch: Das als Airlift Memorial im Jahr 1985 (Kopie des Berliner Denkmals) auf dem damaligen Gelände der US Rhein-Main Air Base "Gateway to Europe" Germany (RM AB GE) errichtete Denkmal zur Luftbrücke für Berlin (1948/49) befindet sich nach dem Abzug der US Streitkräfte (2005) vom Frankfurter Flughafen nunmehr im Besitz und Bestand der Fraport Flughafen Frankfurt am Main - Foto 2007 Wolfgang Pehlemann Steinberg Ostsee DSCN268.jpg
context_page_description: Rhein-Main Air Base was a United States Air Force air base near the city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It was a Military Airlift Command and United States Air Forces in Europe installation, occupying the south side of Frankfurt Airport. Its military airport codes are discontinued. Established in 1945, Rhein-Main Air Base was the primary airlift and passenger hub for United States forces in Europe. It was billed as the "Gateway to Europe". It closed December 30, 2005.
  During its lifetime, the base's host airlift wing operated C-130 Hercules and Douglas C-9 Nightingale aircraft, as well as supporting many transient C-5 Galaxy, C-141 Starlifter, C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender flight operations each day, as well as weekly or daily contract air passenger flights for United States personnel arriving in or leaving Europe.
context_section_description: The initial USAAF transport unit at Rhein-Main was the 466th Air Service Group, activated on 20 November 1945.  The 466th operated the aerial port, with a mixture of C-47 Skytrain, C-46 Commando, and C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft using the base for transport operations.  The Rhein-Main transport passenger and cargo terminal was completed in 1946, and air traffic into Rhein-Main increased after the closure of the military passenger terminal at Orly Air Base, France, in March 1947, when the USAFE Eastern Air Transport Service  opened its hub at Rhein-Main.
  The 61st Troop Carrier Group was reassigned to Rhein-Main on 30 September 1946 from nearby Eschborn Air Base and assumed control of the transport mission, carrying out routine transport operations from the base using C-47s and C-54s.  Troop Carrier Squadrons of the 61st TCG were the 14th, 15th, and 53rd.
caption: Berlin Airlift Memorial (built in 1985).
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