page_title: Rhein-Main Air Base
section_title: 435th Tactical Airlift Wing
hierarchical_section_title: Rhein-Main Air Base / 435th Tactical Airlift Wing
caption_attribution_description: English: C-5As from Rhein-Main AB being offloaded in the Middle East during Operation Desert Shield.
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 1966 closure of USAFE bases in France increased cargo traffic at Rhein-Main extensively.  On 1 July 1969, MAC transferred the 435th Tactical Airlift Wing from RAF High Wycombe in the United Kingdom to Rhein-Main as host unit and upgraded its facilities.  Squadrons assigned to Rhein-Main along with the 435th TAW were:
  37th Tactical Airlift Squadron (assigned 1 October 1977) (Lockheed C-130 Hercules)
  55th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron (assigned 31 March 1975) (McDonnell Douglas C-9A Nightingale)
  630th Military Airlift Support Squadron (MASSq)
  There were also other Military Airlift Command Squadrons in USAFE, notably at Torrejon AB in Spain and Inçirlik AB in Turkey which were made part of the 435th TAW.
  The 630th MASSq operated Rhein-Main's freight and passenger terminals and provided aircraft maintenance for transitory Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, C-141 Starlifter and C-5 Galaxy aircraft supporting aerial ports in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. TDY support of missions was not uncommon. Rhein-Main AB was the principal Port of Entry for all U.S. servicemen and women serving in West Germany as well as military and diplomatic air freight destined for U.S. bases and embassies throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 
  The 37th TAS took part in airlift operations during Operations Desert Shield/Storm in Southwest Asia (the Middle East), from 14 August 1990 – 29 March 1991. It also air-dropped humanitarian supplies in Operation Provide Comfort for the relief of fleeing Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq in April–May 1991.  The 37th AS conducted airlift and airdrop missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina for Operation Provide Promise, starting July 1992.
  The 55th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron flew aeromedical missions throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
  On 1 July 1975, the USAF and Military Airlift Command entered into an agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany that only transport aircraft be stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base.
  Events of note at Rhein-Main Air Base:
  On December 10, 1978, the first group of military dependents evacuated from Iran on C-141s  landed in Rhein-Main after leaving Tehran late the day before.  They had spent the first night in Athens, their second leg of the trip was to Rhein-Main and then they were transported to McGuire Air Force Base.  Each plane held approximately 150 women and children.
  On January 20, 1981, the American hostages held during the Iran hostage crisis were flown to Rhein-Main in a C-9 Nightingale aeromedical aircraft.
  On 23 October 1983, the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon occurred.  Rhein Main AB was instrumental in the processing of the casualties from that bombing in the days and weeks to follow. 241 military personnel perished in the blast.
  On August 8, 1985, The Red Army Faction terrorist group sneaked a car laden with explosives onto the base and parked it behind the headquarters building. At approximately 7:15 AM the car exploded, killing Airman First Class Frank Scarton of Michigan and Becky Jo Bristol of San Antonio, Texas, and wounding 20 others.
  In 1990, Rhein-Main Air Base was a major staging base for supplies and equipment heading to the Gulf War.
caption: C-5As flown from Rhein-Main AB being offloaded in the Middle East during Operation Desert Shield.
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