<item><hi format=bold>Location and Origin of Name:</hi> 10 miles west of Kaiserslautern, and named after nearby town
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<p>The base was opened in 1952 as Landstuhl AB, and renamed Ramstein-Landstuhl AB before gaining its present title. The 86th FBW moved to the base from Neubiberg AB, Germany in August 1952, but was upgraded to Air Division status in November 1960 with responsibility for four F-102A interceptors squadrons at Ramstein and three other bases (Bitburg, Hahn and Soesterberg). The unit returned to Wing level exactly eight years later, and moved to Zweibrucken in November 1969. In the meantime the 26th TRW had moved to Ramstein from Toul-Rosi_res AB, France in October 1966. The 26th TRW remained until January 1973 when it was transferred to Zweibrucken in exchange for the 86th TFW, which returned to Ramstein. The 306th SW was activated by SAC in August 1976, although no aircraft were stationed at Ramstein as the unit was formed to control detachments at Mildenhall and Zaragoza AB, Spain. The need for an effective liaison between SAC HQ and HQ USAFE resulted in the 7th Air Division being formed at Ramstein. The 608th MAG was formed to operate the mixed fleet of VIP types flown in support of HQ USAFE and HQ 17th Air Force. Resident MAC aircraft transferred to USAFE in June 1992, joining the 86th Wing, alongside two squadrons of F-16C/Ds. Both squadrons of fighters relocated to Aviano AB during 1994, with the 86th being redesignated an Airlift Wing. C-130Es of the 37th AS transferred from Rhein Main to Ramstein in October 1994.
