USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 1:10 pm
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USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
https://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=287&t=237263
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Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 1:26 pm
As great as this sounds unfortunately the MoD has disposed of most of the old bases in the UK. The only one possible would be Woodbridge I think.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 1:56 pm
It kind of sounds like these bases aren't for permanent station, but perhaps more like RAF Fairford and used to deploy when needed? I also had the thought that it doesn't specify in what part of Europe these bases might be--are there unused or little used bases in eastern Europe that might be upgraded/updated and used? My minimal knowledge of the UK bases in this area and former USAF bases in France makes me think that most of those cold war bases are now used for other things--I think the one near where I used to live in France is now a solar farm.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 2:02 pm
Speculation
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 2:05 pm
I don’t think there would be any viable bases anywhere left in Europe, all the German ones from the 80’s/90’s Hahn, Sembach, Bitburg, Zweibrücken gone, Soesterberg gone. As for the UK ones, Alconbury is starting to become an housing estate so Upper Heyford would probably be the only one with a chance and only if many billions of dollars was thrown at it.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 2:48 pm
I agree. It would make little sense for the USAF to try and reactivate any of their prior Cold War bases.Thunder wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 2:05 pmI don’t think there would be any viable bases anywhere left in Europe, all the German ones from the 80’s/90’s Hahn, Sembach, Bitburg, Zweibrücken gone, Soesterberg gone. As for the UK ones, Alconbury is starting to become an housing estate so Upper Heyford would probably be the only one with a chance and only if many billions of dollars was thrown at it.
What would be appropriate and more likely is a quiet(ish) RAF base hosting US aircraft where and when required.
Wittering, Leuchars (I think limited capability still remains), Leeming etc.
There's lots of empty space on the existing estate without the need to properly reactivate any former airfield.
Boscombe, St Mawgan, Prestwick and so on.
Not that it is at all likely as they are far more likely to focus on bases much further East than the UK.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 3:05 pm
Sembach is under USAREUR control and the runway looks in tactThunder wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 2:05 pmI don’t think there would be any viable bases anywhere left in Europe, all the German ones from the 80’s/90’s Hahn, Sembach, Bitburg, Zweibrücken gone, Soesterberg gone. As for the UK ones, Alconbury is starting to become an housing estate so Upper Heyford would probably be the only one with a chance and only if many billions of dollars was thrown at it.
There was some elements of DoD schools and housing at Bitburg annexe for Spang but think that has gone, but its a GA airport, runway still intact
Hahn is an international airport Ryanair hub
Likewise with the above, Zweibrucken
No reason why the USAFE couldnt co-share the airports, if push comes to shove, its common practice re ANG, AFRES, USN / USMC reserve...stateside.... but then again depending if Berlin allows it and the local politicians and airport residents plus local popualtion.
cheers
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 4:02 pm
Although there's all the issue with Electrics etc. Why not Scampton & Linton-On-Ouse both recently closed and would be better use than as a refugee camp.
I do think they're meaning places further to the East of Europe in the 1st instance, unless of course they don't want to annoy the Crazy Ivans too much.
I do think they're meaning places further to the East of Europe in the 1st instance, unless of course they don't want to annoy the Crazy Ivans too much.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 4:10 pm
Nice long runway at Finningley going to waste.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 4:27 pm
Boscombe Down runway is much bigger though and still an active military base thats under used and has the HAS shelters.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 4:31 pm
There is no indication of this story originating from any reputable or verifiable sources. It has only been tweeted to a Twitter account of medium popularity, which seems to be little more than an armchair expert in a basement somewhere.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 5:40 pm
The only realistic one coming to my mind is Torrejon. Still active airbase and plenty of space available
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 5:40 pm
I guess dreaming is allowed, but in reality where will the money come from to pay for it? ohhhhhh and clickbait!
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 8:08 pm
Maybe “RAF” Prestwick is not such a joke after all !!! 
The Scottish Government want to sell it and the US military seem to be regular users.
The Scottish Government want to sell it and the US military seem to be regular users.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 8:35 pm
If there's any truth in this , the concept is likely to be about 'dispersal bases' , in some ways similar to those used to disperse the V bomber force during the 'Cold War' to make the force less vulnerable to being attacked on the ground . USAFE has become increasingly dependent on a small number of 'main bases' compared to the 50's and 60's , but USAF's the recently adopted 'agile combat employment' strategy really requires a number of dispersal type bases to maximise its effectiveness .
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 11:11 pm
Bentwaters maybe, the north end of Alconbury is now under a housing estate....PeteHemsley wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 8:20 pmBut we are in Europe, just not the European Union. The country hasn't swam away, yet.
I don't think it would take much to stand bentwaters and Alconbury back up!
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 11:30 pm
Reopening old bases ain’t gonna happen, however there are several bases in the UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark and Norway that have been recently vacated and still maintain a good infrastructure.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 1:42 am
The expectation of any credence in the subject story is minimal & imo any potential increase in active bases would be as far East as operationally sensible! Possibly a slight clue recently as to possible intentions with the first road-based operational flying exercises involving Typhoon / F-35 jets & closer ties with the newest NATO Members? 
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 7:09 am
The runway at Sembach has gone in it’s entirety, along with all its infrastructure.Ravendriver2008 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 3:05 pmSembach is under USAREUR control and the runway looks in tactThunder wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 2:05 pmI don’t think there would be any viable bases anywhere left in Europe, all the German ones from the 80’s/90’s Hahn, Sembach, Bitburg, Zweibrücken gone, Soesterberg gone. As for the UK ones, Alconbury is starting to become an housing estate so Upper Heyford would probably be the only one with a chance and only if many billions of dollars was thrown at it.
There was some elements of DoD schools and housing at Bitburg annexe for Spang but think that has gone, but its a GA airport, runway still intact
Hahn is an international airport Ryanair hub
Likewise with the above, Zweibrucken
No reason why the USAFE couldnt co-share the airports, if push comes to shove, its common practice re ANG, AFRES, USN / USMC reserve...stateside.... but then again depending if Berlin allows it and the local politicians and airport residents plus local popualtion.
cheers
Bitburg runway still there, but most of infrastructure has gone.
Hahn and Zwiebrucken still have active runways.
Re: USAF is "planning" to reactivate 20-25 Cold War era airbases in Europe (Rumour)
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 9:09 am
Gilze-Rijen in The Netherlands has also a USAF HAS-area available (although needs some work...)