Rhein Main Air Base, Germany, July 2005

Rhein Main Air Base in Germany was a legend in USAAF/USAF history. The US occupied the base just over 60 years. The base was the former Frankfurt Flughafen (Airport). In the 1930's it was the base of the zeppelin Hindenburg. The Hindenburg's hanger sat where the control tower stood for many years until the base closed. After the zeppelin era ended, the air field became the Frankfurt Flughafen and was used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. The US Army captured the base in April 1945 and it remained in US control until it was handed back over to the Germans in October 2005. It was also one of three principle bases used during the Berlin Airlift. Personally I had been on 4 Enroute Support Trips to Rhein Main AB for the 315th Airlift Wing from Charleston AFB, SC (1987, 88, 89, and 2000). As a Air Force Reservist, I was activated for OIF/OEF for nearly two years from 3/2004 to 2/2006. In April 2005 I was deployed for 3.5 months to Rhein Main AB for the last time and was one of the last people to work there that summer. The base has been completely destroyed by the Germans in order to make room for a new Flughafen terminal on the south side of the current airport. This is a bike tour I made of the base in July 2005 to get something on film, knowing that the base would never look the same after the end of 2005. I had permission from the AF Public Affairs Office at RMAB to do this. At the end of the base tour, we begin a two week vacation that starts out at Bad Hamburg (north of Frankfurt) and Seligenstadt (east of Frankfurt). Enjoy!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• RMAB
• Part

[Michaelffm30]

Dieses Video kann mal sehr viel wert sein, denn heute steht von dem alles nichts mehr am Flughafen

[gpolaski1]

@Michaelffm30 Danke, nicht so viele Videos von Rhein Main Air Base existieren, und das ist traurig, weil es eine Legende in der Geschichte USAF war.

[ServingGermanysBest]

@gpolaski1

Thank you very much for uploading your interesting video! Seems that nothing is left over as you can see here.

(Youtube doesn`t allow links, so replace " * " with " w ")

w*w.deutsches-architektur-foru­m.de/pics/schmittchen/fraportl­uftbildausschnitt.jpg

Google Maps is luckily not updated so you can see more of the former base.

[gpolaski1]

@ServingGermanysBest Thank you. I got the image and shared it with those who are interested with Rhein Main Air Base history. -GP

[kampdog]

I remember being there in 1986. I was stationed at Gibbs Kaserne but would go over to the air base from time to time. I was military police.

[Tacticalopsec101]

we lived in gateway gardens. it brings tears to my eyes with all the memories coming back. i was an air force brat back then. my dad was a loadmaster. had great friends. miss that A.Y.A., man good times. remember, always remember. my last name is Borges if it ever rings a bell.

[823redhorse823]

435 CES from 1990 to 1992. nice video.

[syfydragon]

Damm Shame to lay waste to such a great base. Was there 79 -81 435th CES

and yes the sand pits were a blast