For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
CoordinatesN495835 E0064154 (WGS84) Google Maps
Federal stateRheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
Map with location of Spangdahlem Air Base
Germany during the Cold War
The history of the Cold War airfields: Spangdahlem

During the Cold War

Use

US Air Force airbase.

In the 1950s

Situation

Spangdahlem Air Base on a map from 1959
Spangdahlem on a map from 1959 - In addition to the usual Non-Directional radio Beacon (NDB) and a TACAN, the field also has a VOR - here marked with "OMNI"

Overview

Map of Spangdahlem Airfield 1953
Map from 1953 - The arrow on the top rights shows the way from the former Non-directional Beacon (NDB) Spangdahlem with the ident "DDA". The dotted circled area on the top left is the Bitburg NDB with ident "DHB".

In the 1960s

Situation

Spangdahlem Air Base on a map from 1963
Spangdahlem on a map from 1963 - Compared to 1959, the VOR has disappeared. In addition, the TACAN has changed its position. Frequencies and identifications are also different.

In the 1970s

Situation

Spangdahlem Air Base on a map 1972
Spangdahlem Air Base on a map of the US Department of Defense from 1972 - (ONC E-2 (1972), Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at Austin /PCL MC/)

Images

Douglas EB-66E Destroyer of the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (39th TEWS) Spangdahlem AB
Douglas EB-66E Destroyer of the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (39th TEWS) at Spangdahlem in August 1972 - Source: USAF / National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

In the 1980s and early 1990s

Overview

Map of Spangdahlem Air Base 1984
Map of Spangdahlem Air Base from 1984

Images

The following pictures have been taken during Exercise SALTY DEMO 85 in April 1985. SALTY DEMO 85 was an air base survivability exercise, evaluating passive and active defenses, aircraft operation and generation, and base recovery systems. Source: DoD.

Decoys

Aerial view of a section of fake runway.
A mockup of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft is towed onto a fake taxiway to confuse attacking opposing forces aircraft
Snow-covered F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft mockups rest on a fake taxiway
Aerial picture of the aircraft mockups
Areal view of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft mockups parked on a fake flight line
Enlargement

Today

Use

US Air Force base.

Situation

Aerial picture Spangdahlem Airfield from June 2015
Aerial picture from June 2015

Sources

Airfields in the vicinity

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