Second Allied Tactical Air Force

Second Allied Tactical Air Force
Second Allied Tactical Air Force
Active	1958–1993
Disbanded	30 June 1993
Countries	Belgium ; Netherlands ; United Kingdom ; United States ; West Germany
Allegiance	North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Part of	Allied Air Forces Central Europe
Headquarters	RAF Rheindahlen, West Germany

Last updated January 31, 2024

Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2 ATAF) was a NATO military formation under Allied Air Forces Central Europe tasked with providing air support to NATO's Northern Army Group (NORTHAG). 2 ATAF commanded all flying units based within its sector and all reinforcements flying into its sector, as well as ground-based radar systems and stations, air defense units and the airfields in its sector.

History

Second Allied Tactical Air Force was formed in 1958. Is area of responsibility covered the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany north of the city of Kassel and south of the Elbe river. The commander of 2 ATAF was the commanding Air Chief Marshal of the British RAF Second Tactical Air Force, which was renamed RAF Germany on 1 January 1959.

A Communication Squadron for 2 ATAF was established in February 1952, and disestablished in January 1959 at RAF Wildenrath, by being redesignated RAF Germany Communication Squadron.^[1]

The peacetime headquarters of 2 ATAF were at RAF Rheindahlen (Mönchengladbach), the command center in the case of war for 2 ATAF. NORTHAG was in the Netherlands at Joint Operations Center Maastricht (JOC Maastricht). In 1983 NATO began with the construction of Static War Headquarters Castlegate in Linnich, Germany, as a replacement for JOC Maastricht. An Alternate War HQ was located at Kanne (Belgium) north of Fort Eben-Emael.^[2]

2 ATAF commanded RAF Germany, the Belgian Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, two divisions of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) and one US Air Force Tactical Fighter Group, as well as extensive air defense and radar installations provided by Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

If needed, 2 ATAF would have been reinforced with units from the US Third (UK based), Eighth (reconnaissance and bombing), Ninth (immediate reinforcements) and Twelfth Air Force (follow on reinforcements), and with French Air Force and Royal Air Force units. At the start of hostilities, 2 ATAF would have had immediately around 700 combat planes at its disposal. The following units would have come under 2 ATAF in wartime:

2 ATAF was disbanded on 30 June 1993, its duties were taken over by Allied Air Forces Central Europe.

War time structure c. 1989

Bruggen

Royal Air Force Germany bases with flying units in 1989 (all located in North Rhine-Westphalia)

Bierset

Royal Belgium Air Force 2 ATAF assigned bases in 1989

Eindhoven

Gilze-Rijen

Leeuwarden

Twente

Volkel

De Peel

Soesterberg

class=notpageimage|

Royal Netherlands Air Force 2 ATAF assigned bases in 1989

Headquarters Second Allied Tactical Air Force, RAF Rheindahlen/JOC Maastricht
- Air Defence Operations Center (ADOC), Kanne
  - Sector Operations Center 1 (SOC 1), Aurich
    - 1st Btn, 34th (Luftwaffe) Signal Regiment, Control and Reporting Center Aurich
    - 2nd Btn, 34th (Luftwaffe) Signal Regiment, Control and Reporting Center Visselhövede
    - 3rd Btn, 34th (Luftwaffe) Signal Regiment, Control and Reporting Center Brekendorf
    - Royal Netherlands Air Force, Control and Reporting Center Nieuw Milligen, Netherlands
      - No. 225 Squadron, (3× I-Hawk launch stations & 3× Flycatcher/Bofors 40L70 AAA)
  - Sector Operations Center 2 (SOC 2), Uedem
    - 1st Btn, 33rd (Luftwaffe) Signal Regiment, Control and Reporting Center Uedem
    - 3rd Btn, 33rd (Luftwaffe) Signal Regiment, Control and Reporting Center Brakel
    - V. Training Group, 2nd Luftwaffe Technical School, Control and Reporting Center Erndtebrück
    - Belgian Air Force, Control and Reporting Center Glons, Belgium
  - 4th Btn, 33rd (Luftwaffe) Regiment, Faßberg, with 12× mobile Radar systems forward deployed to the inner German border.
- Royal Air Force Germany , RAF Rheindahlen (Mönchengladbach)
  - 4 Wing, administrative control of RAF Regiment Rapier squadrons based in West Germany
  - 33 Wing, administrative control of RAF Regiment Light Armour squadrons based in West Germany
  - RAF Bruggen, FRG
    - No. 9 Squadron, 12× Tornado GR.1 ^{note 1}
    - No. 14 Squadron, 12× Tornado GR.1^{note 1}
    - No. 17 Squadron, 12× Tornado GR.1^{note 1}
    - No. 31 Squadron, 12× Tornado GR.1^{note 1}
    - No. 37 Squadron RAF Regiment, (Air Defence, 8× Rapier launch stations)
    - No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment, (Light Armour, 15× Spartan, 6× Scorpion)
  - RAF Gütersloh, FRG
    - No. 3 Squadron, 16× Harrier GR.5
    - No. 4 Squadron, 16× Harrier GR.5
    - No. 18 Squadron, 16× CH-47 Chinook (supporting British Army of the Rhine)
    - No. 230 Squadron, 16× Puma HC.1 (supporting British Army of the Rhine)
    - No. 63 Squadron RAF Regiment, (Air Defence, 8× Rapier launch stations)
  - RAF Laarbruch, FRG
    - No. 2 Squadron, 12× Tornado GR.1A (Reconnaissance)
    - No. 15 Squadron, 12× Tornado GR.1^{note 1}
    - No. 16 Squadron, 12× Tornado GR.1^{note 1}
    - No. 20 Squadron, 12× Tornado GR.1^{note 1}
    - No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, (Light Armour, 15× Spartan, 6× Scorpion)
    - No. 26 Squadron RAF Regiment, (Air Defence, 8× Rapier launch stations)
  - RAF Wildenrath, FRG
    - No. 19 Squadron, 16x Phantom FGR.2
    - No. 92 Squadron, 16x Phantom FGR.2
    - No. 60 Squadron, Andover CC.2 transport planes
    - No. 16 Squadron RAF Regiment, (Air Defence, 8× Rapier launch stations)
- US Air Force
  - 485th Tactical Missile Wing, Florennes Air Base, BE
    - 71st Tactical Missile Squadron, 48× BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missiles
  - Soesterberg Air Base, NL
    - 32d Tactical Fighter Group
      - 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 24× F-15C Eagle
    - No. 221 (Dutch) Squadron, (3× I-Hawk launch stations)
  - Nörvenich Air Base
    - Forward deployed detachment of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, 8× A-10A Thunderbolt II
  - Ahlhorn air base
    - Forward deployed detachment of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, 8× A-10A Thunderbolt II
  - Jever Air Base
    - Forward deployed detachment of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, 8× A-10A Thunderbolt II
- Belgian Air Force
  - 1st Wing, Beauvechain Air Base
    - 349th Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
    - 350th Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
  - 2nd Wing, Florennes Air Base
    - 1st Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
    - 2nd Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
  - 3rd Wing, Bierset Air Base
    - 8th Squadron, 36× Mirage 5BA
    - 42nd Squadron, 22× Mirage 5BR (Reconnaissance)
  - 9th Wing, Sint-Truiden Air Base
    - 7th Squadron, 16× Alpha Jet's
    - 11th Squadron, 16× Alpha Jets
  - 10th Wing ^{note 2}, Kleine Brogel Air Base
    - 23rd Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
    - 31st Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
  - Missile Wing, Düren, FRG^[3]
    - Wing Staff, Düren
    - 9th Operations Group, Grefrath, FRG
      - 54th Squadron, Xanten, (9x MIM-14 Nike Hercules launch stations, disbanded 1989)
      - 56th Squadron, Grefrath, (9x MIM-14 Nike Hercules launch stations)
    - 13th Operations Group, Düren, FRG
      - 50th Squadron, Düren, (9x MIM-14 Nike Hercules launch stations)
      - 51st Squadron, Blankenheim, (9x MIM-14 Nike Hercules launch stations, disbanded 1989)
    - Missile Support Group, Düren, FRG
- Belgian Army
  - 43rd Artilleriebataljon, Brakel
    - A/43rd Company, Beverungen with 6× MIM-23 Hawk stations
    - B/43rd Company, Höxter with 6× Hawk launch stations
    - C/43rd Company, Brakel with 6× Hawk launch stations
    - D/43rd Company, Bad Driburg 6× Hawk launch stations
  - 62nd Artilleriebataljon, Essentho
    - A/62nd Company, Korbach with 6× MIM-23 Hawk stations
    - B/62nd Company, Wolfhagen with 6× Hawk launch stations
    - C/62nd Company, Essentho with 6× Hawk launch stations
    - D/62nd Company, Diemelstadt 6× Hawk launch stations
- Royal Netherlands Air Force
  - Eindhoven Air Base
    - No. 316 Fighter/Bomber Squadron, 18× NF-5A Freedom Fighter
    - No. 422 Squadron, (3× I-Hawk launch stations & 3× Flycatcher/Bofors 40L70 AAA)
  - Gilze-Rijen Air Base
    - No. 314 Fighter/Bomber Squadron, 18× NF-5A Freedom Fighter
    - No. 121 Squadron, (3x I-Hawk launch stations & 3× Flycatcher/Bofors 40L70 AAA)
  - Leeuwarden Air Base
    - No. 322 Fighter/Bomber Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
    - No. 323 Fighter/Bomber Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
    - No. 119 Squadron, (3x I-Hawk launch stations & 3× Flycatcher/Bofors 40L70 AAA)
  - Twente Air Base
    - No. 313 Fighter/Bomber Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
    - No. 315 Fighter/Bomber Squadron, 24× F-16A Fighting Falcon
    - No. 222 Squadron, (3× I-Hawk launch stations & 3× Flycatcher/Bofors 40L70 AAA)
  - Volkel Air Base
    - No. 306 Reconnaissance Squadron, 18× F-16A F-16A Fighting Falcon (Reconnaissance)
    - No. 311 Fighter/Bomber Squadron, 24× F-16A F-16A Fighting Falcon^{note 2}
    - No. 312 Fighter/Bomber Squadron, 24× F-16A F-16A Fighting Falcon^{note 2}
    - No. 420 Squadron, (3× I-Hawk launch stations & 3× Flycatcher/Bofors 40L70 AAA)
  - De Peel Air Base (for reinforcements)
    - No. 421 Squadron, (3× I-Hawk launch stations & 3× Flycatcher/Bofors 40L70 AAA)
  - 3rd Guided Weapons Group, Blomberg
    - No. 324 Squadron, Aerzen with 6× I-Hawk launch stations
    - No. 326 Squadron, Horn-Bad Meinberg with 6× I-Hawk launch stations
    - No. 327 Squadron, Schwelentrup with 5× MIM-104 Patriot launch stations
    - No. 328 Squadron, Schwalenberg with 5× Patriot launch stations
  - 5th Guided Weapons Group, Stolzenau
    - No. 500 Squadron, Borstel with 6× I-Hawk launch stations
    - No. 501 Squadron, Winzlar with 6× I-Hawk launch stations
    - No. 502 Squadron, Hoysinghausen with 5× Patriot launch stations
    - No. 503 Squadron, Reinsdorf with 5× Patriot launch stations
- German Air Force
  - 3rd Luftwaffendivision, Kalkar
    - Geilenkirchen
      - Missile Wing 2, 4× squadrons with 9× Pershing 1a each
    - Nörvenich Air Base
      - Jagdbombergeschwader 31 ^{note 2}, 2× squadrons with 16× Tornado IDS each, and 6× Tornado IDS in reserve
    - Rheine-Hopsten Air Base
      - Jagdbombergeschwader 36, 2x squadrons with 15× F-4F Phantom II each, and 15× F-4F in reserve
    - Jever Air Base
      - Jagdbombergeschwader 38, 1st squadron with 24× Tornados IDS (Tornado Weapons Training Sqn.), 2nd squadron with 16× Tornado ECR, and 4× Tornado IDS in reserve
    - Oldenburg Air Base
      - Jagdbombergeschwader 43, 2x squadrons with 18× Alpha Jet's each, and 8× Alpha Jets in reserve
  - 4th Luftwaffendivision, Aurich
    - Wittmundhafen Air Base
      - Jagdgeschwader 71, 2× squadrons with 15× F-4F Phantom II each, and 4× F-4F in reserve
    - 1st Air Defense Missile Command, Heide
      - 26th Air Defense Missile Wing, Heide, with 6× MIM-104 Patriot squadrons; each with 1× Engagement Control Station, 1× Radar Set, 8× launch stations
      - 37th Air Defense Missile Wing, Cuxhaven, with 4× MIM-23 Hawk squadrons; each with 6× launch stations
      - 39th Air Defense Missile Wing, Eckernförde, with 4× MIM-23 Hawk squadrons; each with 6× launch stations
    - 2nd Air Defense Missile Command, Bremervörde
      - 24th Air Defense Missile Wing, Delmenhorst, with 6× MIM-104 Patriot squadrons; each with 1× Engagement Control Station, 1× Radar Set, 8× launch stations
      - 31st Air Defense Missile Wing, Westertimke, with 4× MIM-23 Hawk squadrons; each with 6× launch stations
      - 36th Air Defense Missile Wing, Bremervörde, with 4× MIM-23 Hawk squadrons; each with 6× launch stations
    - 3rd Air Defense Missile Command, Oldenburg
      - 25th Air Defense Missile Wing, Eydelstedt, with 6× MIM-104 Patriot squadrons; each with 1× Engagement Control Station, 1× Radar Set, 8× launch stations
      - 35th Air Defense Missile Wing, Delmenhorst, with 4× MIM-23 Hawk squadrons; each with 6× launch stations
      - 41st Air Defense Missile Group, Wangerland, with 16× Roland systems guarding Jever, Hopsten and Wittmundhafen Air Base
    - 33rd Signal Regiment, Goch
    - 34th Signal Regiment, Alt Duvenstedt

Note 1: Royal Air Force unit with nuclear strike role with 18x WE.177 tactical nuclear weapons. Note 2: Nuclear sharing unit capable of delivering B61 tactical nuclear weapons.

Related Research Articles

The German Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War as the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces of West Germany. After the reunification of West and East Germany in 1990, it integrated parts of the air force of the former German Democratic Republic, which itself had been founded in 1956 as part of the National People's Army. There is no organizational continuity between the current German Air Force and the former Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht founded in 1935, which was completely disbanded in 1945/46 after World War II. The term Luftwaffe that is used for both the historic and the current German air force is the German-language generic designation of any air force.

An aggressor squadron or adversary squadron is a squadron that is trained to act as an opposing force in military wargames. Aggressor squadrons use enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures to give a realistic simulation of air combat. Since it is impractical to use actual enemy aircraft and equipment, surrogate aircraft are used to emulate potential adversaries.

The article provides an overview of the entire chain of command and organization of the Hellenic Air Force as of 2018 and includes all currently active units. The Hellenic Air Force is commanded by the Chief of the Air Force General Staff in Athens.

Number 332 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed at RAF Catterick in the North Riding of Yorkshire on 16 January 1942, as a Supermarine Spitfire-equipped fighter squadron manned by Norwegians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Air Force Germany</span> Former military command formation of the British Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force Germany, commonly known as RAF Germany, and abbreviated RAFG, is a former command of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and part of British Forces Germany (BFG). It consisted of units located in Germany, initially in what was known as West Germany as part of the British Air Forces of Occupation (BAFO) following the Second World War, and later as part of the RAF's commitment to the defence of Europe during the Cold War. The commander of RAFG doubled as commander of NATO's Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF). Its motto was 'Keepers of the Peace'.

The 21st Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erding Air Base</span> Airport in Erding, Germany

Erding Air Base is a German Air Force airfield near the town of Erding, about 45 kilometers (28 mi) northeast of central Munich in Bavaria. It is the home of the 5th Air Defense Missile Squadron and the 1st Air Force Maintenance Regiment.

The 113th Wing, known as the "Capital Guardians", is a unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard, stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. If activated to federal service, the fighter portion of the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command, while the airlift portion is gained by Air Mobility Command.

The 149th Fighter Wing is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard, stationed at Kelly Field Annex, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command.

The 62d Fighter Squadron is part of the United States Air Force 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.

The 148th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard 162d Fighter Wing located at Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona. The 148th is equipped with the Block 20 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon. The squadron was first organized in England during World War II, moving to North Africa shortly after the invasion. It participated in combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. The squadron returned to the United States after V-E Day and was inactivated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">308th Fighter Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 308th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is part of the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where it trains pilots on the Lockheed Martin F-35A.

The 309th Fighter Squadron is part of the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.

The 425th Fighter Squadron is part of the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training for Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 pilots.

The 177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron is a unit of the 184th Intelligence Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas. The 177th is a non-flying squadron which trains in cyber warfare.

Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force was a NATO military formation under Allied Air Forces Central Europe tasked with providing air support to NATO's Central Army Group (CENTAG) in the southern portion of West Germany. 4 ATAF commanded all flying units based within its sector and all reinforcements flying into its sector, as well as ground-based radar systems and stations, air defense units and the airfields in its sector.

Chiayi Air Base is an air base of the Republic of China Air Force that is co-located with Chiayi Airport in Chiayi County, Taiwan. A number of US Air Force units have been stationed at Chiayi Air Base, including the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron from 27 January – 17 February 1955 and 1 July – 1 October 1955. 19 February – 1 March 1958, Reconnaissance Task Force KENTUCKY, Kentucky Air National Guard deployed to Taoyuan and Chiayi Air Bases. 4 March 1955, 310th Fighter-Bomber Squadron deployed from Osan Air Base, South Korea, to Chiayi Air Force Base for air defense missions.

The following is a hierarchical outline for the elements of the United States Air Force in Europe at the end of the Cold War. This list is intended to convey the connections and relationships between units and formations. In case of war with the Warsaw Pact, all would have been assigned to NATO.

At the end of the Cold War in 1989, the Royal Air Force (RAF) structure was as follows:

Homestead Air Reserve Base, previously known as Homestead Air Force Base is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command's Tenth Air Force, as well as the headquarters of Special Operations Command South.

References

↑ Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. p. 279. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
↑ http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/k/kanne/index.html NATO Joint Operations Centre, Kanne
↑ Alter, Fritz. "Gliederung und Stationierung der belgischen Streitkräfte in Deutschland im Jahre 1989" (PDF). Retrieved 15 July 2017.

O. W. Dragoner, Die Bundeswehr 1989 Volume 2.1, available here
O. W. Dragoner, Die Bundeswehr 1989 Volume 3, available here

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. p. 279. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.

[2] ttp://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/k/kanne/index.html NATO Joint Operations Centre, Kanne

[3] Alter, Fritz. "Gliederung und Stationierung der belgischen Streitkräfte in Deutschland im Jahre 1989" (PDF). Retrieved 15 July 2017.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Second Allied Tactical Air Force

Contents

History

War time structure c. 1989

See also

Related Research Articles

References