USAF Europe

[RN7]

Anybody have any thoughts about how much of USAF Europe is still about?

In the Cold War it was a huge organisation, one of the biggest commands in the USAF. I think some of it must have survived.

1) 3rd Air Force (HQ: RAF Mildenhall, UK) (UK only)
2) 16th Air Force (HQ: Torrejon, Spain) (Spain, Italy, Greece & Turkey)
3) 17th Air Force (HQ: Sembach, Germany) (Germany, with some squadrons in Belgium & Netherlands)
4) 7th Air Division (Ramstein, Germany) (Germany, UK & Spain)
5) 322nd Airlift Division (Ramstein, Germany) (Germany & UK)
6) 352nd Special Oparations Wing (RAF Mildenhall, UK)
7) 7455th Tactical Intelligence Wing (Ramstein, Germany)

This orbat is sourced from Rainbow Six's USAF in the UK covering the 3rd US Air Force.

3rd Air Force (HQ: RAF Mildenhall, England)

20th Fighter Wing (RAF Greenham Common, England)
Forces: 50 troops, 2x F-15C
27th Fighter Wing (RAF Lakenheath, England)
Forces: 50 troops, 3x F-15E
33rd Fighter Wing (RAF Greenham Common, England)
Forces: 100 troops, 3x F-15E, 2x EF-111
48th Fighter Wing (RAF Lakenheath, England)
Forces: 100 troops, 2x F-16C, 1x F-18C, 1x AV-8B, 1x A-6E
363rd Fighter Wing (RAF Mildenhall, England)
Forces: 50 troops, 3x F-16C
366th Fighter Wing (RAF Greenham Common, England)
Forces: 50 troops, 3x F-16C
17th Reconnaisance Wing (RAF Alconbury, England)
Forces: 50 troops, 2x TR-1
94th Airlift Wing (RAF Greenham Common, England)
Forces: 50 troops, 1x C-130H, 1x C-20, 1x C-12, 1x UH-60, 1x UH-1N
95th Reconnaisance Squadron (Mildenhall, England)
Forces: 50 troops, 1x SR-71, 1x C-9A
11th Aeromedical Squadron (RAF Mildenhall, England)
Forces: 50 troops, 1x CH-53D, 1x UH-60
155th Tactical Reconnaisance Group (RAF Coltishall, England)
Forces: 40 troops, 1x RF-4C
20th Security Police Squadron (RAF Greenham Common, England)
Forces: 200 troops, 8x M750
48th Security Police Squadron (RAF Lakenheath, England)
Forces: 100 troops, 4x M750
513th Security Police Squadron (RAF Mildenhall, England)
Forces: 150 troops, 6x M750

[Rainbow Six]

I'm one of those who thinks there would still be a very small number of surviving aircraft dotted around here and there in Europe, dependent on how many bases survived. As a main logistics hub Ramstein strikes me as being a likely target for a tactical nuke (if it wasn't already plastered to the point of being unuseable by conventional attacks).

The bases in Spain and Italy are confirmed as closed in Med Cruise, so their aircraft would have to go elsewhere - presumably either the UK or the FRG. Presumably the same for Greece and Belgium.

3rd Air Force is probably one of the areas of my piece that I'll revisit at some point (or as Leg put it, tinker with )) as I think it could probably be improved (or at least give a fuller backstory as to what Wings / Squadrons are there, how they got there, and what happened to the ones that aren't there - I'm fairly sure that all of the UK based A10 Squadrons would have deployed to the FRG for example and I think I've brushed over the Bentwaters Aggressor Squadron).

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

I'm one of those who thinks there would still be a very small number of surviving aircraft dotted around here and there in Europe, dependent on how many bases survived. As a main logistics hub Ramstein strikes me as being a likely target for a tactical nuke (if it wasn't already plastered to the point of being unuseable by conventional attacks).

The bases in Spain and Italy are confirmed as closed in Med Cruise, so their aircraft would have to go elsewhere - presumably either the UK or the FRG. Presumably the same for Greece and Belgium.

3rd Air Force is probably one of the areas of my piece that I'll revisit at some point (or as Leg put it, tinker with )) as I think it could probably be improved (or at least give a fuller backstory as to what Wings / Squadrons are there, how they got there, and what happened to the ones that aren't there - I'm fairly sure that all of the UK based A10 Squadrons would have deployed to the FRG for example and I think I've brushed over the Bentwaters Aggressor Squadron).

I think a "slightly operational" USAF consisting of a tiny handful of aircraft isn't entirely unfeasible depending on how you want to do your campaign. As things wore on post-1997, of course, vital stuff is going to quit flowing in, resupply isn't going to happen for critical parts and you're going to get down to either flying birds with major, major upgripes or switching to simpler stuff (OV-10Ds for interdiction, maybe a couple fitted out with Sidewinders for anti-air).

Actually the idea of a USAF wing rebuilt around the remaining Broncos is kinda neat.

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by raketenjagdpanzer

I think a "slightly operational" USAF consisting of a tiny handful of aircraft isn't entirely unfeasible depending on how you want to do your campaign. As things wore on post-1997, of course, vital stuff is going to quit flowing in, resupply isn't going to happen for critical parts and you're going to get down to either flying birds with major, major upgripes or switching to simpler stuff (OV-10Ds for interdiction, maybe a couple fitted out with Sidewinders for anti-air).

Actually the idea of a USAF wing rebuilt around the remaining Broncos is kinda neat.

Yeah, I've always kinda thought that the actual aircraft themselves should be rare but not totally non existent...it's getting the fuel and the spare parts to keep them airworthy that are the problem. So what you would see is the concentration of those assets to keep a handful of aircraft operable.

[Panther Al]

I have no doubt that by the summer of 2000 there is still plenty of Aircraft sitting in airbases that could take to the air and perform various missions. Just too many airframes in Europe (Or sent there from the states) for there not to be.

But,


And its a Big But,

They wouldn't be flying much if at all. While parts would be scarce, I have no doubts what so ever that the Airbase personnel have cannibalised all the parts they need to make sure that those are left by and large are tip top - but they are not taking to the air because fuel is so scarce. So, yes, plenty of Airworthy Airframes, just no go juice save for the most critical of missions (In fact, I believe that the Summer Offensive saw - for the time - a heavy use of Airpower as those resources that was saved up and scrounged up over the previous year was used in supporting the breakthrough of the Soviet Lines to get into Poland. Not enough to support the offensive for very long, but enough to break out.).

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Originally Posted by Panther Al

I have no doubt that by the summer of 2000 there is still plenty of Aircraft sitting in airbases that could take to the air and perform various missions. Just too many airframes in Europe (Or sent there from the states) for there not to be.

But,


And its a Big But,

They wouldn't be flying much if at all. While parts would be scarce, I have no doubts what so ever that the Airbase personnel have cannibalised all the parts they need to make sure that those are left by and large are tip top - but they are not taking to the air because fuel is so scarce. So, yes, plenty of Airworthy Airframes, just no go juice save for the most critical of missions (In fact, I believe that the Summer Offensive saw - for the time - a heavy use of Airpower as those resources that was saved up and scrounged up over the previous year was used in supporting the breakthrough of the Soviet Lines to get into Poland. Not enough to support the offensive for very long, but enough to break out.).

Yah; I would agree with that 100%. I think any remaining AvGas is being kept for a "jesus Christ, soviet tanks are moving on Berlin" type situation, or if the French decide they want hunks of Germany, or if someone tries to stop OpOrd Omega with air assets or enough ground assets to merit using the last of the fuel.