Groundwork for the construction of Hahn Air Base was begun in 1951, when approximately 1280 acres of land were acquired from the
French occupation forces in
West Germany. Construction of the runway and airdrome facilities was performed by the French. The 7356th Air Base Squadron was designated to complete the work on the base and prepare for the arrival of the 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing from
Clovis Air Force Base,
New Mexico· When the airplanes and crews arrived at Hahn in August 1953, it marked the first mass flight of an entire tactical wing from the United States to continental Europe - a historic step in the history of the USAF. In the mid-1950s, major
Chuck Yeager was assigned as squadron commander of one
F-86F Sabre aircraft squadron at Hahn. In 1956, the wing was transferred to
Toul-Rosières Air Base,
France, and the 7425th Air Base Group was left at Hahn to care for the facility. During the wing's absence, the base was used to support
F-102 Delta Dagger's of the
496th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, elements of another fighter bomber wing, and a tactical missile wing. In September 1993, Hahn Air Base was turned over to the German Government. The USAF kept a radio communications site until it was deactivated in 2012. == See also ==