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Second Allied Tactical Air Force

October 28, 2023

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 edit

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 edit

 
A Phantom FGR.2 of No. 92 Squadron landing at RAF Wildenrath in the mid-1980s
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Royal Air Force Germany bases with flying units in 1989 (all located in North Rhine-Westphalia)
 
A F-15C Eagle of 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron taxiing at Soesterberg Air Base in the mid-1980s
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Royal Belgium Air Force 2 ATAF assigned bases in 1989
 
A Mirage 5BR of 42nd Squadron takes off in 1989
 
An Alpha Jet taking off in 1985
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Royal Netherlands Air Force 2 ATAF assigned bases in 1989
 
A F-16A Fighting Falcon of No. 323 Fighter/Bomber Squadron lands at Leeuwarden Air Base in 1983


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.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. p. 279. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  2. ^ http://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.
  • O. W. Dragoner, Die Bundeswehr 1989 Volume 2.1, available here
  • O. W. Dragoner, Die Bundeswehr 1989 Volume 3, available

October 28, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 Contents 1 History 2 War time structure c 1989 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editSecond 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 Monchengladbach 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 edit nbsp A Phantom FGR 2 of No 92 Squadron landing at RAF Wildenrath in the mid 1980s nbsp nbsp Bruggen nbsp Laarbruch nbsp Gutersloh nbsp Wildenrathclass notpageimage Royal Air Force Germany bases with flying units in 1989 all located in North Rhine Westphalia nbsp A F 15C Eagle of 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron taxiing at Soesterberg Air Base in the mid 1980s nbsp nbsp Beauvechain nbsp Florennes nbsp Bierset nbsp Sint Truiden nbsp Kleine Brogelclass notpageimage Royal Belgium Air Force 2 ATAF assigned bases in 1989 nbsp A Mirage 5BR of 42nd Squadron takes off in 1989 nbsp An Alpha Jet taking off in 1985 nbsp nbsp Eindhoven nbsp Gilze Rijen nbsp Leeuwarden nbsp Twente nbsp Volkel nbsp De Peel nbsp Soesterbergclass notpageimage Royal Netherlands Air Force 2 ATAF assigned bases in 1989 nbsp A F 16A Fighting Falcon of No 323 Fighter Bomber Squadron lands at Leeuwarden Air Base in 1983Headquarters 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 Visselhovede 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 amp 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 Erndtebruck 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 Monchengladbach 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 1note 1 No 14 Squadron 12 Tornado GR 1note 1 No 17 Squadron 12 Tornado GR 1note 1 No 31 Squadron 12 Tornado GR 1note 1 No 37 Squadron RAF Regiment Air Defence 8 Rapier launch stations No 51 Squadron RAF Regiment Light Armour 15 Spartan 6 Scorpion RAF Gutersloh 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 1note 1 No 16 Squadron 12 Tornado GR 1note 1 No 20 Squadron 12 Tornado GR 1note 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 Norvenich 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 Wingnote 2 Kleine Brogel Air Base 23rd Squadron 24 F 16A Fighting Falcon 31st Squadron 24 F 16A Fighting Falcon Missile Wing Duren FRG 3 Wing Staff Duren 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 Duren FRG 50th Squadron Duren 9x MIM 14 Nike Hercules launch stations 51st Squadron Blankenheim 9x MIM 14 Nike Hercules launch stations disbanded 1989 Missile Support Group Duren FRG Belgian Army 43rd Artilleriebataljon Brakel A 43rd Company Beverungen with 6 MIM 23 Hawk stations B 43rd Company Hoxter 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 amp 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 amp 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 amp 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 amp 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 Falconnote 2 No 312 Fighter Bomber Squadron 24 F 16A F 16A Fighting Falconnote 2 No 420 Squadron 3 I Hawk launch stations amp 3 Flycatcher Bofors 40L70 AAA De Peel Air Base for reinforcements No 421 Squadron 3 I Hawk launch stations amp 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 Norvenich Air Base Jagdbombergeschwader 31note 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 Eckernforde with 4 MIM 23 Hawk squadrons each with 6 launch stations 2nd Air Defense Missile Command Bremervorde 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 Bremervorde 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 DuvenstedtNote 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 See also editFourth Allied Tactical Air ForceReferences edit 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 Streitkrafte 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Second Allied Tactical Air Force amp oldid 1180308237, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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