Rick Jones

The 36th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) was activated at Bitburg Air Base, Germany, in 1952 as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) during the early years of the Cold War. Tasked with NATO defense responsibilities, the wing operated a variety of fighter aircraft over the years, including the F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-105 Thunderchief, and most notably the F-15 Eagle from the 1970s onward. The 36th TFW played a key role in maintaining air superiority and deterrence in Western Europe, participating in numerous training exercises and NATO operations. The wing remained at Bitburg until 1994, when it was inactivated following the end of the Cold War, and the base was returned to German control.