2nd AES, USAFE

• Origins and Name: The 2nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (2nd AES) was originally activated as the 2nd Aeromedical Evacuation Group in April 1957, eventually being redesignated as a Squadron in 1975. • USAFE Assignment: The 2nd AES was a key component of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), providing rapid medical evacuation across the European theater during the Cold War and beyond. • Location: The unit was based at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, which was a major hub for U.S. air operations in Europe until its closure in 2005. • Berlin Airlift Connection: While the unit itself was activated after the Berlin Airlift, Rhein-Main Air Base played a crucial role in the Airlift, setting a precedent for the base’s future aeromedical missions. • Gulf War Service: The 2nd AES played a vital role in Operation Desert Storm, deploying personnel and aircraft to the Middle East to provide aeromedical evacuation for wounded coalition forces. • Humanitarian Missions: Beyond combat, 2nd AES participated in numerous humanitarian missions, including evacuations from disaster zones and support for medical emergencies throughout Europe and Africa. • Aircraft Operated: The squadron primarily used the C-9A Nightingale and later the C-141 Starlifter, C-130 Hercules, and other aircraft equipped for in-flight patient care. • Operation Provide Comfort: In the aftermath of the Gulf War, the 2nd AES was instrumental in Operation Provide Comfort, assisting Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq with medical evacuation and aid. • Deactivation: The 2nd AES was inactivated in 1994 as part of post-Cold War drawdowns, with its mission and assets redistributed to other aeromedical evacuation units. • Legacy: Former members of the 2nd AES have described the unit as a “family,” with a proud tradition of saving lives under challenging conditions, cementing its reputation as a premier aeromedical evacuation force in USAFE history.