ABOUT 16th Air Force Spain
- Origins: The 16th Air Force (16 AF) was originally activated by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, but its presence in Spain began during the Cold War era.
- Spanish Bases: The 16th Air Force was responsible for USAF operations at four key bases in Spain: Torrejon, Zaragoza, Morón, and Rota (though Rota was primarily a naval base).
- Strategic Location: These bases provided the U.S. with critical strategic reach into the Mediterranean, North Africa, and Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
- Headquarters: The headquarters for the 16th Air Force in Spain was located at Torrejon Air Base, near Madrid.
- Operation El Dorado Canyon: In 1986, U.S. F-111 aircraft launched from British bases flew to bomb Libya. Spanish bases under 16th AF were on high alert, though Spain did not directly participate.
- Spanish-American Treaty: The U.S. presence in Spain was formalized under the 1953 Pact of Madrid, allowing the U.S. to use Spanish bases in exchange for economic and military aid.
- Role in NATO: After Spain joined NATO in 1982, the 16th AF played a key role in integrating Spanish and U.S. air operations.
- Fighter Wings: Several prominent USAF fighter wings, such as the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, were assigned to the 16th AF and stationed in Spain.
- End of the Cold War: With the end of the Cold War, the U.S. began reducing its military footprint in Spain, and the 16th AF headquarters moved from Torrejon to Aviano AB, Italy, in 1992.
- Legacy: The 16th Air Force was inactivated in 2006, but in 2019, a new 16th Air Force was activated in the U.S. as an Information Warfare Numbered Air Force, carrying on the legacy but with a new mission.