Hahn Air Base was a United States Airfield dating from 1951. For most of its life it was occupied by the US Air Force 50th Tactical Fighter Wing. Hardened Aircraft Shelters,command bunkers and ammunition stores remain from this period.
In 1987, Hahn became one of the European bases (including Greenham Common) for the deployment of cruise missiles and became a so-called GAMA site (Ground-launched cruise missile Alert and Maintenance Area). After the closure of the military base in 1993, a civilian airport opened. Used initially by Ryanair, it was named ‘Frankfurt-Hahn’, despite being over 70 miles to the west of the city!