Bergen Air Base

Bergen Air Base (IATA: BRG, ICAO: ETBR) is a US Air Base located outside the city of Bergen auf Rügen, on the island of Rügen in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in northeastern Germany. Originally constructed in 1935 while under the rule of the Nazi regime, during World War Two the base was primarily used by the Luftwaffe for training new pilots. Following Germany's surrender in 1945, the base fell under the control of the Soviet Union and sat mostly unused until 1949, when ownership of the base was turned over to the newly formed East German state. The base would then serve as the headquarters for Jagdfliegengeschwader 5, an East German Luftstreitkräfte fighter unit, until 1983, when JG 5 would be dissolved and the base would be abandoned. The base would then sit unused until after the reunification of Germany, when in 1995 the United States Air Force received permission from the German government to build new facilities on top of the abandoned base's existing foundation. The overhaul of the base would be completed in 1997, and the USAF 41st Fighter Wing and the German Jagdgeschwader 75 (now the Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 75) were activated at the location, where they still remain in service as of 2025.