USAF Patch Cmd a USAFE US Air Force Europe Command Shield Large

USAF Patch USAFE US Air Force Europe Command Shield Flight Suit Patch Large 1960s Embroidered on twill cut edge Large 120mm by 112mm four and three quarter inches by four and three eighth inches.

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Command History

USAFE originated as the United States Army Air Forces’ Eighth Air Force in 1942 which controlled the VIII Bomber Fighter and Support Combat Commands sent to the UK. In February 1944 Eighth Army Air Force was re-designated United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe USSTAF
and took command of 9 Army Air Force in the UK and  12 and 15 Army Air Forces in Italy. On 7 August 1945 USSTAF was renamed United States Air Forces in Europe USAFE with its HQ relocated to Wiesbaden Germany on 28 September 1945.

USAFE remained place throughout the Cold War and took part in all events including Berlin Airlift 1948, Formation of NATO 1949, Hungarian Revolt 1956 Berlin Crisis 1961 French withdrawal from NATO and subsequent relocation of all NATO forces from France 1966, HQ move to Ramstien 1973, Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces build up and Treaty 1979-1988, break up of Warsaw Pact Fall of the Berlin Wall and end of the cold war 1988-1991. USAFE had units based across western and southern Europe UK West Germany Netherlands Belgium France Spain Italy Greece and Turkey French Morocco, Libya, and Saudi Arabia.

The end of the Cold War and the peace dividend led to significant Unit withdrawals as well as new threats to be dealt with- Operations Desert Shield Desert Storm and Provide Comfort 1990 1991, Balkan operations on the breakup of Yugoslavia Deny Flight, Deliberate Force Joint Endeavor Allied Force 1993-1999 Global War on Terrorism since 11 September 2001 including Enduring Freedom Iraqi Freedom and operations in Africa.

This patch dates from the early 1960s.