Popular Mechanics: Watch A-10 Warthogs Landing on the German Autobahn During the Cold War
The alliance prepared for a future war when real air bases were smashed into bits.
During the Cold War, the prospect of war with the Soviet Union forced NATO to consider drastic measures to keep planes flying in wartime, including using stretches of the famous West German Autobahn as temporary airstrips. The destruction of friendly airbases would have sent aircraft such as the mighty A-10 Warthog and West German Alpha Jet onto freeways to continue their mission of destroying Russian tanks.
This Air Force news video, taken in 1984, shows NATO forces temporarily using a stretch of the West German federal highway system, also known as the Autobahn, as an airstrip for a variety of aircraft. The video shows American A-10 Warthogs and F-16D twin-seater jets, as well as West German Tornado IDS strike jets, Alpha Jet close air support aircraft, and C-160 Transall transport aircraft all taking off and landing from the 7,000 foot stretch of highway.
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WNU Editor: For some reason I doubt that in the event of a nuclear breaking out in Europe during the Cold War the priority would be to fly into Germany .... on the contrary .... the priority would be to fly out and never look back.
