Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force was formed in 1951 with its area of responsibility covering Germany south of the city of Kassel.

Established about 1951 at Trier Air Base, the headquarters was moved to Ramstein Air Base in November 1957 where it remained until December 1980 when it was moved to Heidelberg where it was colocated with Headquarters Central Army Group.

In 1985 NATO began with the construction of a new Static War Headquarters bunker in Ruppertsweiler, Germany.

4 ATAF was disbanded on 30 June 1993, with its duties taken over by Allied Air Forces Central Europe.

Prior to that point, the following units would have come under command of Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force during wartime: note 1: Nuclear sharing unit capable of delivering tactical nuclear weapons.