Neubiberg was originally built in 1933 as a glider field under the name "Flugplatz München Süd" (Munich South Airfield).

Starting in 1935 and during World War II Neubiberg was an active Luftwaffe air base known as Unterbiberg.

After Neubiberg's capture, the United States Army Air Forces designated the base as Airfield R-85 Camp Rattle and stationed the 225th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion there on 16 June 1945.

On 21 July 1945, the 357th Fighter Group transferred from its base at RAF Leiston, England, to Neubiberg to take on occupation duties.

Operational squadrons of the 33d Fighter Group were: After serving for a year in Germany, the 33d was transferred to Bad Kissingen, Germany on 25 August 1947, then returned to the United States, transferring to Andrews Field, Maryland briefly before moving to Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico as part of Strategic Air Command on 16 September 1947.

The group's fighter squadrons were initially equipped with low-hour P/F-47D "Thunderbolts" removed from storage at various depots in Germany.

Initially, the group performed mostly occupation duty, however, it flew escort missions for its Consolidated B-24 Liberator reconnaissance aircraft along the borders of Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Zone of Germany, occasionally engaging with Soviet aircraft as they harassed the reconnaissance flights.

In October 1950 the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing ferried ninety-one Republic F-84E Thunderjets to Neubiberg from Bergstrom Air Force Base Texas.

In January 1953 the 86th wing was transferred west of the Rhine River to the newly completed Landstuhl Air Base.

The 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron deployed to Neubiberg from Toul-Rosieres Air Base France.

The 160th was part of the Alabama Air National Guard 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing which had been activated during the Korean War.

On 10 July 1952, the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was activated at Toul Air Base and absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 117th.

The 160th at Neubiberg was returned to the Alabama Air National Guard and replaced by the 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which took over its personnel and RF-80As.

Its mission was towing aerial targets for NATO Air Forces and Army Anti-Aircraft gunnery, and had detachments at RAF Sculthorpe, England (Det.