 This was the longest runway in Europe until the construction of the Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport in 1983, and is the ninth longest runway in Europe as of June 1, 2017.USAF support activities began under the 7600th Air Base Group located in Madrid in July 1956, to support construction and base organizational functions.Torrejón Air Base opened officially on 1 June 1957 with SAC activating the 3970th Strategic Wing on 1 July 1957.