Article

2005-09-29 Europe

US military's 'Gateway to Europe' closes Friday

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Posted by lotp 2005-09-29 12:51|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Dang me!

Three years at V Corps in Frankfurt am Main - spent more than one lazy Sunday at Rhein-Main watching C5-A's [I think that's what they were called - it's been over 30 years] take off and land. Their wings appeared to actually flap (though they didn't really) - IIRC, they had wheels on the end of the wings because they drooped so much under their own weight. They were humongous MF's at the time; everybody stopped what they were doing to watch.

(So sue me - there wasn't much else to do there on a Sunday. Except drink. Which we did too. ;-p)

Fond memories, fond memories. But past time to move on.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2005-09-29 16:18|| 2005-09-29 16:18|| Front Page Top

#2 It's a good thing for Rhein-Main to close. Frankfurt really needs to modernize it's airport. Also I never thought Rhein-Main was defensible located on the other side of the runway from Frankfurt International Airport. If the balloon had ever went up in Europe, I thought a lot of transports would have been left smoking ruins in the tarmac.

Posted by ed 2005-09-29 16:55|| 2005-09-29 16:55|| Front Page Top

#3 Went through there twice once on leave. Fond memories and I am glad that Bush has figured out an exit strategery for Germany. For too long the occupation forces have trampled on the poor people of Frankfurt. Man I drank some beer when I was there, or at least I remember drinking something.

Posted by Cyber Sarge">Cyber Sarge 2005-09-29 16:59|| 2005-09-29 16:59|| Front Page Top

#4 Barbara, B52's had landing wheels on their wingtips.

Posted by ed 2005-09-29 17:02|| 2005-09-29 17:02|| Front Page Top

#5 Thanks, ed - it was over 30 years ago. And I worked for the Army (not the AF).

Do you know anything about the C5-A's (or whatever that hugh honkin' transport of the time was called)?

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2005-09-29 18:32|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html] 2005-09-29 18:32|| Front Page Top

#6 Got medevaced to Rhein-Main and spent a few minutes lying on the tarmac while they futzed with the ambulance. All I remember was that it was friggin' cold and snowing.

Landstuhl was okay, tho.

Posted by Pappy 2005-09-29 19:09|| 2005-09-29 19:09|| Front Page Top

#7 I remember a picture from the Berlin airlift of two airmen standing next to their plane while it was being unloaded. A small German girl wearing a tattered dress was offering them her rag doll as gratitude for the supplies they were delivering. It was the moment before "the moment".

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-09-29 20:08|| 2005-09-29 20:08|| Front Page Top

#8 Barbara,
Not really. I flew mostly in C-141s. I was in the C-5 only once. Still, walking into the C-5's cargo hold was damn impressive. For basic C-5 info, try http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/c5/

Posted by ed 2005-09-29 20:45|| 2005-09-29 20:45|| Front Page Top

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