Zweibrücken 30-Plus Years Later
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2016
- Zweibrücken
30-Plus Years Later
For all of my friends who were stationed at Zweibrücken AB some 30-plus years ago, this is what the installation looks like today.
It’s not spectacular footage, but then again, Zweibrücken today is not what it was during our time.
As most of you know, Zweibrücken Air Base today is not what it was some 30-plus years ago. The installation is now the site of an industrial area and a designer outlet center. Only a handful of the original buildings remain, such as the ice arena, a couple of buildings on the main street (which if I remember correctly, were part of the finance office), the AAFES theater building and the adjoining snack bar with the round façade, and one of the large hangers which was converted into an airport terminal to accommodate commercial international European flights. We flew out of there a couple of times to places like Mallorca and the Canary Islands.
The airport had a short life span as a result of political pressure to keep only the nearby Saarbrücken airport open. Two international airports within 60 kilometers was just too much of a conflict and since Saarbrücken had “seniority,” the decision to close the Zweibrücken airport was a no-brainer. So ended another chapter in Zweibrücken’s history. It’s a shame though because it was really convenient to fly out of there.
The only tribute to Zweibrücken’s past that was erected when the installation was converted into an industrial area is an iron sculpture in the middle of a turning circle showing four F-4s flying information. Look for it in the video.
Oh, and by the way, there is not a single TAB-V in sight.
I hope this footage brings back a few memories. - Фільми й анімація
Allow me to say hello and thank you (Danka) for this video I was stationed here at sunny zwei-84-89 assigned to CES and the first year I was there I was placed on Snow Removal the best time I had there and the worst was the Air Show accident at Ramstein in August 1988. I truly Loved the Germans- I rented an upstairs apartment from a family in Contwig-They were the Stauder's. I still have the Chess Board that Mr. Stauder made for me as a present when my wife and I moved out. So many good memories-but the air force was not a good memory for me. One way on and one way off- I remember when they built the new club. Salty Nation exercises. Many memories. I remember the theatre, post office, behind the theatre was the bx and book store merchants bank laundry mat. The petrol station. wow.
I was there 1966-69 (age 15-18) when it was Royal Canadian Air Force base 3 Wing and my dad was in the RCAF. Very significant time of my life. You guys (USAF) took over from us in 1970. I'm planning on going back for a visit very soon for the first time in fifty years.
Greg Kerr Great that you're planning to visit, but be aware, you will not recognize the base or the city. Regardless, enjoy your visit and post an update of your visit.
P.S. if you liked my video give it a thumbs up and subscribe to my channel. I live in Germany and frequently post German cultural videos (Fests, etc.) and travel videos.
i never lived there but my father was stationed there in the mid 50s 413 tusker sqadron part of operation leapfrog their isw a good documentary on national film board called fighter wing you might find it interesting
Zweibrücken girl here. This is where I met my husband. He was with 26th AMS the camera guys, in 77. That was a great bunch of people! They loved their Parkbräu! We live in Florida now. Greetings! Ps. As a kid and teenager, we went skating at the rink. Such fun times.
Isa, what was your husbands first name? I worked as summer help with the camera guys in 77.
I lived there as a kid in the late 70s, My dad was stationed there in the Air Force!
I remember the Ice Ring and Bowling Alley and Movie theater. Played Baseball for the first time on the ball fields there. I remember it all as in 53 years old now. Miss those days very much!
Ahh, good ol Zweibrucken. I spent a couple of years there in my childhood. Used to got to school at zwei high. We were bussed from Kreuzberg. Sometimes we'd walk home just to explore all the old Nazi bunkers right outside the AFB entrance. Yeah, pretty stupid in retrospect. But what a great time and place to be an adventurous 13 year old. Still have a german friend I'm still in contact with today. We were both 13 when we met. Now we are 51. Seems like a whole other lifetime ago. What a great fortune that I was so lucky to have seen the beauty of Germany and a lot of Europe. I've taken a lot for granted as a kid. But never took being able to see so much of the world for granted. I always knew it was special.
I was there from 85-88 and never did explore the Siegfried line bunkers.
Thank you for the video post! I was 26CRS Egress '87-'91. Great times at Zwei. Lived off base in Blieskastel on BliesgauStrasse. Still keep in touch with most of my shop mates 30 years later.
I was stationed there from SEP 80 to SEP 84. I loved it so much. I had a 1976 Triumph TR7 and later a 1984 Kawasaki GPz1100. The bike was fantastic on the Autobahn. I was in EMS (AGE). I worked in that hanger you mentioned for 4 years. Thank You very much. I would love to go back and have a Parkbrau.
Remember you and the TR7, I worked in base ops during that time.
I spent 3.5 years there, 78-81. I look back on those years fondly. I'd love to make it back and see it myself, plus downtown where I lived: #4 Hintere Ixheimer Strasse. Still remember the address after all these years.
Thanks for the video !!
I was there 1977-1981 so I'm sure we probably met from time to time.
I was there from Nov 78 - Jan 81. (38th Tac Recon Sq) - Sunny Zwei was actually the most memorable time of my 22 year USAF career
Oh my did that bring back memories :) I was stationed there in 74-77 in fire department. Sure looks completely different from when I was there. I miss those times so much and have always wished I could go back to see everything I miss about Germany. Sure appreciate you uploading this, it was a great look back in time. Thanks again, you made a dream come true :)
76-77 SRA Brum must I had to know you. Remember Mr Bott what a mean man.
My wife worked at the Bavarian Inn next to the ice arena, a beer, burger and pizza joint. I worked on the flight line. The four lane bowling alley in same space was enlarged to 8 lanes in 1976. The old POL storage yard appears to now be retail space. Only original building I recognized was hanger B360 where Base Operations and the transient aircraft alert parking pad was. Prost mitt ein Parkbrau!
Prost. P.S. Still living in Germany.🙂🍻
I was stationed at Kreuzberg Kaserne '87-'89 and went to the Air Base several times. The only time I ice skated was there.
Thanks. I drove around there a few years ago and didn't recognize much. Your video helped put things in perspective. I was there 73 to 76.
I remember seeing Star Wars there for the first time....I was in 2nd or 3rd grade...maybe 84 or 85. lots of GREAT memories in Zeibrucken. My father was L Capt. Hoffman at the time.
Ignacio Thank You so much for taking the time to video the base , editing the video & posting it here on UA-cam .
Worked at the LOX Plant from 79-81. Great assignment for sure, with a lot of great memories.
I was there 1977-1981 in the Records Section so I'm sure I saw you many times.
Thanks so much for this ! Have been curious for many years how it's changed . Was stationed there from 82 to 85 . 581st MI Det
Some of the best times of my life ! I will never forget my time there . Thanks again
I was at the 26 AMS from 74 to 79 .. Best assignment I had in my time in the Air force .. I lived in the little village Weisbach outside of town .. #7 Schulestr .. And we were one of the few in the village to have a phone ..
Wow! That was really back-in-the-day👍
i stayed with a family for a month in 79 in Weisbach and have kept in touch all these years
@@nikkiboucher1 Fantastic.
I was there those years too.
Thank you for this video! I was there as a child for 4yrs '86 to '90 and the Ice Arena was my spot lol
Thank you. I was ZAHS Class of 86.
The sculpture with the F4s has recently been relocated to the "Rosengarten" downtown.
84-86 Can almost see a friend of mine at the front gate name Marty Davis.Does anybody remember The Marabu Nightclub? The AAFES Theater is where we saw Purple Rain. I have seen more of the base in this video than when I was there. All we cared about then was the dorm dining hall, Gasthaus and beer.
James Avant I remember the Marabu
Thank you! 26 SPS '80 through '81.
So was I but not in SPS.
Was a weather observer at Zwei from 88 to 90. Anybody remember the RF-4C crash in about '89? Saw it from my observing post off the taxiway. The plane was coming in on ANOTHER inflight emergency, but this time, the plane did an odd swoop, seemed to correct itself but all the sudden the pilot(s) ejected and the plane dove into the ground with a great ball of fire. Was quite memorable.
I was at the high school and wasn't on the side of the building to actually see the crash, but some of my friends did see it.
I remember it quite well. I was 26 CRS Egress '87-'91. Worked on de-arming the ejection seats immediately after the crash.
I was the curch organist at both the Protestant and Catholic chapels in 1976-77. We lived downtown and then in base housing. It looks like all those things are gone now, but they still live in my memory. Played organ for a graduation ceremony at the Alexanderskirche, too. Thank you for this glimpse of a town I hold dear...although it's more of a city now.
Stationed at Zweibrucken from Feb.74 to Feb.76. Boy, nothing in this video would look familiar to me. Was the crew chief on the RF-4C Phantom, 69-370 when it first came to Sunny Zwei. Jim Valuckas
Thank you so much 26th OMS Aug 1973-1975
I bwas there ' 73 - ' 75 also . I worked in Base Supply Service in the Individual issue unit .
I must have known you, as i was 26 OMS also. My tour was from Feb. 74 to Feb. 76. The 26th OMS really wasn't that large of an organization. Back then i was an A1C and Senior Airman. Crew Chief on Phantom 69-370 Jim Valuckas
Was stationed there for 87-89 with the 7426 TRISS.
was at the army base 1969 to 1971
I was there 87-89 too. A battery 4 of the first. Stinger
Wow thanks for that . I worked for shorts on the sherpas 86 to 87
Now it is the land of the big BX, without an actual BX.
was stationed there from 1967-69
Wow it sure has changed...we spent 5 years there from 83 to 88...lived in economy housing down town...loved it there!
Elizabeth thanks for watching. I hope you liked it.
I see the LA Hacienda is still there (The LA HAHA) Funny that bulk storage is now the outlet center. POL 80 - 83
I was on the other side of the valley on the Army Kaserne and knew this when it was a Canadian Air Base and watched them leave and the American Air Force came.
this wasnt a theather this is a climbing hall
I can tell you're at Zwei, there's no sun .
Thanks for this video. I assume the phase hanger was still there?
Great video.
I request Pirmasens please. If you are in that area and can do it.
My Video Crew Haven't been there in years. It's a little out of my neighborhood.
IGGY!! How the hell are you? I knew you from Baumholder........although I spent many years in Zweibruecken. Now I'm in San Diego and I think you're also in CA.
Hi Mario! Nice to hear from you. I’m doing great. No, I am not in California. I am now retired and have decided to stayed in Germany.😊
Missing Zwei...1979-1984
I was there 1977-1981 in the Records Section so I'm the one who probably gave you your yearly records review.
Hi ignasio i am a citisen of zweibrücken to day i live on the airport and i ll take a report off this time with the american or canadian army people i need many pictures
Is the gym still there?
Mr. Bigglesworth, You Magnificent Bastard ! Nope. All gone.
78 - 81 (38th Tac Recon Sq)
BACK SIDE FOR THE BASE. HOSPITAL AND THE WRONG WAY, WAS IN THE OTHER SIDE. SOMEBODY TOLD ME ,THAT KREUZBERG KASERNE AND THE AF BASE, IS BEINGS CLOSE AND MOVE TO ,ANOTHER LOCATIONS.