huub vink
March 3rd, 2011, 11:50
The lovely scenery from NL2000 brings back memories. I was stationed at Soesterberg AFB in 1978 and from 1981 until 1983. In those days Soesterberg was the home of 32nd TFS USAF, 334 transport squadron and 298 helicopter squasron. In 1978 the Phantoms from 32nd TFS were still there. When I arrived in 1981 they had been replaced by Eagles.
Soesterberg was the first airfield from the Royal Dutch Air Force or LVA as it was called in 1913. In 2008 the airfield was closed.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/Huub_Vink/ehsb-1.jpg
The tower the wing with the bedrooms is missing and the air-conditioning unit at the third floor. The weather observer had his office at the third floor. I did spend many hours there. Lovely view over the complete airfield. The Eagles used to open their air brake when they were at this point to greet the air traffic controllers.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/Huub_Vink/ehsb-2.jpg
The fire station. Many cars but nothing to do. The fire brigade had engines all over the place, but this was their building. Some times they were called to assist the civil fire brigade. In that case every thing what could drive would leave the place!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/Huub_Vink/ehsb-3.jpg
The platform in front of building 35. In 1978 the weather office was still located in this building. When a F-27 started his engine you couldn't make a normal call anymore inside the building. Soon the weather office would move underground in bunker 500.
In the middle of the picture the canteen on top of bunker 44. Bunker 44 was the old German traffic control bunker, but in 1978 still in use as war location for those who were working in building 35. One of the big hangars the back was the home of the military aviation museum until it moved to its current location in 1980. It was only opened during the weekend but military personnel could drop in when there was somebody from the museum. I once sat in the Spitfire from the museum when it was still there.
On the left the Allouette helicopters from 298 squadron. Normally a call was enough to get a seat in a flight. Normal payment was either beer or cookies.
Sweet memories, thanks for bringing them back NL2000 team!
Huub
Soesterberg was the first airfield from the Royal Dutch Air Force or LVA as it was called in 1913. In 2008 the airfield was closed.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/Huub_Vink/ehsb-1.jpg
The tower the wing with the bedrooms is missing and the air-conditioning unit at the third floor. The weather observer had his office at the third floor. I did spend many hours there. Lovely view over the complete airfield. The Eagles used to open their air brake when they were at this point to greet the air traffic controllers.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/Huub_Vink/ehsb-2.jpg
The fire station. Many cars but nothing to do. The fire brigade had engines all over the place, but this was their building. Some times they were called to assist the civil fire brigade. In that case every thing what could drive would leave the place!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/Huub_Vink/ehsb-3.jpg
The platform in front of building 35. In 1978 the weather office was still located in this building. When a F-27 started his engine you couldn't make a normal call anymore inside the building. Soon the weather office would move underground in bunker 500.
In the middle of the picture the canteen on top of bunker 44. Bunker 44 was the old German traffic control bunker, but in 1978 still in use as war location for those who were working in building 35. One of the big hangars the back was the home of the military aviation museum until it moved to its current location in 1980. It was only opened during the weekend but military personnel could drop in when there was somebody from the museum. I once sat in the Spitfire from the museum when it was still there.
On the left the Allouette helicopters from 298 squadron. Normally a call was enough to get a seat in a flight. Normal payment was either beer or cookies.
Sweet memories, thanks for bringing them back NL2000 team!
Huub