WIESBADEN, Germany -- Local leaders and council members from the Wiesbaden suburb of Breckenheim paid a visit to their high-flying neighbors: aircraft and aviators at Wiesbaden Army Airfield at Clay Kaserne.
The 37 leaders gazed at photographs of Luftwaffe airmen and World War II-era planes in the "Hall of Heroes" that commemorates the airfield's early beginnings as a German Air Force base. They stepped inside the VIP room, used to receive heads of state and other dignitaries, to sign the guest book and then learned about the history of the storied airfield, best known as the base for the Berlin Airlift.
Joseph Cerda, air traffic assistant, and Norbert Violette, airfield manager, also briefed the flight patterns of WAAF aircraft in the Wiesbaden area and explained how they cooperate with Frankfurt Airport, emergency medical flights, the Polizei and other local authorities.
Then they got up close and personal with the aircraft, a UH-60 Blackhawk and UC-35 Citation jet, on static display on the tarmac.
"It is nice to share what we do on a daily basis with the locals -- they get to see what we do here is beyond just making noise," said Jeff Stone, deputy airfield manager. "Perhaps for them it solves some of the mystery."
"All of the folks were delighted to hear and share the history of the airfield," added Norbert Violette, airfield manager. "Some were players in that history long ago,"
The airfield supports training and missions for the 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, U.S. Army Europe and 1st Military Intelligence Battalion, 66th MI Brigade.
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