I loved the level of respect they showed for each other and the level of openness with which they spoke. Admitting fear, sadness and hopefulness to help the next generation not need to go to war.
Fantastic documentary! Turned off my flight simulator to watch this video on my 2nd computer. In 1981 I was 'lucky' to have been guarding Minuteman missles then nuke-loaded B-52's in North Dakota. Two years later it was F-4E's in Korea. This brought back memories of the squadrons I was in, the people I worked with, the constant activity of duty, the camaraderie and the best friendships I made during those years. Looking back now that I'm 62, it's like there is a big silence after leaving a rowdy party and closing the door behind me. Proud of my service and all my fellow vets. Thank you for taking me back in time. USAF SP '80-'84.
Lt. Col. Gene E Jackson was killed several years later when an F15 he was flying experienced uncommanded rudder inputs causing a loss of control. Due to his proximity to the base housing area Colonel Jackson elected not to eject until his aircraft was no longer a risk to anyone on the ground. Unfortunately he was unable to eject safely and died as a result of the accident. Even in “peacetime” freedom isn’t free. The crash occurred in New Mexico yet the sacrifice is the same. Col Jackson had completed a flying tour as a Wolf Fast FAC flying F4s from Thailand during the Vietnam War. I wanted to share once I watched this excellent video.
We were stationed at Lakenheath AFB in England 1996-98. My husband flew the F-15 eagle🦅. Your documentary shows how the family group forms there early on with strangers thru tradition and necessity. After our tour there, we were assigned to Tyndall AFB FL where he trained young pilots in the jet before they were sent to operation bases. Once the F-22 raptor came to Tyndall, he transitioned to it, training others until he retired. At one point, he was recognized for having the most hours in the two jets. Love all your videos, Mr. Hoffman. So glad you posted this one especially as it brought back many fond memories. Cheers!
Wow!! An amazing video representing the wonderful people of Bitburg AB Germany!! I can especially relate to this, because I was stationed there from 88-92. I can honestly say that this video is a great representation of life at Bitburg. Bitburg was definitely a great assignment with great people. I worked in the munitions storage area, bomb dump, otherwise known as AMMO!! The bomb dump was really close to flight line, especially the Zulu Alert facility. I know for a fact that we played an important part of the mission at Bitburg and had a great experience that I will never forget. Thanks. William Montague, USAF, Retired AMMO, IYAAYAS!!!
Was there 80-83. What a time. 40:54 Col. Marcus Anderson. I did some special projects for him after he left the 22nd and became the Wing Commander. He was the best Commander I ever served under. Thank you for all the hard work you and your crew put into this. Sierra Hotel!
So glad I found this video...I was in it a few times That's me closing the radome at the beginning. My partner almost squished my head... served as an avionics technician but we all did multiple jobs.
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker We were all very proud to be the subject of this documentary and I think the film crew did a very good job of capturing what it was like to be part of a special team. After they finished the project we had a special showing at the base theater for all the personnel.
as happy as I am watching this video brings back the closeness I had in my two years in Vietnam and i wish I could go back in time and be with my brothers again.
Great video David! I was a #3 man on a weapons crew for the F-15s. We loaded the gun system. The guy at beginning under jet was what I did and drove the jammer loading aim-7 missile's. Was great experience starting out as a young man. I can't emphasize what a great job you did on this. Brings back a lot of memories from the late 80s early 90s for me.
Nice work, David! I didn't expect to be so riveted to the film. The footage, the audio, the editing -- everything -- this was a really interesting and moving film! I'm feeling honored that you shared it with us today. Thank you!
Wow thank you for showing us this documentary! Amazing to watch our men and women who are willing to fight for our freedoms! My daddy was in the USAF and my husband was a US Marine! You become families with other marine corp families when he served, and still today we keep up with our military family! They are family to us! It’s hard on the wives of the Marines when they’re deployed, but we always made it work and couldn’t wait till our husbands came back again! We always helped other families who were going through tough times! Amazing! Thank you again! 🇺🇸♥️🦅
@Shorts Remixed if you don’t like my comment, keep your feelings to yourself! It’s because of men like my grandfather, my dad and my husband that you have the right to bitch and moan about the freedom you have in America! So keep your comments to yourself
This is as REAL AS IT GETS! SALUTE once again David. Amazing Documentary. My military (Army) brothers were over there and I know where they are to this day. I speak with them on the regular. You knocked this one out of the PARK! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!
This was an eye opener to what those service airman and airwoman and their family went through. David your documentaries and film clips are little pieces of history please never underestimate what we your subscribers will like. Thanks for sharing, David Hoffman 😊
This brought back a lot of memories. I was stationed at Spangdahlem AIr Base, about 15 miles away, from 1979 to 1981 working on F-4s. We spent a lot of time at the town of Bitburg and drank a lot of Bitburger beer.
wow post a compilation of photos, get other photos from other guys that were there, these Pockets of history are neat, try to share them before the jet fuel poison takes you
Outstanding job of capturing the camaraderie and intensity we had at Bitburg then! I think most, if not all of us throttle jockeys believe that was the best assignment we ever had. Great jet, great flying, great people! Tiger Tiger!
Interestingly styled documentary! Nice job David, I like how you conveyed how close knit they were, and btw sure had to have been quite a thrill to go up in that second! seat! Thanks✌
Thanks for making this! I was just a baby at the time but I was there. My dad would get us stationed at Bitburg, Wiesbaden, Spangdahlem, and Ramstein. This film is what I remember from my childhood from the mid 80's and 90's. The pilots would let me sit in the F-16's or F-111's! The Air Force people were so kind and always ready to lend a hand! We also made a ton of German friends as well, even to this day! I wouldn't trade the way I grew up or the people I met for a million bucks!
This is a great production! Pickle suits and black boots are what I remember when i got in. This representation of professionalism and dedication is genuine. It's the pride i have in my service. Just listen to the conversation about closeness vs the division there is today.
Thank you David! Before I only thought of Bitburg from the 40th anniversary of the end of WW2 and President Reagan only because that was the only time I heard of it. I wonder how you felt at that time. I didn't know the connection there ran this deep 🇺🇲🇩🇪 great video
Thanks for the upload! This was a few years prior to my tour (Avionics, '89-'94) at Bitburg and I was in the 22nd. However, I was loaned to the 53rd when we deployed for DS, so I'm a tiger-bee. I mean, it's a little theatrical and over-dramatic in parts, but it's a fair look at life at Bitburg. I was lucky to be a part of it, and it was a tight group, especially among the deployed crew...you didn't know in the beginning if these were going to be the last people you knew.
The jets are so loud we have a air show here in Louisville Kentucky during the festival that also has the legendary horse race " the Churchill Downs" it's been there since 1875. The air show started back in 1990 with thunder over Louisville we also have parade that's good. Thanks for sharing this video.👍👍😎📸 The event are the last week of April to the first week of May.
Another great piece, this mixed directed style is something most documentaries I liked over the years had adopted, so it's interesting to see that you had your fingers in that
I was there in 1981. The ground controlled approach radar at 20.53 is the radar unit that I worked on. However, myself and coworkers were part of Air Force Communications Command and never got any recognition or camaraderie from the base and wing units. We were a separate entity and never recognized.
I was in AFROTC around this time but didn’t graduate. Interesting to see what my generation was doing while was in college. Desert Storm was still ten years in the future when this was made. I later went back to school for Aircraft maintenance so that aspect of the film is interesting.
As someone who was an avionics tech in the RAAF in the 1980s, this was a very interesting thing to watch and compare. I think the cultures within our services were quite different, as were the circumstances, particularly with the service people contributing to the USAF being constantly on alert during the Cold War. It was, compared to now, a much more community-minded time - I laughed when the young corporal was hitching her way to work!
You are the original and real history channel love you and your stories bro you lived it I now you are genuine in this world of fake news we need more journalists like you bro 🙏
I know that this is strange, but I really kind of miss the tension of the cold war. I'm glad that it never went hot, but it was an interesting feeling-the looming, inescapable reality that we were vulnerable, both as a nation and as individuals. I think it affected our behavior-the idea that next week may not happen. I also think that it fostered a feeling of 'we're all in this together' that I haven't felt since. Probably because we have never really been under threat in the continental US after it ended. It's good that it's over, and it's good that we didn't "lose." I feel very fortunate though to have grown up during such an interesting time in US history.
Don’t worry, we’ll probably be back in a multi-polar world soon enough. I just hope I don’t see the day when the US dollar is no longer the world’s reserve currency 😅
Could not understand Y they closed BITBURG and not spang???? Was stationed @ Bitburg from 1966-1969! Went to spang a few times and didn't think it even compaired to Bitburg! Worked engine shop and test cell. Went on several TDY's. Norway, Libya, Spain . Made alot friends . Miss the old Florida Bar.
Spangdahlem is more than twice the size of when I was stationed there from 1979-1982, Bitburg was located in a large city with no room to expand, and besides the land the base was located on was more valuable in the private sector, on another note my wife and I visited Bitburg Air Base twenty five years ago, it was rather sad , a ghost town.
@@davidcole8448 it is a ghost town, I've been back a few times as I was stationed at Spang and have German friends, Bitburg is all German businesses in those shelters, you drive on the taxiways, I used the old bowling alley on a visit. The casernes side housing was all empty, some businesses were there but the high school, BX and all that has grass growing up around it and is non accessible. Spang has indeed doubled and is quite the base, I miss it there. Spang was awesome, back when I was there it still had that cold war feel to it, man I miss it there.
@@jumpingjeffflash9946 Do you remember when the French had somewhat of a base on the otherside of the runway at bitburg ? Sometimes we would run into them at the night clubs, they were rather rude. I lived in Dudeldorf , I never had so much fun in my life !
i was stationed at Spangdahlem which was about 10km away, we could see Bitburg shelters and I've been in a few of these and on Bitburg when it was a base in the mid 90's, now these shelters are all German businesses, Germany was awesome. 93-95. Haha...typical flightline maintenance behavior at 17:58 adding an "R" to the pilots name. Man I miss my time on the flightline, some of the best times of my life were out there and the USAF was awesome. 19:31 rare, never seen pic of the engines with turkey feathers on them. google shows "Tsgt Dew died in 2006, Lt.Clasen was in the airlines as a pilot
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker a quick google and he's there, his linked in which showed his USAFA graduation year as 1978 so I went there and found that pic too, same guy. I bet he has no idea of the movie being out in YT, I didn't search for other names in the credits but they too may be out there not knowing about this movie 40 something years later. Bitburg now is all changed and where once were F-15's are now German businesses operating out of all those shelters, where once an F-15 taxied is now roads to those businesses.
I think we evolved to live in small communities of say 50-100 people so where there is a common focus humans can naturally resonate in a meaningful manner with in there group, I think it's the way it's meant to be and might explain the high rates of mental health & drug addiction that exsists in our modern society. Great documentary so thanks for sharing.
Grew up near a USAF airfield near London UK, went to school with their kids and went to the base a few times, 4th July was great, got to sit in a fighter jet ,F15 I think, this was the late 1970's, cold war time, the food was amazing, best burgers I ever had, the service personnel at the base were exceptional in manners and you also had US Navy pilot's at the base and they are the best (that's what the teddy bear had on its T-Shirt they gave me) the RAF, who's base it was, might disagree, hats off to the ground crews, if it's not fit to fly, stay on the ground or you could die, very good film, educational In the sense of team work and how serious it was then, the threat of the mushroom cloud was very real, peace ☮️
The 70s and 80s are the pinacle of aircraft development and warfare in my humble opinion. Also the diversity with the different models to perform a single speciality. Today its just a squadron of F-35s that can perform all the tasks by itself. I rather see more planes, more footsoldiers. We need to have bigger armys and airforces again.
I went to Jet Engine school at Chanute, Feb-Apr 1980. When we’re you there? I got orders for Bitburg, and came this close >||< to swapping for Mountain Home ID. I was sweet on an Air Force girl in the States, and didn’t wanna go to “freaking Europe?!” But both she, and one of my instructors, talked me down. She told me, “You’re sweet, but I’ll be in Texas, and you’ll be in Idaho, and that just ain’t gonna work.” And my instructor told me, “Dude, Mt. Home has F111s, and Bitburg has F15s. The 111 is a pig, and the 15 is a jet mech’s dream! GO TO BITBURG!” SO glad I did ... Apr 80-Oct 82. (And I knew 1 or 2 of the maintainers in “The Wing”!)
@@Bageera63 Had to look up 42755 ... Aircraft Structural Maintenance? (Heck, I barely remember what my OWN AFSC was! 42652, I believe ... ) Was that otherwise known as sheet metal? Or did you go deeper into the structure than that? There was a blizzard the day I arrived at Chanute -- 2/14 or 2/15 -- and it was cutoffs-and-frisbee weather when I left. There's a couple of "Urban Archeology" pages that show Chanute as it is today. I barely recognize the place. Onliest thing I recognize for sure is the main gate. The rest is a dim, dark memory.
@@Bageera63 EDIT: Just checked my DD214: 42654! (Which was my first guess, but I peeked at the same website where I found your AFSC, and it has mine wrong for some reason?!)
As additional background: the F15 was relatively untested in US service by this time. A group of people in the so called fighter mafia/reformers were maligning the plane as too complicated ("gold plated" items such as electronics, costly. Missiles are too usesless. The Gulf war proved the wrong and today, missiles and electronics are quite good and needed in the current conflicts.
Mr Hoffman: Any chance this film will be remastered / cleaned up for 21st Century viewing? I was at Bitburg Apr 80-Oct 82, arrived just after you filmed this, I believe. Knew some of the faces I saw here! Grateful for so much good from my 2-1/2 yrs at The Bush ... 🙏🏻
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Couldn't hurt to ask ... ;-) BTW, the description says this was a 1984 film. But I know I saw it at Bitburg before I left (Oct 82). And I got out of the USAF in Dec 1983 ... and KNOW I didn't see it AFTER that ... ?
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Nothing to it. (Rest assured, my main concern is keeping my memories straight, not correcting a film-maker about the details of one of his films!) ;-)
Had to stop watching to save it for the tv. And David thanks for taking the risk, I’m sure you know you could get sued for distributing pre-production footage of Top Gun on the Internet. You renegade.
Thank you Damian for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts. David Hoffman filmmaker
I loved the level of respect they showed for each other and the level of openness with which they spoke. Admitting fear, sadness and hopefulness to help the next generation not need to go to war.
Fantastic documentary! Turned off my flight simulator to watch this video on my 2nd computer. In 1981 I was 'lucky' to have been guarding Minuteman missles then nuke-loaded B-52's in North Dakota. Two years later it was F-4E's in Korea. This brought back memories of the squadrons I was in, the people I worked with, the constant activity of duty, the camaraderie and the best friendships I made during those years. Looking back now that I'm 62, it's like there is a big silence after leaving a rowdy party and closing the door behind me. Proud of my service and all my fellow vets. Thank you for taking me back in time. USAF SP '80-'84.
Lt. Col. Gene E Jackson was killed several years later when an F15 he was flying experienced uncommanded rudder inputs causing a loss of control. Due to his proximity to the base housing area Colonel Jackson elected not to eject until his aircraft was no longer a risk to anyone on the ground. Unfortunately he was unable to eject safely and died as a result of the accident.
Even in “peacetime” freedom isn’t free. The crash occurred in New Mexico yet the sacrifice is the same. Col Jackson had completed a flying tour as a Wolf Fast FAC flying F4s from Thailand during the Vietnam War.
I wanted to share once I watched this excellent video.
Thank you for sharing that info/update. I remember Gene quite well.
David Hoffman filmmaker
We were stationed at Lakenheath AFB in England 1996-98. My husband flew the F-15 eagle🦅. Your documentary shows how the family group forms there early on with strangers thru tradition and necessity. After our tour there, we were assigned to Tyndall AFB FL where he trained young pilots in the jet before they were sent to operation bases. Once the F-22 raptor came to Tyndall, he transitioned to it, training others until he retired. At one point, he was recognized for having the most hours in the two jets.
Love all your videos, Mr. Hoffman. So glad you posted this one especially as it brought back many fond memories. Cheers!
Wow!! An amazing video representing the wonderful people of Bitburg AB Germany!! I can especially relate to this, because I was stationed there from 88-92. I can honestly say that this video is a great representation of life at Bitburg. Bitburg was definitely a great assignment with great people. I worked in the munitions storage area, bomb dump, otherwise known as AMMO!! The bomb dump was really close to flight line, especially the Zulu Alert facility. I know for a fact that we played an important part of the mission at Bitburg and had a great experience that I will never forget. Thanks. William Montague, USAF, Retired AMMO, IYAAYAS!!!
Love this video. We were part of the Bitburg family in 1981.My husband was part of training for international maintenance and fighter pilots!
Was there 80-83. What a time.
40:54 Col. Marcus Anderson. I did some special projects for him after he left the 22nd and became the Wing Commander. He was the best Commander I ever served under.
Thank you for all the hard work you and your crew put into this.
Sierra Hotel!
Always love hearing about USAF pilots and their stories. Thank you for uploading this slice of history.
So glad I found this video...I was in it a few times That's me closing the radome at the beginning. My partner almost squished my head... served as an avionics technician but we all did multiple jobs.
Wow. Thank you for commenting. And for being in the film.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker We were all very proud to be the subject of this documentary and I think the film crew did a very good job of capturing what it was like to be part of a special team. After they finished the project we had a special showing at the base theater for all the personnel.
Oops...didn't realize I was talking to the man that made the documentary...Thanks David
as happy as I am watching this video brings back the closeness I had in my two years in Vietnam and i wish I could go back in time and be with my brothers again.
Great video David! I was a #3 man on a weapons crew for the F-15s. We loaded the gun system. The guy at beginning under jet was what I did and drove the jammer loading aim-7 missile's. Was great experience starting out as a young man. I can't emphasize what a great job you did on this. Brings back a lot of memories from the late 80s early 90s for me.
Nice work, David! I didn't expect to be so riveted to the film. The footage, the audio, the editing -- everything -- this was a really interesting and moving film! I'm feeling honored that you shared it with us today. Thank you!
Thank you for noticing.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Wow thank you for showing us this documentary! Amazing to watch our men and women who are willing to fight for our freedoms! My daddy was in the USAF and my husband was a US Marine! You become families with other marine corp families when he served, and still today we keep up with our military family! They are family to us! It’s hard on the wives of the Marines when they’re deployed, but we always made it work and couldn’t wait till our husbands came back again! We always helped other families who were going through tough times!
Amazing! Thank you again! 🇺🇸♥️🦅
@Shorts Remixed if you don’t like my comment, keep your feelings to yourself! It’s because of men like my grandfather, my dad and my husband that you have the right to bitch and moan about the freedom you have in America! So keep your comments to yourself
This is as REAL AS IT GETS! SALUTE once again David.
Amazing Documentary.
My military (Army) brothers were over there and I know where they are to this day. I speak with them on the regular.
You knocked this one out of the PARK!
THANKS FOR SHARING!!!
I can't believe how he has so much glorious footage, this stuff is great
Really great to see the full documentary!
This was an eye opener to what those service airman and airwoman and their family went through. David your documentaries and film clips are little pieces of history please never underestimate what we your subscribers will like. Thanks for sharing, David Hoffman 😊
I always wanted to be an airforce technician back in 80s however I was always afraid of being exposed to fuels and munitions
You were smart - so many of us were/are.
This brought back a lot of memories. I was stationed at Spangdahlem AIr Base, about 15 miles away, from 1979 to 1981 working on F-4s. We spent a lot of time at the town of Bitburg and drank a lot of Bitburger beer.
wow post a compilation of photos, get other photos from other guys that were there, these Pockets of history are neat, try to share them before the jet fuel poison takes you
Bitte ein bit
Bitte ein Bit
Outstanding job of capturing the camaraderie and intensity we had at Bitburg then! I think most, if not all of us throttle jockeys believe that was the best assignment we ever had. Great jet, great flying, great people! Tiger Tiger!
These guys are the real Top Gun. 👍
Thank you for uploading this, David. It used to be available on Hulu, then it disappeared.
word?
Interestingly styled documentary! Nice job David, I like how you conveyed how close knit they were, and btw sure had to have been quite a thrill to go up in that second! seat! Thanks✌
Love seeing old usaf videos like this
Thanks for making this! I was just a baby at the time but I was there. My dad would get us stationed at Bitburg, Wiesbaden, Spangdahlem, and Ramstein. This film is what I remember from my childhood from the mid 80's and 90's. The pilots would let me sit in the F-16's or F-111's! The Air Force people were so kind and always ready to lend a hand! We also made a ton of German friends as well, even to this day! I wouldn't trade the way I grew up or the people I met for a million bucks!
This is a great production! Pickle suits and black boots are what I remember when i got in.
This representation of professionalism and dedication is genuine. It's the pride i have in my service.
Just listen to the conversation about closeness vs the division there is today.
Thank you David! Before I only thought of Bitburg from the 40th anniversary of the end of WW2 and President Reagan only because that was the only time I heard of it. I wonder how you felt at that time. I didn't know the connection there ran this deep 🇺🇲🇩🇪 great video
Great documentary, thanks for sharing 👍👋🇳🇱
Claw was my first commander at Kadena back in 1996, he just got back from buzzing an airliner on their trip to Australia
Thanks for the upload! This was a few years prior to my tour (Avionics, '89-'94) at Bitburg and I was in the 22nd. However, I was loaned to the 53rd when we deployed for DS, so I'm a tiger-bee. I mean, it's a little theatrical and over-dramatic in parts, but it's a fair look at life at Bitburg. I was lucky to be a part of it, and it was a tight group, especially among the deployed crew...you didn't know in the beginning if these were going to be the last people you knew.
Another great upload. Films like this and the submarine documentary don't seem to be made anymore.
The jets are so loud we have a air show here in Louisville Kentucky during the festival that also has the legendary horse race " the Churchill Downs" it's been there since 1875. The air show started back in 1990 with thunder over Louisville we also have parade that's good. Thanks for sharing this video.👍👍😎📸 The event are the last week of April to the first week of May.
Another great piece, this mixed directed style is something most documentaries I liked over the years had adopted, so it's interesting to see that you had your fingers in that
Thanks for sharing🙏
Nice work David!
I was there in 1981. The ground controlled approach radar at 20.53 is the radar unit that I worked on. However, myself and coworkers were part of Air Force Communications Command and never got any recognition or camaraderie from the base and wing units. We were a separate entity and never recognized.
Thank you very much for this upload, Mr. Hoffman!
The level of nostalgia in this video is great sheeesh....
That intro music was no highway to the danger zone
The intro music was original music written for the film.
David Hoffman filmmaker
I was in AFROTC around this time but didn’t graduate. Interesting to see what my generation was doing while was in college. Desert Storm was still ten years in the future when this was made. I later went back to school for Aircraft maintenance so that aspect of the film is interesting.
*David Hoffman Elite F15 Fighter Pilot's The Cold War Back Story's How they lived appreciate your videos Listening 🌟 from Mass USA TYVM 💙*
Thank you for the upload. Greetings from Germany ✌️
David, I hope someone is making a documentary about you. So many good films over the years.
No one yet. Maybe someday soon. I certainly would have the footage and I'm ready to talk about anything.
David Hoffman filmmaker
As someone who was an avionics tech in the RAAF in the 1980s, this was a very interesting thing to watch and compare. I think the cultures within our services were quite different, as were the circumstances, particularly with the service people contributing to the USAF being constantly on alert during the Cold War. It was, compared to now, a much more community-minded time - I laughed when the young corporal was hitching her way to work!
Amazingly the Best.
That first guy talking to the camera was my youth football coach!!! Coach Thomas! Oilers!!! @2:31+
You are the original and real history channel love you and your stories bro you lived it I now you are genuine in this world of fake news we need more journalists like you bro 🙏
I know that this is strange, but I really kind of miss the tension of the cold war. I'm glad that it never went hot, but it was an interesting feeling-the looming, inescapable reality that we were vulnerable, both as a nation and as individuals. I think it affected our behavior-the idea that next week may not happen. I also think that it fostered a feeling of 'we're all in this together' that I haven't felt since. Probably because we have never really been under threat in the continental US after it ended.
It's good that it's over, and it's good that we didn't "lose." I feel very fortunate though to have grown up during such an interesting time in US history.
Well, China will soon be that rival.
Don’t worry, we’ll probably be back in a multi-polar world soon enough. I just hope I don’t see the day when the US dollar is no longer the world’s reserve currency 😅
@@ifolkinrock Do you specifically see benefit for Americans in a world that’s multipolar and the US is not completely dominant?
So cool! I was just a kid when this was filmed and I think I would have gone to the AF instead of the Army if I had seen this back then.
Could not understand Y they closed BITBURG and not spang???? Was stationed @ Bitburg from 1966-1969! Went to spang a few times and didn't think it even compaired to Bitburg! Worked engine shop and test cell. Went on several TDY's. Norway, Libya, Spain . Made alot friends . Miss the old Florida Bar.
Spangdahlem is more than twice the size of when I was stationed there from 1979-1982, Bitburg was located in a large city with no room to expand, and besides the land the base was located on was more valuable in the private sector, on another note my wife and I visited Bitburg Air Base twenty five years ago, it was rather sad , a ghost town.
@@davidcole8448 it is a ghost town, I've been back a few times as I was stationed at Spang and have German friends, Bitburg is all German businesses in those shelters, you drive on the taxiways, I used the old bowling alley on a visit. The casernes side housing was all empty, some businesses were there but the high school, BX and all that has grass growing up around it and is non accessible. Spang has indeed doubled and is quite the base, I miss it there. Spang was awesome, back when I was there it still had that cold war feel to it, man I miss it there.
@@jumpingjeffflash9946
Do you remember when the French had somewhat of a base on the otherside of the runway at bitburg ?
Sometimes we would run into them at the night clubs, they were rather rude.
I lived in Dudeldorf , I never had so much fun in my life !
Love this. Thank you David ❤️
Bitburg was such a great experience. Looking back I regret not reenlisting to stay there. The folly of a 22 year old kid with no foresite.
He Never Misses
Bravo BARONS! 😁😁😁
Ha! That's where I was stationed in the Air Force.
i was stationed at Spangdahlem which was about 10km away, we could see Bitburg shelters and I've been in a few of these and on Bitburg when it was a base in the mid 90's, now these shelters are all German businesses, Germany was awesome. 93-95. Haha...typical flightline maintenance behavior at 17:58 adding an "R" to the pilots name. Man I miss my time on the flightline, some of the best times of my life were out there and the USAF was awesome. 19:31 rare, never seen pic of the engines with turkey feathers on them. google shows "Tsgt Dew died in 2006, Lt.Clasen was in the airlines as a pilot
Interesting. We always wondered what happened to Lieutenant Clasen.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker a quick google and he's there, his linked in which showed his USAFA graduation year as 1978 so I went there and found that pic too, same guy. I bet he has no idea of the movie being out in YT, I didn't search for other names in the credits but they too may be out there not knowing about this movie 40 something years later. Bitburg now is all changed and where once were F-15's are now German businesses operating out of all those shelters, where once an F-15 taxied is now roads to those businesses.
17:55 “Captain Stoner” lol. Somebody has a sense of humour!
I was stateside except for DS. Worked with a lot of good people some not so good.. i would do it again any day.
I think we evolved to live in small communities of say 50-100 people so where there is a common focus humans can naturally resonate in a meaningful manner with in there group, I think it's the way it's meant to be and might explain the high rates of mental health & drug addiction that exsists in our modern society.
Great documentary so thanks for sharing.
Grazie.
Thank you so much.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Grew up near a USAF airfield near London UK, went to school with their kids and went to the base a few times, 4th July was great, got to sit in a fighter jet ,F15 I think, this was the late 1970's, cold war time, the food was amazing, best burgers I ever had, the service personnel at the base were exceptional in manners and you also had US Navy pilot's at the base and they are the best (that's what the teddy bear had on its T-Shirt they gave me) the RAF, who's base it was, might disagree, hats off to the ground crews, if it's not fit to fly, stay on the ground or you could die, very good film, educational In the sense of team work and how serious it was then, the threat of the mushroom cloud was very real, peace ☮️
Dave was the history channel before the history channel existed
Thank you Tim!
David Hoffman Filmmaker
As I served in the cold war, even if the tail-end, todays woes on global security is nothing new; it's just a very fast 30 year rewind,
pretty much.
I was a kid there from 79-81!!! Elementary School! 😂🤣
The 70s and 80s are the pinacle of aircraft development and warfare in my humble opinion. Also the diversity with the different models to perform a single speciality. Today its just a squadron of F-35s that can perform all the tasks by itself. I rather see more planes, more footsoldiers. We need to have bigger armys and airforces again.
Sweet. Did you film this?
Please read the description, it answers your question and more Much more. 👍
I wore the same "pickle" uniform. Different Base, though. I could swear I was at Chanute AFB Tech School with a Sgt. you briefly filmed.
I went to Jet Engine school at Chanute, Feb-Apr 1980. When we’re you there?
I got orders for Bitburg, and came this close >||< to swapping for Mountain Home ID. I was sweet on an Air Force girl in the States, and didn’t wanna go to “freaking Europe?!” But both she, and one of my instructors, talked me down. She told me, “You’re sweet, but I’ll be in Texas, and you’ll be in Idaho, and that just ain’t gonna work.” And my instructor told me, “Dude, Mt. Home has F111s, and Bitburg has F15s. The 111 is a pig, and the 15 is a jet mech’s dream! GO TO BITBURG!”
SO glad I did ... Apr 80-Oct 82. (And I knew 1 or 2 of the maintainers in “The Wing”!)
@@Bageera63 Had to look up 42755 ... Aircraft Structural Maintenance? (Heck, I barely remember what my OWN AFSC was! 42652, I believe ... )
Was that otherwise known as sheet metal? Or did you go deeper into the structure than that?
There was a blizzard the day I arrived at Chanute -- 2/14 or 2/15 -- and it was cutoffs-and-frisbee weather when I left.
There's a couple of "Urban Archeology" pages that show Chanute as it is today. I barely recognize the place. Onliest thing I recognize for sure is the main gate. The rest is a dim, dark memory.
@@Bageera63 EDIT: Just checked my DD214: 42654! (Which was my first guess, but I peeked at the same website where I found your AFSC, and it has mine wrong for some reason?!)
33:06 and thats for the officers think about the enlisted
As additional background: the F15 was relatively untested in US service by this time. A group of people in the so called fighter mafia/reformers were maligning the plane as too complicated ("gold plated" items such as electronics, costly. Missiles are too usesless. The Gulf war proved the wrong and today, missiles and electronics are quite good and needed in the current conflicts.
The BIG 22 !! 91-93 BALLS4
Mr Hoffman: Any chance this film will be remastered / cleaned up for 21st Century viewing?
I was at Bitburg Apr 80-Oct 82, arrived just after you filmed this, I believe. Knew some of the faces I saw here!
Grateful for so much good from my 2-1/2 yrs at The Bush ... 🙏🏻
Frank. The master is good enough for me as is. Amazing that you were there shortly after I was.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Couldn't hurt to ask ... ;-)
BTW, the description says this was a 1984 film. But I know I saw it at Bitburg before I left (Oct 82). And I got out of the USAF in Dec 1983 ... and KNOW I didn't see it AFTER that ... ?
@@PanhandleFrank You are correct Frank. I have changed the date in my description. Thank you for pointing that out.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Nothing to it. (Rest assured, my main concern is keeping my memories straight, not correcting a film-maker about the details of one of his films!) ;-)
Weird to see the turkey feather on the jet nozzles. You forget that these are the early F-15s.
Just realized where the saying “knock it off” came from
timestamp?
The world certainly has changed.
I was there…87-90, 525 AMU. Is there a bulldog in the house?
Year ?
What year?
Read the description please.
David Hoffman Filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker , 1981. Great doc, thanks.
Had to stop watching to save it for the tv. And David thanks for taking the risk, I’m sure you know you could get sued for distributing pre-production footage of Top Gun on the Internet. You renegade.
34:00 warms my socialist heart
That would mean it's one degree above zero
Extraordinary documentary.
Thank you Damian for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Front lines of the Cold War - thankfully it never turned hot.
Is that Buster Glosson?