European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday september 26, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 9 Over Here a amps Randy Pruitt Joachim Ripp Elbeck Deputy chief of the forestry superintendents office in Elville stands among Trees he says were knocked Down by . Helicopters. Foresters claim . Copters cause damage by Helge Thiele staff writer Elville West Germany a two rheingau Tau Nus forestry agents allege . Military helicopters Are using Forest workers and Hunters As practice targets during training exercises. . Army officials strongly deny the allegations. The claims were made by Joachim Ripp Elbeck the Deputy chief of the forestry superintendents office in Elville and Winfried Wagner a Forest Ranger. Wagner also says a hovering helicopter endangered his life in july. The Forest area located Between a Eidesheim and Elville is part of an authorized Low level flight route for military helicopters of Many nations. At least 10 complaints alleging harassment by . Choppers in the area have been registered since 1988, Ripp Elbeck said. A sampling of complaints recorded by the forestry office allege that a a helicopter hovered Over a forestry vehicle in the summer of 1988, breaking off two tree tops. A in november 1988, a Low flying helicopter chased a car at night. A in february 1989, a helicopter hovered Over a forestry worker causing tree branches to fall around him. A on dec. 12, 1989, a helicopter forced a forestry worker in a vehicle to seek Refuge in a Stream to escape falling branches. A in january 1990, the Wash from a helicopter Rotor showered branches on another forestry worker. A also that month a Forest Ranger reported a helicopter encircled him for five to of minutes causing branches to fall around him. Forestry officials suspect helicopters from the 12th aviation brigade at Wiesbaden a Are responsible for the incidents but officials at v corps which controls the aviation unit disown any involvement. A there Are no target runs on people or animals a said Tony Gutierrez who Heads Man Euver management at v corps Headquarters in Frankfurt. A these Are pretty much Standard instructions for All helicopter  v corps officials also said Forest workers have produced no evidence the helicopters Are american and Quot it s a matter of misunderstanding. I think what you have Here were helicopters. A following the terrain and they Fly very Low Over a certain area and some people happen to be  a Tony Gutierrez noted that aircraft of other nato countries use the flight route. _ the Forest rangers said they understand the necessity for helicopter training. A we have nothing against them crossing our Forest which is part of the helicopters Low level flight routes a Ripp Elbeck said. A but we Are mad because there is so much damage and threat that could be easily  Ripp Elbeck said he is also concerned the helicopters Are frightening wild game. A the helicopters keep the game from their Normal feeding places because that is where the helicopters exercise a a he said. A this has a far reaching effect because the Deer roes and wild sheep Start damaging our Trees due to  and he noted that areas damaged by this past Winter s devastating wind storms were More susceptible to damage from helicopters. Money is also a Factor Wagner said. A every broken tree we have to pull out Cost us 100 Marks. But we Only get two or three Marks for it when we sell it a he said. V corps officials however doubt their helicopters Are causing damage to the Forest. A it is very unlikely a helicopter will blow Down a tree with its Rotor Down Wash a Gutierrez said. A a it a a matter of misunderstanding. I think what you have Here were helicopters. Following the terrain and they Fly very Low Over a certain area and some people happen to be  the stationing of american helicopters in the pics Baden Erlenheim area has been an ongoing controversy since 1985. Angered by . Plans to push ahead with the stationing county commissioner Klaus Frietsch cancelled a january meeting on the alleged Forest buzzing. Florian i Insdorf the head of the regional civil defense office that covers the town of Elville plans to discuss the Issue with . Army officials in october. We have More and More complaints about . Military helicopters a said i Insdorf whose office is headquartered m Darmstadt. A there Are complaints about target runs on  in the meantime it. Col. Dick Bridges a v corps spokesman said he found it Odd that the foresters refuse to meet with corps officials to discuss their allegations. A if there Are pilots out there making Maneu vers such As they described that a taken very seriously Here. We re not Here to endanger Peoples lives or damage property a he said. A we fully intend to be Good neighbors but Good neighbors at least talk to each