European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 a the stars and stripes saturday february 22, 1992 pullout is withdrawal is a on schedule base officer says sole Mission of 401st Torrejon will continue to provide Airlift support after the pullout of the 401st fighter Wing. Here a Crew from the 625thonsol dated aircraft maintenance so secures a c-141. By a King Cruger Mediterranean Bureau Torrejon a Spain a drawing Down to leave Torrejon a is now the sole Mission of the 401st fighter Wing according to its commander. The draw Down wont be easy for Torrejon members and their families said col. Jerry l. Nelson commander of the 401st, a it the draw Down is a complicated situation we Are in. The easy part is Over. It is hard to draw Down one area of support while maintaining another area a Nelson said. A the Tricky part of the draw Down is keeping people informed and stopping rumours that pop up every Day. They rumours can derail  one year ago at Bradshaw the height of the War with Iraq Torrejon a was one of the critical Linchpin in the american War Effort. In the first month alone of the buildup the base 10 Miles Northeast of Madrid handled 80 percent of military Airlift come missions. Torrejon was a Hub for wartime Airlift operations and the base pumped 200 million Gallons of fuel to transiting aircraft. Last Winter the base had an american military population of 5,200, these Days an average of 250 military and 300-350 family members depart the base each month. By fall the base will have an american Active duty population of roughly 450, according to air Force maj. Jim Bradshaw 38, the executive officer for the bases transition team. Quot the draw Down is running on schedule a said Bradshaw a resident of Niceville Fla. The Wing is to officially depart Torrejon on May 4 in compliance with the  defense cooperation agreement signed in 1988. The Wing will Transfer without any aircraft to Aviano a in Northern Italy. The agreement was the result of a 1986 referendum voted on by the Spanish people. The referendum showed support Tor a continued Spanish presence in nato but called for a reduction of . Military operations in the nation. The 401st originally was to move with its f-16 fighting Falcons into a new base at Croton in Southern it by. But congressional opposition to funding for the base has shelved that plan and to Date no plan has been announced to station the planes in natos Southern Region. A certainly the Southern Region is the place to have those f-16 air planes if you look at the threat to Europe. As a commander i would prefer that they would stay in the Southern Region. It is kind of disappointing to see those air planes go away Quot to bases in the states and Germany Nelson said. The 600th air base so will replace the Wing at Torrejon on May 5. The remaining Mission will be to support Airlift and communications at the base. A it took awhile to Settle on what the Mission would be a Nelson said. A base maintenance contract yet to be awarded May mean that As Many As 300 workers Spanish and american May also support the . Military Effort at Torrejon according to Bradshaw. A we will have Many support elements remaining after the Wing leaves so people wont have the stresses that take place during closures Quot Bradshaw said. A concerted Effort is under Way to care for americans remaining at Torrejon. A while realizing that these Are going to be austere times we Are still going to concentrate on Quality of life and provide facilities like they have at other bases Quot said Nelson 47, and a native of Montpelier Idaho. The air Force is turning Over the bulk of Torrejon a facilities to the Spanish air Force. The spaniards Long in operational control of the base will gradually assume More and More responsibility for running the enormous installation. Besides taking Over essential Ai drome and utities operations the spaniards plan to operate some of the americans recreational facilities notably the gym Golf course and Bowling Alley. S4s Dave Casey col. Jerry l. Nelson americans will still be Welcome to use those facilities Nelson said. A other than scope people base personnel probably May not be losing anything aside from very Small mar morale welfare and recreation activities a Bradshaw said. A it is not totally finned up what kind of club setup there will be. The officer and no clubs will be turned Over to the Spanish and a min club will probably be set up a Bradshaw said. Air Force folks remaining at Torrejon will have reduced commissary and Exchange operations said Bradshaw adding that . Military retirees will still be Able to do limited shopping on base and to use Torrejon a recreational facilities. A amps Oava Casey sgt. Robert a Potter of the 614th aircraft maintenance unit signs paperwork while the movers empty his House