European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 23, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                F 1 5e strike Eagle a Mcdonnell Douglas 1991 models Cost $37 million wingspan 42 feet 8 inches sunday february 23, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page f-15e puts Lakenheath on a fast track Mission height 18 feet 6 inches weight 40,000 lbs. Max combat Speed 1,650 Mph armaments internally mounted gun sidewinders sparrows advanced medium Range air to air missiles Range 2,400 Miles with external tanks can be refuelled aerially and 48th fighter wings amps Susan Harris by Kevin Dougherty Kaiserslautern Bureau col. Mike Guth eased up on the Gas and coasted Home in his new vehicle. After All time and Speed were on his Side. And Guthas timing was impeccable. As the commander of the 48th fighter Wing prepared to land the wings first f-15e strike Eagle at Raf Lakenheath England the Clouds above parted for the people below. The Sun lighted the pilots stage. Onlookers clapped. It was a grand Entrance. A we would have been Early for the show a a Guth said Friday As he explained at a news conference Why he and capt. Mike Stansbury an f-15e instructor Pilot Cut their Speed from 520 Mph to a Mere 450 Mph. The f-15e�?Ts maximum Speed is More than 1,650 Mph. Among those who witnessed the Landing was maj. Gen. Charles d. Link commander of the 3rd air Force. Local dignitaries also were in attendance. Guth and Stansbury flew the f-15e on thursday from St. Louis mo., to Pitburg a Germany where they spent the night. On Friday afternoon they completed a 5,000-mile journey that ushered in a new Era for the 48th. The Wing is trading its 78-Jet Fleet of f-111f aardvark fighter bombers for about 45 sleek new f-15es. The conversion is expected to take about two years said Lakenheath spokesman staff sgt. Phil Guerrero. The deployment of f-15es to Lakenheath Guth said demonstrates the United states continued commitment to nato and to the base. The f-15e differs from the Al 11 in that it can engage in air to air combat. Like its predecessor the aircraft can also drop bombs. In addition the f-15e incorporates some of the latest technology such As the Low Altitude navigation and targeting for night lantern system. The system seemingly turns night into Day which offers enhanced navigation and targeting for Crews. Terrain following radar and a Forward looking infrared navigation system Are among the other features. Many of the pilots and weapons systems officers who have been chosen to operate the strike eagles at Lakenheath Are a r Ith undergoing an intensive four month Gram at Luke fab Ariz. Flight training pro the Al 11 models for two decades. The have been a mainstay at Lakenheath 70 or so remaining aircraft at the base Are heading to the 27th fighter Wing at Cannon fab n.m., and my will be gone by years end Guerrero said. Lakenheath a conversion will Cut the number of aircraft squadrons from four to two. Manpower will drop from about 5,500 to4,700. Asked to compare the two jets Guth had nothing but compliments for the Al 1 if noting that a it proved itself in the persian Gulf  but Guth did cite an obvious though nonetheless crucial distinction Between the two. The Al 11 Model a is a 1970s air plane and this is a 1990 air plane a he said of the f-15e, a and you can feel the  also undergoing medical draw Down by j. King Cruger Mediterranean Bureau Torrejon a Spain a medical services Are being reduced to match the decrease in the american population at Torrejon Abas the draw Down of the base Hospital parallels the draw Down of the 401st fighter Wing. The a medical draw Down a which will continue through late 1992, Means the gradual discontinuation of selected on base medical services said col. Or Leo e. Cousineau 59, the hospitals commander. The Hospital cafeteria served its last meal on Jan. 1, although in patient meal service will continue through april 30. After that Date the Hospital will have no inpatient Beds. Aeromedical services and the flight surgeons office have already been reduced in size and staff and the dental clinics prosthodontics service ended feb. 1, Cousineau reported. Since then prosthodontics services have been provided by civilian dentists in Madrid 10 Miles away. A giant step in the hospitals draw Down will take place May 1, when the Hospital is downgraded to a clinic. It then will no longer have 24-hour emergency room services said Cousineau a native of Widewater Alberta Canada. A we just wont have the doctors to staff it the emergency room a Cousineau said. A we Are encouraging people to use the nearest Spanish Hospital in an  from May 1 to sept. 1, the Hospital will function As an acute care clinic. It will offer Only limited health care for such things As colds and minor illnesses he said. On sept. 1, the acute care facility will be further downgraded to a medical Aid station. Cousineau said Torrejon a medical Aid station will be staffed by 11 care providers including two doctors a dentist and a health benefits adviser. A it the station will be a very Strong medical presence for the Torrejon american Community a Cousineau said. The base Hospital has been in operation since 1954 and currently has a staff of 219. The Spanish air Force will not operate the medical facility Cousineau said. Come March 1, obstetrical inpatient care will no longer be available at the Hospital. Mediterranean seas amps deliveries will be performed at the Spanish air forces Hospital Del Aire in Madrid or the Hospital at naval station Rota on Spain a Atlantic coast Cousineau said. A Only four of the More than 60 of patients expected to deliver before sept. 4 have opted for the a storks nest at Rota a Cousineau said. The base Hospital will no longer do elective surgery after april 1, said Cousineau and Hospital Del Aire will provide the bulk of major medical care for the Torrejon american Community. Cousineau said Hospital Del Aire is on Par with a major teaching Hospital in the United states. A a a Bunch of their the Spanish hospitals doctors Are Board certified in their medical specialities in the states. The Quality of medical care is comparable to what you get in the states a Cousineau said. Air Force officials at Torrejon Are not forgetting . Military retirees in the Madrid area. Retirees will be Able to obtain limited care at the medical Aid station on base plus More extensive treatment at Spanish hospitals said it. Col. Jack Smith the Hospital administrator at Torrejon. A we believe that there Are about 300 retirees plus their dependents in the Community a said Smith 49, who comes from Detroit. A we Are going to publish a newsletter to explain benefits and health care options to retirees and will hold a town meeting for them a he said. Smith also said Rota is not a shutting off our  a they officials at the naval Hospital say they will take care of our Retiree population although Rota is an eight hour drive from Torrejon a he said. Munich Furth will hold sales Nurnberg Germany a the defense re utilization and marketing office has announced appliance sales in Furth and Munich. Both sales will offer 220-Volt washers dryers refrigerators and ranges. In Furth the Sale will be held tuesday and wednesday in building 276 on Mont eith Barracks. The Sale is open to the general Public and will run from 9 . Until 1 . Each Day. Purchases must be paid for in Cash Marks Only and removed by 1 . The Day of the Sale. No checks will be accepted. In Munich a Sale for id card holders Only will be held from 9 . Until 1 . Thursday in building 19 on Mcgraw Cavern. All purchases must be made in Cash dollars Only. No checks will be accepted and All purchases must be removed by 1 . The Day of the Sale. In Munich retirees with id cards must pay customs before merchandise can be removed from premises. Kohl Bush to meet at Camp David Washington a Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany will meet with president Bush at Camp David md., Over the weekend of March 21-22, the White House announced Friday. No Agenda has been set the White House said but it is expected to a cover the full Range of International issues including problems in Yugoslavia and the fast changing european Structure. The two leaders last met in Washington on sept. 17. Special forces recruiters schedule presentations Schwet Zingen Germany a recruiters will hold several presentations for enlisted soldiers in Northern Bavaria this week for those interested in volunteering for special forces. Presentations will be held As follows a monday a Erlanger Black hat theater. Presentation will be held at 9 30 . A tuesday a Bamberg Warner Barracks building 7080. Presentations will be held at 9 . And 1 30 . A wednesday a Katterbach Bis Mark theater. Presentations will be held at 9 . And 1 30 . A thursday a Wertheim theater. Presentations will be held at 9 . And 1 30 . Wives of interested soldiers also Are encouraged to attend. Applicants must take a physical fitness and swimming test. Soldiers must score 206 on the army physical readiness test according to standards for the 17-to-21 age group and swim 50 meters in Battle dress uniform and boots. The time and location of the physical tests will be announced at the presentations. Soldiers should bring their most recent physical fitness test score card and copies of their forms 2a and 2-1 to the presentation. For More information Call the special forces european Region recruiting office at ets 379-6430 or 6558