European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 b the stars and stripes wednesday March 25, 1992f-16s write final Torrejon chapter by j. King Cruger Mediterranean Bureau no bands played and a chill wind swept across the runway but the Farewell feelings were warm tuesday As the last f-16s of the air forces 401st fighter Wing departed Torrejon a ending the wings 26-year flying Mission at the Spanish air base. Four f-16c fighting Falcon jets lifted off into partly Cloudy skies about 1 . Tuesday. The american fighters were accompanied by four Spanish air Force fighters from Torrejon a 12th Wing. The Spanish fighters escorted the american jets to the Spanish French Border before returning to their Home base outside Madrid according to tech. Sgt. Louis Arana Barradas a spokesman for the 401st. Col. Jerry l. Nelson commander of the 401st, led the flight of the four american jets to their new Home at Ramstein a Germany Arana Barradas said. Before the ongoing draw Down at Torrejon As Many As 80 fighting Falcons were assigned to the Wing. Some of Torrejon a f-16s have gone to air bases and air National guard units in the states. Others have transferred to Ramstein and Span Dahlem air bases in Germany. The departure of the four f-16s leaves 16th air Force with no permanently assigned aircraft according to capt. Ken Mcclelland the spokesman for 16th air Force the 401st�?Ts Parent unit. The 401st 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 401st originally was to move with its fighting Falcons to a new base at Croton in Southern Italy. But congressional opposition to funding for the base has shelved that plan. To Date no plan has been announced to station the planes in natos Southern Region. 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. Nelson and col. Jos6 Francisco Gomez Carretero commander of Spain a 12th Wing spoke to several Hundred american and Spanish base personnel attending the departure ceremony in front of the eight jets waiting on the flight line. A today Marks the end of an Era. We be enjoyed a Long standing and excellent relationship with our Spanish neighbors a Nelson told the crowd. Nelson who was piloting his last military flight of his 26-year-flying career said the final f-16 flight from Torrejon put the Wing one step closer to its final departure from the Spanish base. Gomez Carretero said the Day was a sad one for him and the Spanish air Force because a it is always sad to say goodbye to friends with whom we have shared Happy and sad moments. Many years of working and living Side by Side with americans have created lasting and indestructible friendships. A a that a Why today it is an Honor for us to escort our friends on their last flight Over Spain a Gomez Carretero added. A the flout ceremony Marks the close to an important chapter of . Air Force history a maj. Gen Gerald a. Daniel 16th air Force commander said in a message sent to All 16th air Force Field units. A in atom a Southern Region will temporarily lose the Benefit of its principal air Arm until the 401st, an instrument of deterrence whose Span of operations ranged from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Black sea is reconstituted elsewhere in the Southern Region a Daniels message said. Nelsons plane was the last american f-16 off the ground. Flying along with Nelson on the 825-mile flight to Ramstein were fellow Torrejon pilots it. Col. Wade Paton it. Col. Doug Richardson and it. Col. Chuck Brammeier. Following an uneventful two hour Long flight the f-16s landed in rain and cold at Ramstein just before 3 .upon arrival Nelson was greeted by Brig. Gen. Richard t. Swope commander of the 86th fighter Wing at Ramstein. After piloting a multimillion Dollar f-16 a the greatest air plane in be Ever Flo Nnelson found that his late Model american Sedan would not Start when he got ready to drive from the flight line. A jump Start from an air base truck put some life into the cards Battery and got the vehicle moving. Nelson laughed at the irony of the situation shrugged and said  stall writer Kevin Dougherty contributed to this report from Ramstein a Prince swaps ideas with Young americans by Meridith Winder . Bureau Raf Alconbury England americans assigned to Raf Alconbury rubbed elbows with royally tuesday when Prince Edward the youngest of Queen Elizabeth its children visited the base. The Prince came to Alconbury to Honor american students and others assigned to the base who Are involved in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme a program similar to top scouting activities for boys and girls Ages 14 to 25. A the came to Honor the people at Alconbury for several reasons a said Mau Reen Mcquitty Host nation adviser at Alconbury High school. A a we be been doing the scheme at Alconbury for about 14 years. And the last two three years we be been heavily involved in Large projects to promote the  projects included a two Day Jamboree at a local Park and activities at a zoo that involved people from the school. They also had an olympic Torch flown into Alconbury to promote the plan and to raise Money for the olympics. Many streets on Alconbury were lined with people trying to get a glimpse of the Prince. And at the High school he was greeted with a Large crowd of cheering students. A i Hope that a reason that people Are going to do it is because its fun a Prince Edward told the students. A a in a sure Here you have a great Many opportunities to get involved in a great number of activities. And the award scheme is just a program that helps to encourage that and to broaden your horizons even  some students got to talk to the 28-year-old Prince. A it was really Nice and he was really interesting a said Tammy Gaymon a senior at Alconbury. A the Wasny tas a proper As i thought he was going to  Gaymon is one of 40 students at Alconbury involved in the Duke of Edin Burgh program. A the was very relaxed and he talked to us a she continued. A we thought we might not know what to say. But he was very talkative and outgoing. That  master sgt. Greg Doyle Deputy fire chief Wasny to impressed at first when he heard about the visit. A at first when i heard he was coming i thought a no big Deal a a Doyle said. A but As the visit got closer i started feeling Antsy like a new Bride. When you finally get a Chance to meet them up close you realize there is a certain mystique about the Royal  Navy plans retirement boards for senior enlisted members by Gary Miller Mediterranean Bureau Naples Italy a for the first time the Navy will hold selective Early retirement boards for senior enlisted sailors according to the chief of naval operations retention team. The retirement boards scheduled to Convene aug. 31 for master chiefs and sept. 8 for chiefs and senior chiefs could select As Many As 720 people Overall in the three ranks team members said. The Early retirement boards Are intended to keep chief senior chief and master chief Petty officers pay grades e-7 through e-9 within Levels set by Congress according to retention team members. Members of the team spent the week of March 16 explaining the Early retirement boards and the Navy a response to the draw Down to sailors at Southern european Navy bases. The boards will consider people who failed physical fitness tests or have not met weight standards or have other entries considered negative in their service records. Such boards previously used by the Navy for commanders and captains Are necessary because the sluggish Economy has made even people in the top enlisted ranks hesitant to leave the service. Even those who already have 20 or More years service and Are eligible for pensions Are staying in. A the Navy is not trying to get rid of people or convening the boards so others can be promoted. The Navy is trying to get the senior enlisted Levels Down to what Congress mandated a said chief Petty officer Fred Hollister. A a lot of people done to understand that a said Hollister the Force career Counselor for Fleet air Mediterranean the command that hosted the retention teams visit. Once the senior enlisted ranks Are sufficiently reduced the Navy May not need to Convene another Board Hollister said. Besides the Early retirement boards retention team members explained the Navy a responses to the draw Down. Navy personnel officials believe they can reduce the services ranks by 86,000 a without involuntary separations a by the end of fiscal year 1997 As required by the administrations proposed defense budget said cmdr. Woody Long a retention team member. The army and air Force have to reduce their strengths by 245,000 and 177,000 service members respectively during the same time according to the administrations proposals. A the presentation was especially important for Young people to let them know that their careers Are not in jeopardy As Long As they do their jobs and maintain standards Quot said chief Petty officer Robert Steward who attended the teams briefing on March 17 at naval support activity in Naples Italy. Besides explaining the Navy a draw Down programs the retention team also took its show on the Road to dispel rumours concerning cancellation of All re enlistment bonuses and special pays freezes in promotions and an imminent reduction in forces. Such drastic measures Are not necessary for the Navy because adm. Jeremy m. A a Mike Boorda commander of naval forces Europe began preparing the Navy for a leaner future during his previous tour As chief of naval personnel Long said. A adm. Boorda very clearly saw the future and had the Navy on the Down slope ahead of the other services a Long said. Quot As Early As 1990, we were actually below the mandated  sought for baggage Offenbach Germany a warehouse personnel Are trying to match service members and civilians in Europe with their unclaimed baggage a v corps spokesman said. Baggage left unclaimed after 300 Days is subject to disposal. No further storage is authorized. The following persons should Contact the Offenbach warehouse aet feb Dol to unit 25754, Apo a 09242, or Call ets 3205008 or 7309. The German civilian numbers Are 069-1515008 or 069-1517309. Baggage unclaimed after 60 Days a Mayo Darwin Etal Baugh Kevine bawl Nykl Steven Baxter Michael Beaton Tiffany Ball John Brown Timothy Burnett Scott Degroot David Henman Stephen Hobley Loren e Holline Beatrice Hough Thomas Howard Whitney Johnson James keen David Kraft. Douglas Mcdonald Jackie Moore Robert Morton Philly Myre Rhonda Norton Ken Palmer Gregory Payton Derek Phelps Tramel Randall Rodney re Mann r. Smith Nat hand Smith Theresa sounders Jeffrey Staten Jeffrey Ware James Willliams Charles baggage unclaimed after 120 Days Alexander k. Bernard Hector Dagenals Gregory j. Gudson Annette Hanover Lauren hash Jason Hobbs. Cindy Jordan Jeffrey clog Barbara Moore Thomas Omega John Parks Barrett Row son Daniel Safter esd Carolyn r. Snyder David Wroten last name Only