European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday june 16, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 3spangdahlem gearing up for Boom by Kevin Dougherty Kaiserslautern Bureau Span Dahlem a Germany a last summer leaders of cub scout pack 165 wrestled with the notion of creating a new pack an idea that had been bandied about for the past three years. With the pack boasting 90 scouts the idea had Merit but Little momentum because of the uncertainty surrounding the draw Down and its effect on Span Dahlem a said master sgt. Don Leggett. The cub scout motto a do your Best a seemed appropriate Given the do Bio sity. But instead of drawing Down Span Dahlem is now gearing up for an expected Boom that by August 1993 will make the 52nd fighter Wing the largest and most diverse Wing within . Air forces in Europe. That Means More military members which Means More potential scouts. And that has led to the creation of cub scout pack 458. A if we Hadnot been expecting All these folks we probably would have stayed with one pack a said Leggett a cub scout official at Span Dahlem. # at a time when other bases Are shrinking or shutting Down Span Dahlem is an anomaly. Signs of growth and change Are evident just about anywhere on this base located on a plateau about 20 Miles East of Trier Germany and just a 15-minute drive from Pitburg a. Some examples a a main Gate is under construction that will increase the capacity for vehicle traffic from two lanes to four when it opens later this summer. A sixty one new f-16 fighting Falcons will begin arriving in late july replacing 1987 models that Are heading for Ramstein a Germany. A a the number of fighter squadrons is increasing from three to four with the addition of the a-10 Thunderbolt ii Mission from Raf Ben Waters England. Construction of a Jet engine shop near the runway at Span Dahlem a Germany is Only one sign of the bases expansion a no or a the health clinic is expanding into a third building with More than 50 additional staff members expected and several new programs on tap. A the commissary is now open six Days a week instead of five. Indeed Span Dahlem is a Busy place these Days and that Isnit Likely to change anytime soon. Aside from the Normal rotation of troops this summer the base is preparing for the first wave of a-10s and the new f-16s that will in All increase the number of base aircraft from 66 to 92. The bases Ero Anding role a raises the Star of Span Dahlem a said col. Howard j. Fit jr., the base commander. A the Spang Dahlem a commander col. Howard j. Fry jr., inspects an f-16. A amps Ken George spotlight is on  fit likened his role in coordinating the shifting of personnel and planes Ana the additional responsibilities to mastering a Rubicus cube a Puzzle in which a person must match up colors on each siae of a cube. However fit wont get a Chance to Complete the Puzzle because he is being reassigned to Safe Headquarters next month. In keeping with the air forces goal of moving More brigadier generals into the Field Safe has chosen John w. Hawley a brigadier general selectee to succeed Fry who came to Span Dahlem last summer. A there will be plenty to do a fit said in reference to the task that awaits Hawley. Fit then laughed and added a it probably warrants a general maybe it should be a two Star or  Gen. Robert c. Oaks the Safe commander has identified Span Dahlem As one of the commands Core bases a distinction that ensures it will remain open into the next decade. Last september Span Dahlem received an additional $20 million from Safe to help cover some capital improvement projects and expenses associated with the transition. The allocation brought the bases year end budget figure to about $69 million. Approximately $53 million has been earmarked so far for this fiscal year according to capt. Michael j. Rein the base spokesman. Spang Dahlem a Active duly population is projected to increase from a Low of 3,700 in october to More than 4,350 by August 1993, rein said. The population had been about 4,200 in january 1991, but the number dipped with the departure of 18 f-4g, the air forces wild weasel Model of the phantom i is. The remaining 25 f-4gs were to leave this fall from Span Dahlem the last Active duty air Force base to possess the aircraft but that Date has been pushed Back to june 1993, rein said. The air Force decided to reassess its plan to remove the f-4g from its inventory based on the Success of the wild weasel Mission during operation desert storm. Spang Dahlem a 81st fighter Sci was credited with destroying 142 iraqi radar Sites thus disabling anti aircraft artillery and surface to air missile Sites. The f-4gs will return to a yet unnamed stateside base and remain part of the inventory at least through 1995, rein said. Plans Call for the 81st to keep its wartime Mission of destroying radar stations using the new f-16s. The f-4gs will Cross paths with some of 61 f-16s that Are coming fresh off the general dynamics Assembly line in fort Worth Texas. The first f-16 will arrive in late july with the rest arriving Between november of this year and August 1993. The base will hold seven of the new f-16s in Reserve. The planes Cost $19 million to $20 million apiece. A a it la have that new car smell a rein said. Compared to the f-16s now in use the newer Model has a More powerful engine a better targeting system and an enhanced computer navigational system that uses satellites to help keep it on track rein said. It also is easier to maintain and More accessible for mechanics. A the amount of time we spend in trouble shooting will be minimized a said tech. Sgt. Henricus Vanzee a master instructor in Jet engines at Span Dahlem. The 41 f-16s currently operating out of Span Dahlem including five spares arc 1987 models that were last at Torrejon a Spain. Span Dahlem will Send those f-16s to Ramstein As it receives the latest models. Sangdahl cml a Fleet will include 31 a-10 Thunderbolt is the first of which arc scheduled to arrive this october from Ben Waters. The a-10 provides close air support for ground forces. Twenty four of the 31 a los will be operational aircraft with the remaining planes designated As backups for the 52nd fighter so. Six of the 24 planes will be used strictly for Forward air control for ground troops and other aircraft which is designated As an oa-10 Mission. Such activity brings with it a Host of other concerns and responsibilities a sort of Domino effect. The health clinic for example will become the second largest outpatient clinic in Europe. A physical therapy clinic opened in april and there Are plans to Start a program for exceptional children with a staff specifically dedicated to their needs. Overall the health care staff at Span Dahlem is expected to increase from 152 to 207, according to col. Irving Freedman the clinics commander. With Span Dahlem in the Early stages of a Boom that will continue Well into next year the preparatory work associated with the expansion brings to mind the boy scout motto about always being prepared. For the current Span Dahlem Community that Means never being at a loss for something to do. A we done to get up in the morning wondering what we Are going to do that Day a Fry said