European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 04, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Cover Story from the cover 60 Miles Northwest of London has along history of occupation by american forces that technically ended nearly two months ago when the Gates were locked and the keys were returned to the British de sense ministry. The base actually began winding Down in Early 1992, when the first of its fighter air Craft returned to the United states. More than 1,200 British jobs were lost during the draw Down period said Paddy Quinn chairman of the local Parish Council. In addition the withdrawal of american spending has meant an estimated loss of $4.8 million per month for British communities within a 25-mile radius of the base. It s the end of an Era now Quinn said. It was a very harsh decision that they closed the Evert the withdrawal of noisy aircraft has sparked a sense off loss in the Community. Although noise. Complaints were a common occurrence Many of the local people now miss the planes Quinn said. It s a lot quieter said David Varney a lifelong resident of the Village. It s a shame in t it Gwyn Brooks an employee of John Walton Butch ers in the nearby Village of Steeple Aston agreed in a Way you miss the planes going the american influence in general is missed Brooks said. Many americans patronized local Busi Nesses and sent their children to local schools.-"and7" although most americans purchased their meat products on the base Brooks said his business has seen a decline in sales to restaurants that used to Cater to americans. / Many americans also rented British Homes during their Tours at the base. Most of the Homes in upper Heyford fortunately have been sold to British nationals since the americans left Howlin said. A Good number of americans also used to play on Howlin s Domino teams and their places also have been taken by local British players. But the Ameri cans won t be forgotten he said i still have close lies with some of the pople s4s Dav do Paddy Quinn it s the end of an Era Howlin said. The St. Mary s Church in upper Heyford has a plaque dedicated to air Force men arid women stationed at Raf upper Heyford hanging on one of its Walls. And in the Church cemetery stands a Large Stone with this inscription erected by the parishioners of this Village in recognition of the close association with Raf upper next to the Stone is a smaller Marker in memory of capt. Jerry Lindh and maj. David Mike Mcguire who died on sept. 17,1992, when their plane crashed just Short of the base runway. Plaques dedicated to these airmen also were erected bar villagers outside the base Fence where the plane went Down. Locals will continue to place Flowers and wreaths at this site each British veterans Day Quinn said. . Military forces first occupied Raf upper Heyford in 1950, according to air Force fact sheets. The strategic air corny s 750th air base so was the first to set up operations at the base to support personnel aircraft and equipment undergoing peace time training overseas. The base was transferred to . Air forces in Europe in March 1958, which continued the Sac Mission until nato committed of ionic voodoo aircraft were assigned to upper Eyford in septem Ber. -. A --v1. With the aircraft came a new Mission providing photographic and visual reconnaissance activities according to the fact Sheet. The next major change came in Early 1970, when three squadrons of a Lyle fighter planes were As signed to the base. Two of these squadrons left upper Heyford in Early 1992 and the third departed in december 1993. V according to figures supplied by Raf upper hey Ford officials before the base closed the base population in june 1993 included 3,009 military person Nel 141 . Civilians 421 British defense ministry civilians and 4,060 . Dependents. By june 1994, population had dropped to 207 military personnel 26 civilians 210 dependents and 165 British defense ministry civilians. Now Raf upper Heyford is being used temporarily by the thames Valley police for training exercises a spokesman for the British defense ministry said. Padlocked chains Are wrapped around every. Gate. The once Busy British Road that separates the secure from the no secure Side of the base is nearly As empty As the runways. Last month the defense ministry decided that the base no longer was needed by the British govern ment the spokesman said. The Long term use will be decided by the county Council which is much like a state government in the United states and the District Council which is much like a . County government. There Are no deadlines for drafting plans for the site he said. Some of the local people would like to see the runways utilized by a commercial air freight opera would create employment in the area for people who lost their jobs As a result of the base Clor sure and for people who might someday move into the former base housing Quinn said. Whatever does happen we re going to have a say in it Quinn said. I " came Down so did career Hopes Bonnie Bartel latino raw Down is the schizophrenic legacy of the demise of the cold War. No longer must we fret that those dastardly Hus Kies might nuke us like Alabama mor quit pcs Fried by a Bug Zapper at a Bubba Gump shrimp fest. But Dang when the Ber Lin Wall came Down did anybody comprehend the personal ramifications this historic cataclysmic event would generate within America s military when the joyous scenes at the Brandenburg Gate hashed throughout the world in 1989,1 was living at , Texas where my husband was stationed. Gradually i began to get an inkling of what possibly Lay ahead through colonel a an acquaintance who was assigned to the Usan military personnel Center at our san Antonio base. He was inc of those tasked to write the prototype letter notifying air Force officers who had met the serb selective Early retirement boards and consequently been selected for the dubious Honor of being retired prematurely or i prefer retired below the zone. Later colonel a and his family pcs overseas his career safely on track. Five years into geopolitical global warming we have one Hopes suffered the worst of hey i know the politically Correct term is right Siz ing but of be still my aching heart. Who conjured up this prophylactic Public relation s Pearl give us a Little credit. As tax payers we know reduction in Force was a legally mandated proposition that had to be achieved just Don t expect us to like it because some or spin magician gives it a Pra actively pretty Little name. Right sizing Turkey Donkey _ another genuinely frustrating aspect of draw Down _ is today s assignment process. Frequently the Mili tary member staying in is almost Asp occupationally. Challenged to find his or her next Billet As is the service member who is getting of my family s previous four assignments three bases have been either closed drawn Down or an need by another base. We recently pcs within Germany from Embach a to Ramstein a. Sembach was once the military s Best kept secret. With a motto of Quality support this Friendly Little base consistently won awards for Best Small everything clinic gym Library commissary appear Ance billeting Etc. Though still a special place under annexation Many buildings Are being pickled and " the former officers club temporarily houses the Library. The commissary has been under renovation for More months than it took the Donald to decide if he should make an honest woman of Maria Maples. Bank hours have sometimes been More erratic than a menopausal woman suffering flashing i Power surges. Yes Virginia there is a draw Down. And it is a four letter word. These Are but few of the realities of draw Down Only the professionalism and sense of humor of the survivors make it tolerable. A we Are caught in the whirlwind of the Down draft Weslo by Vest to support one another to look for Quirky humor in the mundane to survive. My Friend Jean who has moved free times in the past three years says just think of All the Lovely Nicks and dents i would t have in my furniture had we not been right sized. Plus i have added three com plete sets of curtains to my extensive collection of win Dow treatments that
