Our Stories of the Ramstein Flugtag 1988 continued....
The following are stories submitted by our visitors and friends about their memories of the Flugtag.
Thank you all for your submissions, and come back soon as more will be posted.
Christina
We remember...
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| Christina Trillo Landis
KCMO | My story....
The morning started out cool, we grabbed our coats and were off to the air show. We were excited as we had recently moved to the Landstuhl Germany high-rise apartments just two months earlier. We were originally from Kansas, Ark City to be precise. New to Germany, I wasn't used to this area and my husband was away quite often as his crew chief position required. He was gone TDY on this weekend. The boys and I would go alone.
I was a bit worried about going to this show. My apprehension was due to the large number of protesters that had frequented the base entrances with their signs protesting the air base's low level flying. The flying by fighters had recently resulted in a few crashes.
There was also a higher level of security at this time. There were threats from middle East factions during this time and that was in the back of my mind. I had to think about exposing my kids into a dangerous situation. Ultimately I decided we couldn't be more safe than on a heavily guarded American air base so off we went on a day we would never forget.
There were many cars trying to get onto the base. Lines of cars were checked and we saw protesters and many security officers everywhere. I parked the car on the runway that was cleared for parking and with my 3 sons, walked to the NCO club to eat before going to the flight line to see the air show. We had a great meal of German Wiener Schnitzel and saw the Italian pilots. They were eating at the club too. All were handsome and we admired their uniforms and patches. There were pilots from all over Europe there.
My sons Enrique 8, Marcelo 10, and Armando 13, were all excited and ready to walk the few blocks to the flight line to check out the static display of aircraft. It was still a bit chilly but the sun had come out and cleared the sky for a spectacular day. We walked around to see the booths, looked at the displays and talked to some of the pilots. There was air craft from all over Europe. We saw a Harrier and some other very strange air craft. I was like a kid just as excited and anxious to see the big show which was about to begin.
I asked a security officer where he thought would be the best place to see the air show. He said anywhere along the flight line should be good. We made our way down the hill and into the growing crowd of people. We sat up a ways from the last concession trailer. I know this because I was close enough that my oldest son went to buy ice cream there on his own. I watched as he came back with our goodies. We sat on a dirt hill, and not far from us were rolls of razor wire which surrounded the flight line. It was far enough away I didn't think anyone would hurt themselves on it.
The air show was very exciting and at one point in the show, a fighter did a maneuver that made it stall up above the crowd or so it seemed. It started to spin toward us, I panicked and started to grab my kids and run. The fighter suddenly started the engines and roared off in a fantastic display for all. I remember those around me were laughing at me for thinking it was real. I always wondered if these same people later, ran from this mound as they saw the plane flying out of control toward them or did they think it was a part of the show.
As the Frecce Tricolori Italian team started their show, it was scheduled as the last show on the program. They had indeed saved the best for last. The team flying was a beautiful sight on this clear day. They emitted contrails of green, white and red. Something I had never seen before but added so much to their routine. Many around us by then had shed our warm coats and extra clothing from the cool morning and as the sun beat down there were many without shirts and children in the barest of clothing.
The Italian team did wonderful flying maneuvers and the crowd cheered. All heads were up and our mouths open as we watched them appear to fly right into the other. It was the most daring flying I had ever seen. Being an Air Force wife I have seen my share of air shows back in the states. I had much to compare.
I was so riveted to the show that my son's pleas to be taken to the restroom were ignored. I kept putting him off so I could see this team's full show. I knew the air show would be over soon. Finally he was very insistent we go right now. Reluctantly I gathered all our goodies and we headed toward the top of the hill. Still I dragged my feet, walking backwards so I could watch the flying. We finally made it to the long line of little johnny-on-the- spots. He quickly ran in and we waited. Then we all took our turns. It had been a long day. We couldn't see the show too well from that spot so I decided to go to our car which was on a side runway. We could see the show from there.
When we arrived at the car, we leaned against the hood and watched a daring and beautiful heart shaped flying maneuver that had us standing up. Then we saw something burning and rolling down the runway. An explosion beyond the hill, we couldn't see where it hit but later learned it hit that concession trailer we were by. I stood there not believing what I had just witnessed. It was so quiet, as if everyone was waiting for this to register in our brain the reality of it all. Maybe it was only in my brain. I know now what "surreal" means. My son knew before I did that the planes had crashed I kept saying "no, it can't be, no.."
The sudden noise broke the silence like a knife. From then on, we were aware of screams, crying, and the hours of sirens and helicopter noise as if in a war zone. Soon after the crash, we saw the remaining team up above fly over in the missing man formation. If we didn't know for sure what happened we finally did. I don't know if I really saw the missing man formation or in it happened only in my dreams.
My sons and I were finally able to leave the base after waiting 3 hours since some entrances were closed and only used to transport the many victims to the different American and German hospitals. We drove home in silence and our neighbors came to greet us worried when we had not arrived home. Everyone in our military community knew about the crash.
We all slept in the living room that night. We needed to be together.
This is what I remember just like it happened yesterday.
Christina (Trillo) Landis
CCLandis2000©
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Chris Jackson,
West Virginia (USA) |
I was only 5 years old when the Ramstein Airshow Tradegy happened. I wasn't even there at the airshow but my dad was. My dad was based out of Germany with the US Army. My dad, at that time was a flight-medic with the US Army, and he and his crew were on the Ramstein Airfield base that day in their Blackhawk Helicopter incase of an emergency. Well everyones fear's that day happend and a terrible tradegy happend. My dad doesn't talk too much about it, but he told me he saw the crash and his Blackhawk was hit with a lot of debre from the crashed jets. His crew and the helicopter were only a couple hundred yards from where the jets crashed to the ground. I just know it had to be one hectic time for him and all the safety personel on-scene, he was only 25 or 26 at the time. He told me they went to one of the jet's cockpit and the guy was still fully strapped in the seat, but of course was dead. I know my dad helped and saved many peoples lives that day, that is the type of person he is. He is now a paramedic and is still helping and saving peoples live all the time, because of that tradegy he wants to help people in desparate need of medical attention and he does on hell of a job at it. I have never heard him my whole 21 years of life complain about his job, even working 12-24 hour shifts back to back or days without sleep he is still going strong. I don't think my dad would have been in Ramstein if it wasn't for me. I was born to young parents and my dad decided to join the US Army to help pay the bills, because of that he happened to be working at the Ramstein Airshow that day and helped many people...
Sincerely,
Chris Jackson,
West Virginia (USA)
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SSgt Larry Clark
Ramstein AB 1988-90 |
I remember that day vividly. I was an USAF Staff Sergeant working in one of the many hotdog/hamburgers stands setup not far from the runway. I remember enjoying the show, while serving hotdogs to the crowd. I noticed the Italian team was making a heart shape maneuver in their small stunt jets. As I was handing a hotdog to a little boy, I heard what sounded like two swords clashing together and running down each other and then a BOOM. I turned toward the sound at the same time, I was yelling, “They can't break the sound barrier in town!” I thought I was hearing a sonic boom. I saw a plane tumbling end over end coming right towards the crowd. I couldn't have been more than a 100 yards away. I felt the heat front pass by me and people where running for their lives. Shortly after, a truck came by my stand and took all the ice I had. I know better than to head towards the impact site, many people where there, most of them standing in the way. I got on a bus with many others headed for the hospital in Landstuhl to give blood.
After the investigations had completed, I helped clean up the wreckage. I remember picking up these metal balls that had scattered all over the place. I was told they were to balance the plane. I thought it must have been like a shotgun when these things where flung out. My mother and father where worried sick, not hearing from me for so long. The phone lines where jammed for days. Finally the Air Force opened up special lines to call home on.
Nope, I'll never forget that day.
SSgt Larry Clark
Ramstein AB 1988-90
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