Open House Spangdahlem Air Force Base

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The 52nd Fighter Wing hosted a two-day open house event here July 30 - 31, which included demonstrations of military capabilities and static aircraft displays. About 40,000 people attended the exhibition -- 20,000 more than the open house in 2008. "It was a spectacular event," said Col. Chris Weggeman, 52nd Fighter Wing commander. "The turnout was wonderful. As an Eifel community, we have a shared sense of purpose, and events like these make what we do on a day-to-day basis more effective." NATO service members displayed nearly 20 NATO aircraft, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II provided aerial demonstrations. "It was good to have this open house," said Alex Thiel, a German visitor to the base. "It was good to see up-close how each machine works, and it let people in who couldn't normally come here." During the event, German and U.S. Air Forces Airmen expressed their commitment to furthering the countries' relations.
"We exercise together, we learn from each other and we both improve our techniques," said German air force 1st Lt. Christian Wiemers, 33rd Fighter Bomber Wing and Panavia Tornado Interdictor/Strike Fighter-Bomber pilot. "The strength of our alliance is improving daily."
Thousands of people from across Europe viewed military equipment and spoke with the service members who operate the equipment. The exhibits included demonstrations and 15 static aircraft displays. "The open house gives a unique perspective on German-American interaction," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Andy Korsmo, 81st Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot. "We have both U.S. and German aircraft here, lined up side by side. We're showing off our machines, talking about their heritage and thinking of the future -- all side by side."
As Spangdahlem Air Base is located inside Germany's borders, cooperation and support from the German community is an integral part in contributing to NATO's partnership success, Wiemers said. "It's a good feeling to partner with the U.S. Air Force," said German air force Master Sgt. Jochen Junglas, 33rd Fighter Bomber Wing and a Panavia Tornado Interdictor/Strike Fighter-Bomber maintainer. "The best part of the open house is that we let the local community see what we do on a regular basis," said Maj. Scott Sieting, 52nd Operations Group, who flew an F-16 during one of the demonstrations. "This way we are able to build a bond that will continue to foster a strong relationship in the future."