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United States Air Forces in Europe Group Build proposal


USAFE GB, a good idea?  

63 members have voted

  1. 1. I will join a USAFE GB

    • Sure
    • Meh... there's no Bf-109's in it, so no


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Sweet! Thanks Bob!

We´ll see how this GB goes, and if it´s on, we´ll definitely accept your offer.

PS, that Bitburg Eagles sheet looks awesome, I must get one. :woot.gif:

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The reason I want to include WW2 is that the formation of USAFE was a direct result of the war and its outcome. That, and the 70th anniversary of the formation of the 8th AF. But I do hope the most builds will be of the post war period.

Maybe it's just me, but as a WW2 builder I'm a little put off by this statement. "Yes, you can participate but we really prefer post-war aircraft", really doesn't inspire me to join the GB.

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Mike,

I would love WW2 builds in this GB, it's just that I don't want this GB to turn into 8th AAF exclusively. I think it would be cool to see builds from every decade, but my personal preference is cold war jets. But since this is about a GROUP Build, my personal preference is not that important.

Also, since my first language is not english, I find it sometimes hard to type what I really want to say. It you felt offended by my post, I apologize.

Pete.

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Here's another nice pic;

NeubibergAB3.jpg

These are a couple of F-47's of the 86th Fighter Wing in 1948. Normally based at Neubiberg AB, near Munich in Bavaria, these F-47's were photographed at RAF Celle in Lower Saxony during the Berlin Airlift. These F-47's were the only tactical fighters the USAF had in Germany at the time, along with the 36th FW and they escorted transport planes trough the air corridors to West Berlin.

With the arrival of the jet age, the USAFE moved away from Bavaria, since this location was only a few minutes from the Czechoslovakian border, and thus too vulnerable for the Soviet MiG's based there. The new location for the 86th FW was the french built base of Ramstein-Landstuhl, where they still are today. Nowadays the 86th AW flies C-130J-30's.

Edited by Pete
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Mike,

I would love WW2 builds in this GB, it's just that I don't want this GB to turn into 8th AAF exclusively. I think it would be cool to see builds from every decade, but my personal preference is cold war jets. But since this is about a GROUP Build, my personal preference is not that important.

Also, since my first language is not english, I find it sometimes hard to type what I really want to say. It you felt offended by my post, I apologize.

Pete.

Pete,

Roger that, no worries...no harm done. :cheers:

Edited by The Mikester
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Alright, we have 20 votes for yes so I will send a formal request to Steve. But, we still need a name for this GB. How about "US and Canadian Forces in Europe GB"?

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Alright, we have 20 votes for yes so I will send a formal request to Steve. But, we still need a name for this GB. How about "US and Canadian Forces in Europe GB"?

I thought of some catchy titles;

"In Pursuit of Freedom: US and Canadian Forces in Europe GB"

"On Foreign Fields: US and Canadian Forces in Europe GB"

I then looked into some of the speeches made during NATO's founding for some inspiration. I came up with this one;

"For our Collective Good; US and Canadian Forces in Europe GB"

Or, if I put my geeky hat on....

"The Atlanticist Cause: US and Canadian Forces in Europe GB"

Probably the best though is the simplest;

"In Defence of Europe: US and Canadian Forces in Europe GB"

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I think we should keep it to subjects actually based in Europe. No Coronet deployments, no REFORGER etc. Maybe an exception to the Mildenhall Det. 4 U-2/TR-1's and SR-71,

-define Europe.

In North American, eyes - does this include Great Britain ?

Edited by ixgr1
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-define Europe.

In North American, eyes - does this include Great Britain ?

Almost all North Americans regard Great Britain as Europe... Mildenhall detachments were rotations of U-2 and SR-71s into Great Britain that were not permanently based there but were constantly rotated in and out. Its a special case which is why he mentioned it.

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Almost all North Americans regard Great Britain as Europe... Mildenhall detachments were rotations of U-2 and SR-71s into Great Britain that were not permanently based there but were constantly rotated in and out. Its a special case which is why he mentioned it.

I hoped this was the case - somtimes I have doubts though...

Exelant - chalk up another 'heath or Mildenhall bird !

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And it's not over yet ;)

ov10as601sttaswovergerm.jpg

Great picture! I always wondered how well those OV-10's would have fared if the cold war turned hot. Given the high loss rate in Desert Storm, I think the life expectancy of a FAC would have been short in WWIII.

Thanks for posting.

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Great picture! I always wondered how well those OV-10's would have fared if the cold war turned hot. Given the high loss rate in Desert Storm, I think the life expectancy of a FAC would have been short in WWIII.

Thanks for posting.

I think they would have been easy targets for AA guns and MANPADS of the red army indeed but maybe they were supposed to be deployed once total Air superiority was achieved and most of the AAA and SAM's were gone.

Anyway, now it's time for another great picture (thank you DOD for HI-res pictures in public domain)

This time it's Hahn F-16As in 1984 (which are among my favorite F-16)

f16as50tfwinflight1984.jpg

Next time we'll put something older :)

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Sounds like time to make a start on my Bentwaters F-16 Aggressor, or maybe an A-10, or then again perhaps an Alconbury RF-4 in the early "Navy" scheme ...

Decisions decisions ...

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Jan,

I'm sorry, but an S-199 won't fit in, eventhough the story is interresting. If you will build it and place it along one of those 86th FG F-47's in a diorama it would be ok, though.

Here's a pic of an RB-66B landing at Spangdahlem in 1956. This Destroyer was part of the 10th Tactical Recconaissance Group, 10th TRW.

Reactivated at Toul-Rosieres AB, France, in 1952, they took over the mission and equipment of the 117th TRW, Alabama ANG. Toul was not ready to handle aircraft however, so only the wing headquarters were based there at first, with the various squadrons (apart from the RB-26 unit, which Toul could handle) going to several other bases in Germany. Ongoing delays in France meant that the Wing and all its squadrons moved to Spangdahlem in 1953. In 1954 the first RB-57's arrived, replacing the old RB-26. The RF-84's arrived in 1955, sending the RF-80's back to the US. In 1956, the Group transitioned to the RB-66 and WB-66 Destroyer, sending the RF-84's to the 66th TRG at Phalsbourg-Bourscheid AB in France.

The Group was inactivated in 1957, with all the equipment and personnel going directly to the Wing.

This RB-66 still caries the gun and radar dome in the tail, and has not recieved the wingtip pods yet.

10thtrg-b-66landingaatspang-1956.jpg

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