28 August 1988

Twenty-four years ago today, Jeff and I and our daughter Megan drove to Ramtein Air Base for Flugtag 88, a large, international military air show. The highlight of the air show, and the main reason Jeff wanted to go, was the final flying team of the day, Italy’s Frecce Tricolori. After walking around the ramp and checking out all the static display aircraft, Jeff wanted to get out to a good viewing point near the runway so we walked to show center just a couple hundred feet from the runway edge. It was a warm Sunday summer day and the flying displays were great fun and very near the spectators on the ground. After a couple hours Megan was getting warm and so, begrudgingly, Jeff agreed to walk to the car where we could sit her in the shade and he could watch the Frecce Tricolori from there.

We watched the ten member Frecce Tricolori take off and begin their show. At one point near the end of their show they split into two separate formations, one of five and the second with four. Climbing high above us, with their smoke on, the two formations then dived toward the ground, pulling up and passed each other just above the runway. The smoke path behind them formed a huge heart in the sky. At the point where the two formations passed a solo member of the team was to pass above the formation and, with his smoke, pierce the heart but that was where things went terribly wrong. Flying too low, and directly toward the crowd of spectators, the solo jet crashed into two of the aircraft in the lead formation. The solo slammed into the ground just in front of the spectators and its momentum caused him to cartwheel into the crowd, by then trailing a huge ball of flames caused by the exploding jet fuel. Of the other two damaged aircraft, one would crash into the runway and the other, on the opposite side of the runway, collide with a parked helicopter killing the on-board pilot.

Here's a video of what it looked like that day. It's a bit long (3:51)and probably over dramatized.

When it was all over 70 people were killed, 1000 injured, 364 seriously. At the time it was the largest air show disaster in history. The following morning when Jeff went to work on Ramstein the road leading to the base from the autobahn was lined with the cars of the dead and injured. As a result of this incident, flying was not allowed at any air shows in Germany; that is until 2011 at the Spangdahlem air show. Even after twenty-three years, the announcement that there would be a single A-10 and a single F-16 doing individual fly-bys at the Spangdahlem air show caused significant criticism and protest.

Watching the crash from a distance Jeff and I knew that Megan’s discomfort in the heat and sun of the day and our decision to walk back to the car had certainly saved us serious injury and maybe even our lives.

Today, about 3/4 of mile outside the west gate of Ramstein Air Base is a very large pull over, parking area with this sign pointing to a public walking path.  28 August 1988 Flight Day Catastrophe Memorial.

This memorial sits not far from the western end of the Ramstein runway and commemorates the 70 people that died that day, 28 August 1988.

So today, being here at Ramstein, the images of the incident that day are still vivid in our minds and with that, the realization that an insignificant event, like a small child's discomfort, could very well have an impact on your life in ways you have no way of foreseeing.

Weilerbach Walk

Last week Jeff and I took a nice walk around one of the perimeter paths on the outskirts of Weilerbach. Here are some of the unique sights and pretty landscape you can see on a country walk in Germany.

Big ass biscuit hay bales and the pretty Germany countryside.

Me and a big ass biscuit hay bale.

This farmer likes big ass rectangle bales.

This is a little hamlet, Samuelshof, just outside Weilerbach. There are just eight homes in Samuelshof but it’s pretty typical here in Germany to name a small cluster of homes like this.

One of the houses in Samuelshof. That big entry way on the right was probably one big barn door or something similar at some time in the past.

Just across the road from the house above were farmers hard at work.

Just beyond Samuelshof is this sign prior to crossing a bridge over a small creek. That yellow oval sign is a holdover from the cold war days. It indicates how many metric tons a truck or military tank can weigh and safely cross that particular bridge. These signs are still quite common across Germany but they are no longer placed on new or refurbished bridges.

Kröten-wanderung. Toads walk way. I walk by here quite often and I've never seen a toad, frog, salamander or newt.

A new hunting seat. They're called a Hochsitz.  I did a blog about these contraptions if you’re interested in some details. These Hochsitz are quite common in Germany.

Jeff in Hochsitz.  Hunters will use these seats for deer, wild boar and all sorts of birds.

Back in Weilerbach and an old half-timbered building that’s being renovated.  I think this is the only building of its type in Weilerbach.

So, there you have it, just some odds and ends from our walk on a sunny day in Weilerbach, Germany.

Wittlich Pig Festival 2012

We made the hour drive to Wittlich for the 2012 Pig Festival. Jeff and I visited this fest two years ago by ourselves but this year we went with a group of friends. Here’s some of the images of the festival.

The story behind the pig festival is that during medieval times the town of Witllich was threatened by a barbarian horde but with a strong city wall the town folks felt safe. However, one night, the town guard couldn’t find the bolt to put in the lock on city gate so, as a substitute he used a carrot. During the night a pig happened along and ate the carrot leaving the gate unlocked. The barbarians entered and sacked the town. The folks that survived decided somone had to be punicshed for their misery and so they took their frustrations out on all the pigs in town.  I guess they forgot about the guard with the carrot or maybe he was dead. So they butchered all the pigs and had a great feast. And that began the Wittlich pig fest. Säubrenner-Kirmes, literally translates to Pig Torch Festival. Burn pigs burn.

Jeff and I at Wittlich. Jeff’s got his pig festival shirt on. It’s a hot day in Germany, 95°.

Here's our group under the Bitburger unbrella. From the left, Cassius, Jeff, Donk, Sue, Linda, me and Paige. Saint took the picture. There were also three teenagers running around in the sun and the heat.

German, Pig Fest and Wittlich flags.  That's us hundled in the shade.

Big wine glass with the Wittlich double-key town crest. Everyone was trying to find some shade because it was wicked hot.

This is where the pig operation takes place. Two large pig spits and the meat cutters serving pork to the masses. The Pig Festival parade ends here with two large pigs ready to be placed on the spits.

A pretty street on the parade route in Wittlich. We scoped out a great spot in the shade and just a short walk to the closest beer vendor.

The parade has begun. Here comes the pigs, here comes the pigs.

There aren’t many festivals where the grand marshals of the parade are dead or end up being eaten for that matter.

Germans love parades and they enjoy playing in a band too.  You'll see all ages in these bands.  The last group in this video are the Wittlich folks who weren't good enough to be in a band so they just marched with whistles.

The carrot ladies. Anyone need a carrot to lock their gate?

Woo-yoo, jackpot!! I got a carrot!!

Jeff and I enjoying the parade.

The Wittlich laundry club?!?!  Not sure I'd want to be in this group.

The pig queen and pig princess.

In the city square, the end of the parade. The pigs have arrived.

You can see that these are big pigs so it's not a simple matter getting them up on the spit.

OK, it’s on the spit and should be ready in, oh, eight hours.

This is a two spit operation.

The feeding frenzy has begun. Luckily, they had plenty of pork already pre-cooked.

After the parade we really lucked out and found an open table in the shade.  We’re ready for some pork.

Linda and I, the crazy show’s in Wittlich.

Jeff, Donk and I with the leader of the drum and bugle corps. Now that uniform had to be quite hot on this day.

Well, not everyone was happy about the pig festival. Her sign says, “Pigs are emotional and intelligent.” But they taste pretty good too.

Speaking of pork.

I think it’s time to go home.

On the way home, just another pretty scene in Germany. Balloons and hills.

We're back at Cassius' and Linda's house.  German's build their homes so that when the weather is nice they can open the windows, no screens.  That's me in Linda's big living room window. Beautiful!

The Wittlich Pig Fest was such a wonderful event. Plenty of food, wine/beer, nice little parade, pretty town and a fun theme.  Plenty more festivals to come.  PROST!!!

Kibo Residenzfest 2012

For the third consecutive year Jeff and I attended the Residenzfest in Kirchheimbolanden. Kibo is the town we lived in here in Germany 25 years ago and this is one of our favorite little festivals because of the quaintness but also the magnificent setting of the town.

These flags greet visitors to Kirchheimbolanden as they enter the town from the autobahn. They are the European Union, Germany and the city flags.

Every year during the Residenzfest Kibo has races for various age groups. These two gentlemen are obviously part of the older generation. Not sure what the significance of him carrying the broom but it’s pretty cool, especially seeing that old style twig broom.

We’re in the courtyard of one of the local vintners, a really pretty setting. From the left standing that’s Jeff, Harpo, Cassius, Saint and Killer; seated, Linda, Beth and I.

As always when we’re in Kibo, Jeff has to get his picture with the bronze wild boar. This time he has a fellow A-10 driver with him, Cassius.

Just one of the many beautiful scenes in Kibo, a narrow street leading to the medieval wall and tower.

Kibo has done an amazing job maintaining their medieval wall which dates back to 1368.

A wonderful meal of wildhirsch (wild deer), lieberknodel (liver dumpling) and red cabbage, all washed down with some cold German white wine.

After our meal we’re on our way to visit the medieval wall. Jeff and I in front of the wall.

Jeff and Linda with the local gentry and . . . TA-DA . . . the beer king.

Every odd year Kibo has a beer festival and with that they must also have a beer king. The reigning king is Fritz the 1st, or is the first Fritz. Either way he gave us this signed card. Kickass, we know the king.

We also ran into our Kibo landlords, Dorli and Kurt.

Linda and Jeff at the wall.

Just a few images from up on the wall.

Now this a strange picture. Jeff says I asked him to take this picture but I have no idea who this might be; must be the wine talking.

The Crazy Show is in town.

The Next Morning

After breakfast Jeff and I took a walk around Kibo. It’s always amazing to come upon something like this doorway with the date the building was constructed, this one 1776; built the same year as our countries declaration of independence.

Well, it’s a beautiful Sunday morning in Kirchheimbolanden, the festival the night before was great, might as well have a bit of the amber nectar.

Oh, how convenient.  A poster advertising another festival next weekend.  Going to have to look into that.

Really fun evening festing with good friends in a place that's so special to Jeff and I.  Can't wait until the next weekend!!  PROST!!