Hahn Air Base Crew Dog 81-0723's photostream

Hahn Air Base played an important role in the defense of the former West Germany and the rest of Western Europe during the Cold War. I arrived in January 1984 and left in September of 1986. The mission of the Air Force while I was there was to ensure I was an "up-to-par" Dedicated And Willing Guardian (DAWG) by schooling me in the art of Crew Chiefing, making sure I knew how to use a gas mask, don a chemical suit, and how to shoot a gun without putting a bullet in my foot. I also learned the finer points in life while boozing with some of the wildest and free-minded people I have ever met....At the age of 22, this was a healthy sign of being a "red-blooded American..." And there we sat - ready for war....Or a good party any day of the week. Lots of memories. Twenty years later, Hahn is a shell of it's former self - It all seems like yesterday but these pictures show that Hahn Air Base has become similar to other relics of another era - such as the Citadel of Verdun or the Maginot Line - a remnant of a structure that played a vital role in national defense that has become nothing more than another historical ruin.

Enjoy!

Scott Oestringer,
TSgt, USAFR (Retired)