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Guido Bühnlmann, Michael E. Fader) |
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U.S. Air Force Convair C-131A Samaritain #52-5805 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühnlmann)
U.S. Army Sikorsky CH-54A Thare #68-18585 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühnlmann)
Wings Aviation regularly reports on air shows and aviation events in Europe, the USA and Asia. However, Wings Aviation's correspondents are not young reporters who attend these events, but rather slightly older gentlemen. Editorial team member Guido E. Bühlmann celebrated his 90th (yes, ninetieth) birthday in Bangkok on 12 January 2026 and will report on Phuket Airport in Thailand in a later article. He has now opened his archive for Wings Aviation and compiled pictures of an open day at the U.S. Army's Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Air Base in May 1970. The pictures were taken on Saturday, 9 May 1970, on approach to the base and during the open day on Sunday, 10 May 1970, at the base.
Belgian Air Force, Republik F-84F Thunderstreak #FU-6 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Belgian Air Force, Republik F-84F Thunderstreak #FU-6 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Belgian Air Force, Fouga Magister Red Devils Team #MT-5 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Belgian Air Force, Fouga Magister Red Devils Team #MT-12 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Belgian Air Force Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar #CP-20 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Belgian Air Force Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar #CP-20 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühnlmann)
Royal Danish Air Force North American F-100D Super Sabre #GT-018 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühnlmann)
Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair CF-104 Starfighter #104845 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühnlmann)
Royal Air Force English Electric Lightning F.2 #XN768 No. 92 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Guido Bühnlmann)
Royal Air Force Lockheed C-130K Hercules C.1 #XV211 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühnlmann)
Today, Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Airfield is a U.S. Army military airfield with a history dating back over 100 years. It is located approximately eight kilometres southeast of Wiesbaden city centre and about 18 kilometres west of Frankfurt Airport. Wiesbaden Army Airfield is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) and the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, as well as the AFN Wiesbaden radio station.
On 3 April 1945, U.S. ground troops reached the air base. The airfield was then used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). After the USAAF took over the site in 1945, a large American military airfield was established here. Between 1948 and 1953, it housed the European headquarters of the U.S. Air Force.
In 1948 the installation served as a hub supporting the Berlin Airlift with around-the-clock flights to Tempelhof Airport. Airmen from Wiesbaden distinguished themselves in support of "Operation Vittles". C-47 "Skytrain"s and C-54 "Skymasters" of the 60th Troop Carrier Group flew missions daily to Tempelhof in the beleaguered city of Berlin. During one day's operations more than 80 tons of food and supplies were airlifted from Wiesbaden.
Between 1952 and 1955, Wiesbaden Air Base served intermittently as an alternate base, initially for the Lockheed RF-80 and later for the Fairchild C-119, whose home base at Toul-Rosières Military Airfield was still under construction.
In 1973, the headquarters of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) was relocated to Ramstein Air Base near Kaiserslautern. The Air Force moved most personnel out of Wiesbaden in 1975 as part of Operation Creek Swap, in which most U.S. Army facilities in Kaiserslautern were turned over to the Air Force, in exchange for the facilities at Wiesbaden.
German Air Force Nord Noratlas N-2501D #53+08 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
German Air Force Transall C-160D #50+42 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
German Air Force HFB 320 Hansa Jet #16+02 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Air Force Douglas C-54E Skymaster #44-9051 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Air Force Boeing EC-9G Stratofreighter #0-22687 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Air Force Douglas C-118A Liftmaster #53-327 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Air Force Convair C-131A Samaritain #52-5787 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-141A Starlifter #67-0010 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom #69-0249 RS (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom #66-7478 RR (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Army Sikorsky CH-34C #54-2871 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Army Beech U-8D Seminole #68-3066 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Navy Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior "8" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Air Force North American T-39A Sabreliner #62-4471 ((Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Boeing 747-121 N735PA Pan Am ((Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
In May 1970, Wiesbaden Air Base was still under the control of the U.S. Air Force when the Open Day was held. The aircraft on display came from NATO countries Denmark, the United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium and, of course, Germany. In addition to the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy were also present. A special highlight was the flyover by Pan Am's Boeing B-747-121 #N735PA, which came from New York and made a low flyover with passengers on board before landing in Frankfurt (it was a normal scheduled flight). Today, such a flight would be unthinkable.
With the exception of the Lockheed Hercules, none of the aircraft shown are still in service today and have long since been put on display in museums. The Lockheed Starfighter of the Canadian Air Force (#104845 or 12845) was later used by the Turkish Air Force and is now on display in the city of Osmancık. Only a few aircraft enthusiasts will still be familiar with the HFB 320 Hansa Jet, to name just a few examples.
Royal Danish Air Force North American F-100D Super Sabre #GT-018 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Belgian Air Force, Republik F-84F Thunderstreak #FU-6 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Royal Air Force English Electric Lightning F.2 #XN768 No. 92 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Royal Air Force English Electric Lightning F.2 #XN769No. 92 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Royal Air Force English Electric Lightning F.2 #XN768 No. 92 Sqn. (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Belgian Air Force, Fouga Magister Red Devils Team #MT-18 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Navy Grumman C-1A Trader 146028 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Navy Grumman C-1A Trader 146028 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Royal Air Force Lockheed C-130K Hercules C.1 #XV211 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Army Sikorsky CH-34C #54-2871 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Royal Air Force Hunting Jet Provost T5A #XW306 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Royal Air Force Hunting Jet Provost T5A #XW306 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
U.S. Army Bell UH-1H #59935 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
