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Re: Cave-finds, your opinion........

Posted by Lowell Thompson on Mon Apr 15, 2002 03:30:06 PM

In reply top Cave-finds, your opinion........ posted by Cees Broere on Mon Apr 15, 2002 06:47:42 AM

While serving with the USAF at Hahn AB in Germany in 1979-80 I was given the chance to volunteer for a 2-3 week TDY to a NATO base in Northern Germany. Others who had been there said it was very cold because of the winds off the water I believe and all in all it didn't seem too appealing so I passed. When the 2 or 3 guys who did go returned they told us all of an underground cavern on the opposite end of the base (from where our F-4s were deployed)that they were allowed to go down in under special conditions of having met the right people. It was not at all opened to the public and no cameras were allowed. They said there was much fear of ceiling collapse. They said there were just a few hanging light bulbs in the small area they were allowed to see but that there were "intact FW-190s". They knew I was very literate about surviving World War II combat aircraft and I of course pressed them for as much info as possible but it was sketchy. I have since lost my notes on the location and particulars. I have always figured this to be a true report as the other men seemed most sincere and had no motive to invent a story. The true identity of the aircraft they observed may have been the most questionable. A thread on the 12 O'clock High! Luftwaffe Board
( http://disc.server.com/Indices/3051.html ) a couple of years ago went into this subject some and seemed to confirm there was something to the Northern NATO base cavern tale.
I would love to hear any more on this subject. I have regretted not taking that one TDY assignment now for these 22-some years.

Lowell Thompson

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