Bitburg US Air Base housing complex

[@martinlukin2691]

Most military service members who were stationed there have very fond memories of Bitburg. I was one of them. I was an F-15 Eagle maintainer at Bitburg AFB with the 53rd AMU from 1989-1991. It was, without a doubt, two of the best years of my life. Working on the coolest aircraft ever built and traveling all over Europe. Life was Really Good!!!

[@datamasked8632]

Thank you for giving us drivers safe jets. We are eternally grateful.

[@datamasked8632]

I was one of your drivers 87-90 so we overlapped a bit. I left august 1990. 4008 had my name on it for a while.

[@martinlukin2691]

@@datamasked8632 I was a hydraulics troop for most of the two years I was there (5/89 to 5/91), so I wasn't ever assigned to a specific aircraft. I worked on them all and had a blast doing it!!! After the Gulf War started I was trained as a Crew Chief, but don't recall the aircraft I was assigned to. I much preferred the hydraulics work. Thanks for the reply.

[@brendaschwichtenberg5148]

Army Brat there from 86-89 Bitburg Elementary School - what great memories! This made me tear up.

[@AllanPasion_EzSoldier]

I went to elementary school there too it's just cool video. From 82 to 89😎

[@bandwagon240]

AF brat, 85-89. My mom taught at Bitburg Elementary.

[@henryquenin6580]

I was born in Munich on an American Air Force base. My dad was career Air Force. After coming to the U.S. for 5 years, he was transferred back to Germany for 3 years, to Bitburg. It's where I started 1st grade. The buildings here look the same as the housing we had there in the 1950s. I had so much fun there as a kid. This is very cool. Thank you.

[@theadventurer8702]

You are welcome and thank you for sharing your memories. Cheers, Martijn.

[@kathybalanchuk7449]

Oh, what memories!! We were stationed at Spangdahlem from 1973-1975. Our son was born in May 1975 at the Bitburg base hospital. I was 21, now 70 and would give my right arm to go back one more time. Thanks for the video!

[@floydb219]

Air Force brat, lived Bitburg housing and school from 1962-1965. 8th 9th and part of 10th grades. We lived right across from the teen club. Rode shuttle bus from housing to base quit a few times even got my first summer job working for the base civil engineer. Will never forget Germany, nice and friendly people.

[@latsaj12]

Thank you so much for adding this footage. Even if it doesn't mean anything to anyone else, it meant the world to me just to have the privilege to watch it.

[@martijnschneiter5216]

Hi Erdu. Nice to hear. Thanks!

[@Razorback68]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@hummingbird9221]

Thank you so much. We lived in 5-F-3...directly across from the AYA. Best years of my life were spent there.

[@christyreusch3235]

I use to live on that base. Brings so much memories. Thanks for sharing

[@carrie-anneking3461]

Me also, loved living there

[@Rosebudette]

When I was a child from about 1957 to 1960 I lived in this housing on Bitburg Air Force Base. We had the best roadway hill leading into our complex where everyone brought their sleds when it would snow. They used coal for heat which was held in covered bins out front of the buildings. I remember we would have air raid warnings during the night and all of the families had to go down into the basement with no lights on and I believe we had to stay down there for about an hour. I loved Saturday matinees at the theater where they would have the weekly serials. This video means the world to me and I would love to have gotten to see the highlight of my childhood again before it disappears completely. Will always remember the little shack right outside the gate that sold gummy bears🌸🥰🌸

[@martijnschneiter5216]

Thanks for sharing your memories Cynthia.

[@destineemccracken2197]

Awe what happy memories 😍

[@Rosebudette]

Martijn Schneiter My 93 year old father just died October 16, 2018....I only wish he could have seen this. Thank you so much. 😿

[@martijnschneiter5216]

@@Rosebudette you are very welcome.

[@TheJokerMachine1]

I remember the candy shop right outside of the base.

[@Nevyn269]

Awesome video, makes me remember my time here from Elementary to Middle school and seeing all paths and sidewalks I used to ride my bike and run around. Seems much smaller than I remember. Left in 93 but part of me always wanted to go back. Crazy seeing everything with such clarity!

[@SuzieJRN]

I was there in 73-76, do you know where the middle to jr high school was? I couldn't locate it on the video.

[@lalalaasneeze]

Grew up there in the 90s. Bldg 9 A2. Amazing to be able to see footage of this.

[@urahonky]

Me too. I really miss those times.

[@Chrissy85308]

We were stationed there 1997 to 2001. We love in 12 F2 then got moved to 12A1 4 months before we came back to the states. It was a great place to live ans have my boys grow and go to school. It was my favorite of the places we lived.

[@oregonalvarez1]

Thank you so much for this video. I was born in Bitburg proper while my father was stationed at the AB. We returned in the mid 60's and I completed elementary school there. It was hard to locate landmarks. I do recall our building was adjacent to the Little League fields which were a short walk from the school. Very cool to see this again. Some wonderful memories growing up in Germany.

[@theadventurer8702]

Thank you for sharing your memories.

[@RedSnapper34]

My Building (4) is no longer there, just bare ground. I went to school and lived there 2nd - 7th Grades, 1967-72. It was a fun childhood in the pre-digital era. I missed it terribly for many years after we left.

[@Music-pq8cm]

I lived in building 2 between 1969 and 1971 … 3rd and 4th grade

[@carmenelliott4796]

Born there in 1966. The people at the hospital there saved my life with an emergency operation on the day I was born. Thanks for this video. It gave me a great insight of where I got my start.

[@cmcer1995]

It is sad seeing a place such as this closed down after so many people lived there and raised kids, and worked, and just enjoyed life in general. I was stationed at Spangdahlem from 1974 to 1976 and went to a Bitburg a few times. I am happy to see Spangdahlem is still open, not that I recognize it at all now with all the new buildings. And the Hahn also closed too, another sad abandoned place. I am sure thousands of people have many fond memories while stationed there and being in the surrounding communities as well. It was truly a beautiful area of Germany. Thanks for uploading.

[@martinlukin2691]

The other side of what was Bitburg Air Base is not abandoned. There are several businesses operating out of what used to be military facilities and the officer's quarters and open mess have been converted into a hotel.

[@cmcer1995]

@@martinlukin2691 That is good to hear. It was bittersweet to hear about the closing, but also good that this precaution was no longer needed. Fond memories of my time at Spangdahlem AB.

[@jocelyndunn4402]

I loved living here when I was a child. The most fond memories of my childhood were born here. Thank you for posting.

[@mylifewithmy3minions]

Awe I love this We were stationed at spang 2012 to 2015 but we lived on Bitburg annex. One of the last families to be moved off of there in 2014!!!! It was so crazy living on there with no one there...we watched the bx and com close down and I remember when they closed the French concern too. We loved Bitburg ♡ we moved onto Spang housing for the last 6 months of our tour.

[@eliseo.quincy]

I was stationed in spangdahlem from 2011-2015. Very special place indeed. Eerie patrolling bitburg and French concern, especially when it was dark outside. Lol

[@Trucker2004]

I still have my stereo and Cerwin Vegas I bought at Bitburg in 1984.

[@tjmajors3874]

Watching this almost brought me to tears. I was an Air Force Brat, and we were there from 88-91. I graduated from Bitburg American High School in 91. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@sheliahkeen1323]

We lived on Bitburg AB from May 1989 to Sept. 1994 when the based closed. The housing and some other areas stayed open for Spangdahlem to use. We has some awesome times while living in Germany. I still miss being there~but we made life long friends that we still keep in contact with; some are like family to us!

[@dynarobb1]

Any relation to Ben Keen?

[@kristancorsiglia6756]

This video almost made me cry. I lived in the building in front of the BX in 1992 and went to the Middle School that year (7th grade). We moved to Binsfeld the next year so I went to Spangdahlem Middles School for 8th grade. I went to the high school for 9th and 10th grade. We left in 1997. I have such fond memories of our time in Germany. The first year at Bitburg especially. Thank you so much for posting this. Can’t tell you how much it means to me.

[@theadventurer8702]

And thank you for sharing your memories! Cheers, Martijn.

[@southpaw8040]

You were there when I was. I went to Bitburg elementary from 91-93. Me, my brothers, and the neighborhood kids used to bike all around the Base, in and out of the BX, to the skating rink, etc. We got in trouble with the SP's quite a bit. Good memories, amazing school field trips to castles like Trier.

[@THORMAN76]

You wouldn't happen to be related to Mike?

[@kristancorsiglia6756]

THORMAN76 Mike Corsiglia? I went to BHS with Mike and his brother Steve and then Steve and I reconnected after high school. We were married from 2005 to 2008. Steve and I have a daughter together so I kept my married name when we divorced. Did you go to the high school? My maiden name is Brown.

[@THORMAN76]

Kristan Corsiglia I believe I do remember you. I went to BHS from 91-94, then headed down to Ramstein.

[@laurab9975]

I spent almost 10yrs of my life on this base. 💖 I miss Germany every day.

[@tanyaphantom2076]

Military Brat here too! Miss this place, still see it in my dreams from time to time. The housing. I still remember when President Reagan drove around the housing area while my siblings did our best to keep up. And my Lord the food. This place will forever be apart of me.

[@briansprecher3182]

Stationed there 1979-1981 as a law enforcement sp. Makes sad to see this How i miss the old Bit as my friends from there. Cheers.. Bit ine bit

[@theadventurer8702]

Hi Brian. Thanks for sharing your memories.

[@Music-pq8cm]

1969 to 1971 … 3rd and 4th grade Bitburg Elementary … building 2 near base-side gate … what an amazing two years of my childhood. Bitburg came after Gateway Gardens at Rhein Main AFB. Both were awesome! awesome video If watching, Hellos to … Lance Palmore, Stephanie White, Eddie and Robbie Hamilton, Carl Morris, Cathy Jo Glover

[@adhaetjamn]

Holy cow is this ever awesome! My Dad was assigned to Bitburg 1983-86. I attended 5th grade through 7th. we lived the first year on the ground floor, towards the camera, and towards the street in front, of the building immediately down the hill from the cinema and PX. We played wall ball at the middle school every recess, weather permitting. Remember Mr. Betsch (sp)? He was the band teacher at the middle school.

[@theadventurer8702]

Hi, thanks for sharing your memories

[@904MarkB]

Thank you so much. I wish I could walk around in there one last time.

[@hummingbird9221]

I miss it so very much.

[@courtneyfisher1635]

Lived there 1968-69. Fond memories of my junior year at BHS.

[@lizpfeiffer5798]

My dad was stationed there from 79 to 82. I was there from 8th grade to 11th....lots of my classmates are all in touch on facebook. The military brat world is like no other connection. I saw the building we lived in and the high school.....memories for a lifetime. I've watched this many times.....never gets old. Thanks for the memories!

[@James-gf9jl]

As a Brit serviceman, I got Space A for a night in the officer's mess here in 1982. Sadly, couldn't locate it on the video.

[@martinlukin2691]

@@James-gf9jl This video is only the housing side of the base. The officer's mess was located across the field on the flightline side of the base where dorms were located.

[@trunkmonkey9417]

I was stationed there 80-83. I remember the name Pfeiffer. I may have known your father. If I recall, I used to call him "P'feiffer, making the "P" obvious. If he was the same guy. If it was him, he was a very neat guy, big grin and very happy go lucky person. You could not help but like him. (My old boomer brain thinks "Mark" was his first name, but it's been a while, and memories are getting hazy now...) If so, I may also have been at Eglin/Hurlbert same time, as well, and worked with him later in the early 2000s.

[@James-gf9jl]

@@martinlukin2691 Thanks.

[@ToddHower]

I graduated from Bitburg High in 1991. Thanks for the flashback

[@martijnschneiter5216]

You are welcome.

[@lucaswood8425]

Spang was my first duty station from 2009-2011. I have fond memories of taking the bus from spang to Bitburg and going to the commissary and BX over there. Sad to see it all closed down. Brough back some really good memories, thanks for posting.

[@NVArt001]

Awesome! My dad was stationed there from 1977-1982. I miss living there. I wish we had stayed one more year so I could have graduated from B.A.H.S.

[@theresegatterburg6545]

I was in the last graduating class of Bitburg High school, and Middle school (2011-2017), so my picture of the base was always a lovely, but half-abandonded space, still, i miss it, we were a small community and I will always hold those memories dear to me... thank you for a little trip down memory lane @theadventurer . Whats more strange perhaps is how fast Spangdahlem Airbase is expanding and changing! Bitburg city will hopefully use the old base for the benefit of its people (all people).

[@theadventurer8702]

Hi Therese, thanks for sharing your memories. I've seen it also, that Spangdahlem is expanding. Cheers, Martijn.

[@jilledmondson6894]

I lived in base housing from 1953 to 1956. My dad was stationed at Spangdhalem and part the active SAC crews. I started kindergarten and then we moved when I was in 2nd grade back stateside. I MISS Bitburg an ha very fond memories even 70 years later.

[@kimikowittkopp8034]

Wow!! Thank you so much for this! Lived here from 92-94, started Kindergarten here. The memories came back almost instantly. Thanks again!

[@drewinhou]

Lived here in 97'-99'. Building 44 F3. Went to Bitburg Highschool. We were the Highschool regulars at the Irish Pub, Castels and Kajutes in Spangdahlem on the weekends. Great times.

[@chrismckinzie2581]

Was there 96’ to 99’ 42 C1

[@eliseo.quincy]

I was SF at Spangdahlem AB, Alpha Flight 2011-2015. We would work both posts patrol and gates. Time sure fly’s. Best years of my life.

[@Cabull86]

Wow magical. Kindergarten-5th grade and i still remember it all. The Aya back in the day was amazing. Especially during the summer

[@annjernigan1446]

Teaching there at BMS will always be such a special time in my life. In the video I could think of friends that lived in many of the buildings. I started at Spang ES in '79 but moved to BMS in '81 staying there until '93. So many wonderful people and opportunities passed through my life there. MIke and I have been back a couple of times, but seeing everything empty, padlocked, and barricaded last May was so heartbreaking. Thanks for the memories. Bitburg will always feel like home to me. Ann (Kelb for part of that time) Jernigan

[@theadventurer8702]

Thanks for sharing your memories Ann.

[@lindasloan7418]

Ann Jernigan of course I remember you well. There 79-82...I loved my time there

[@rockyracoon3233]

@@lindasloan7418 . It looks beautiful!

[@adhaetjamn]

I remember Mr. James, who was a history teacher at BMS, if I recall correctly. His wife, Mrs. James, was a Social Studies teacher at BMS? Someone else may clarify. They gave me beer coasters when they found out I collected them. I still have them 36 years later!

[@jeffmirisola2830]

Very cool. Thank you for posting this. My dad taught school there from 1978-80. Our first year we lived in Rittersdorf, but then moved into base housing. I don't recall which building though.

[@livexcessive1702]

Was born here in 1982. Got stationed at Baumholder with the Army in 2010. Thank you for sharing!

[@mjerniga112752]

My wife & I visited the site May 2018. Sad to see it all locked up. Thanks for the video. I wonder how many millions of US taxpayers money was spent on Bitburg AB, now to have it closed and not of benefit to anyone.

[@theadventurer8702]

You are welcome. Very sad indeed to see it all locked up.

[@Chrissy85308]

Exactly! They were still renovating housing in 2001. They moved us from bldg 13 to 12 in 2001. We had 4 months left but they moved us to renovate 13. The BX was finally finished in 2000 I think. All of the money wasted.

[@discardthispast]

Went to BHS all four years. Class of 2000. This is surreal and almost hard to watch. Sad and familiar...

[@Roxas_DM]

👍

[@oliviahamje8216]

My family lived off base; but, I have many memories visiting my father at work and going to school on base from K-2nd grade, 1990-1994!

[@hummingbird9221]

We lived in Minden for about a year prior to moving to 5-F-3.

[@HBTwoodworking]

Lived there in the early 60s. Building 18 A3. Went to elementary school (1st & 2nd grade) in the basements. Lived in downtown Bitburg and then Wilsecker before moving into housing. Looks like the building (18) is now an empty lot in this video. Great times.

[@pelked1]

Ha! We lived in 18 B3 from 75-78, so right next to you about 10 years later. Yup, looks like building 18 was removed for whatever reason. So excited to find this video, then so let down to find the building gone forever...

[@barrycampbell1240]

Very cool, nostalgic, lived there 1963-66, bldg 48 A2 looks the same!

[@chriscarr3339]

Wow! My dad was stationed there 77-81 and we lived in 1-A-4 right behind BX area. I went to 1st-5th grade there my 5th grade teacher was Mr. Beck. The best years of my childhood, great memories and great people! When we were there the Barons were best football team in USAFE I think. I loved it there!

[@exploringwithguy5304]

I lived in the Bitburg Housing Complex from 1999-01, when it housed many of the airmen who commuted on the B-50 to work at Spangdahlem, AB. I was an airman journalist working for AFN Eifel (named for providing military news to the German province of Eifel-Prum). Our studios were in the old French Caserne part of the complex. Now, I hear AFN Eifel is AFN Spangdahlem and was relocated to the main base. One of my news beats was covering the Bitburg DODDS High School, also located with in the complex.

[@bandwagon240]

I can see my old house from the first shot. The first cul-de-sac on the left, base commander lived at the end of that near the tree-line.

[@harrymoto6951]

I was there with my folks from '56 to '59 (ish... I was between 3 and 6 years old for my first Bitburg Experience). I returned as an Air Force Regular for '77 to '80. Strange to return to Bitburg Housing and the balcony hand rails weren't over my head anymore! I took a European out from the Bush, and have to say I miss watching the flying. I don't miss being assigned to be a 'speed bump' if things turned bad... Thanks for the view of the old home platz from back in the day. Or I should say, sehr schon!

[@petrabattlefield7719]

1963-64 (5 yrs old) and 1970-'74 (7th thru 10th grade) and again 1983-'87 as dependent wife. Daughter was born there in 1983. Incredible memories of this special place. So sad to see it this way now :*(

[@jeeper3872]

I was stationed there from 1956-1959 36th fighter wing worked in P O L

[@72Keydet]

Aug 1982-June 2106 our healthful and pleasant abode; added a few scores of tales, wails, laughs, and woes, and moments of puzzlement. Good times, still laugh about how many times the traffic flow was rerouted around the BX/Chapel arc. Bitburg is a good Dorf.

[@garyhoiem5918]

I started grade school there in 1958. 1st grade through 3rd grade. Left in 1961. Vivid memories living in a hotel, then apartment before moving onto base housing. Great memories!

[@oldbaldfatman2766]

Feb. 26, 2019---Stand in line. Family moved to Bitburg in '58-59(?), with us living in some town which I think Dad said was in Bavaria until base housing was available. No idea what our housing number was, but I walked to the elementary school and base hospital was basically next door. Go to base movie theater on Saturday with a quarter in hand (me & 2 brothers at the time) with just enough to buy popcorn and soda pop and share. After a Tarzan movie, head for the hospital where there was a weeping willow tree that substituted for jungle vines. Dad was a F-102 mechanic, with him and another guy being the only ones trained on the F-102's which had just arrived. Before that, the 525th TFS (Bulldogs) had been using F-86D's so they trained the other mechanics. There'd be electrical malfunctions in the missile bays from time to time, with them suddenly snapping open on the flight line. Dad said when this happened, it got your attention.Via Ebay, have beer mugs from the Bitburg NCO club from 58 to 61. And yes, actual mug issued by the club at the time.

[@JoeyP322]

1975-1979 Bldg. 10-F-3... right next to the hospital... across from the gas station. I was in middle school 6th, 7th and 8th grade. BEST time of my life there... anyone ? My first love Julie T. Was there when the F-15 first came.

[@headwarp9683]

Air Force brat..lived there from 89-92 I keep looking for the old soccer field and think I might have spotted it and the row of buildings I lived in. I was at the next to last building to a gate that exited the base across the street from a McDonald's. The opposite direction lead to the soccer field. I definitely remember the shopping center even though it looks so different to me now.

[@hummingbird9221]

The apartments that face the tennis courts...that was my building! We lived on the third floor..nearest the tennis courts! 5-F-3! '65 through '68!

[@derektyler2802]

We were there 67 thru 70

[@kbig2377]

Damn man. My dad was stationed here so we were here from mid 2003 to mid 2007. I was only 8 when we got there. Lived in bldg 26 (3:53 bottom left corner) F3 until we moved to C1. Went to elementary and middle school (0:52 left side light tan roof) here and was always at the AYA (0:52 bottom right hand corner) after school until I got old enough to go to the teen center instead. Would go back to 2003 in a heartbeat if I could man. Thanks for posting this frfr

[@seansullivan7384]

Lived here 90-92. Went to Bitburg Elementary. 34F2.

[@Roxas_DM]

I was there at the same time you where!!

[@davidlilly1865]

Awesome video. Several nice shots of the chapel where I worked, 94-97. Where is the Bitburg brewery, I know its in the video somewhere because it was within eyeshot of my balcony in the stairwell housing unit we lived in. Could smell the beer being brewed, always reminded me of ham and lima beans.

[@HaroldSchmedlap]

Look just above the commissary at about the 2:24 mark and you'll see the brewery. Big brown building. You can see the yellow Bitburger lettering towards the right.

[@LnofJdh]

Wow, this brings back memories of my childhood. My dad was stationed in Bitburg, I remember living on the 3rd floor in one of the complexes. There's something fraternal about life on bases with other military kids. We were one big family, no clicks, no gangs, no crime, no race bullsh't. 6 kids and we to this day count our time in the small town of Irrel as our most memorable. Whenever the airforce kids in Irrel had a day off from school we would head for the hills to look for artifacts from the war, explore bunkers, the Plume river, Devils Canyon and forests from sunup to sundown. Truly an awesome 3yrs out of the 22 my dad served

[@thomasnemecek-br3cz]

That 3 story white building in middle of tour,was HOME! 2years DUTY,FUN,and LOVE.

[@samf5321]

I was born here, and always hoped to visit someday.

[@stevenboone4578]

Great memories! There is just something about that place man, everyone I know misses it so badly. I going on vacation back to Germany in a few months, but sadly will only be in Bavaria. Hopefully next year I make it back to the Bitburg area.

[@theadventurer8702]

I've been there today as I'm travelling to Switzerland. I wanted to see what has changed over the past few months and make more up close shots of the buildings but there was to much wind. I took some photos though. Thanks for your story! Cheers, Martijn.

[@rashadstancle788]

Right that place was special...

[@Chrissy85308]

It was me and my son's favorite place we were stationed. I still miss it so much.

[@chriscarr3339]

It was very special place

[@cynthia7406]

Some of my best childhood memories are from Bitburg Air Force Base where we lived from 1957 to 1960. Lost both my parents in the past couple of years, both lived into their 90s. I guess Bitburg is where I got my addiction to Gummy Bear’s.... My dad worked at the hospital. I wish he was alive now because I have a lot of questions about the area. At first we lived off base and I could’ve sworn the name of the town was Estranach (spelling might be wrong) but cannot find that city listed anywhere. It was two lane roads from the base to our home which was just a dinky little place across from a pig market where we kids would watch them. Cobblestone or brick streets in town. I remember my dad having to get out and put chains on the car because of the snow as we traveled home. We would get deep snow back then. I also remember outside of the buildings on base there was a great big bin where they would store coal...I guess for heating everyone’s residence. Before we were allowed to go into the city where we lived off base... which was across a river there was a guard station where you had to stop and they would OK you to go into the city. I believe the people in the booths were German but not positive. I was only 9 years old. During the night we would have air raid practice and everyone had to go down into the basement where you could store your bikes and stuff. We had to stay down there until we got the all clear. All lights had to be out. Frightening for a child. Wish I could have gone back to visit but it would have messed up the memories I have. Those three years were the best part of my life... I just remembered my elementary school teachers name, it was Mr. Lamb. I sang in the church choir on base, a little white church I think across from the PX and theater but not positive.

[@josephdockemeyer6782]

My parents were there in Bitburg 1957-60 with my two oldest siblings. My beautiful mother was originally German. She was in Marienfelde Berlin the last years of WWII... We just lost her December 06, 2021; lost Dad in 2001 to cancer. I wish I could still ask them about things... Do you recall American families being assigned a full crystal set of glasses that came with the apartment??? Wine, champagne, cordial, sherry glasses, etc... I now have that set. My parents said that they were told that if none were broken at the end of the three years, they'd get to keep the glasses. Well, none were broken.

[@josephdockemeyer6782]

Also, my brother was born in August of '49, so you may have met him. He turned 8 in '57...

[@christianrinken684]

City name is Echternach .

[@beatlanta]

I was a kid at Bitburg from 1989-1994. Building 23B1 - Adam Keen - went to BES 1-4th and BMS for 5th grade.

[@THORMAN76]

beatlanta.com beatlanta.com Ben brother?

[@lambtube]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I graduated from Bitburg High School in 1965. We lived in the building right behind the shopping area and theater. Is the new high school on the land behind those three housing units? It was a German farm and from my bedroom window I could see them sow their seeds by throwing them from a bag. The flight line was in the distance.

[@theadventurer8702]

You are welcome and thank you for sharing your memories.

[@Sin4Profit]

Military brat here - Lived in the building on the bottom right of the screen here @4:14 From around 1990-1995. I remember walking to school and being within nose shot of the Bitburger Brewery - it wasn't a pleasant smell.🤢

[@jwshumaker2800]

So many great memories

[@LJheresthething]

I went to the Hugh School in base graduated 2012. Damn this brought back memories

[@themus1188]

1984 - 1989 Loved every day.

[@mike-in-fla4717]

Stationed at Spangdahlem 82 - 85 but lived in housing at Bitburg. Lived on the corner by the BX/Commissary. I could see the Bitburger brewery from our 4th floor balcony.

[@kevinx9225]

I lived on the base in the dorms. Spent a lot of time at base housing and the shops. It looks good 30 years later for me. Still sad. One of the experiences of my life.

[@kevinx9225]

I was just there mid Aug 2024. base housing was locked down. A lot was overgrown brush at the gate. On the main side, so much was changed. I was in the dorm across from the old post office. That dorm looks like low income housing with a Pizzaria inside. It is what it is. Sort of sad but was nice to be back. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day. Downtown was the same as the 90s but updated and clean.

[@scvunit]

I attended BMS from 1992-1995. Great memories. Went to Hinterbrand Lodge during 1995.

[@Catchingcars]

i want to drive these streets again these are the first memories i have as a baby ad my father was stationed in spangdahlem and we visited bitburg often... what are they going to turj this place into now? it's alot of space that could be used for cool creative things

[@TheBLACKMQQN]

I lived there in the late 70's early 80's. Bitburg Middle School Alum. Can't remember my building number but was across the street from the fire station and the base hospital. Notice how some of the base housing buildings are not all there near the back gate near the French Base. The roundabouts were not there while I was there.

[@theadventurer8702]

Thanks for sharing your story BLACMQQN.

[@damiencordner1195]

I attended BMS from about 94. I was probably the only British kid there. I still have my year book from around that time. Feel free to get in touch.

[@GracefulGains]

Building 33 B-1 Best part of growing up was growing up there.

[@jamesbeutel500]

I was stationed there for 57-59 as the Budget Officer. A son, born in 58, returned in 93 as NCOIC of the Hospital when the base closed in 94. How about that for a coincidence! JWB

[@keviipiano6375]

I I live near Bitburg, I drove past there yesterday. I only know the base as closed. As a child I always wondered what kind of buildings they were. I would like to find out more about what life was like there. Thanks for the video.

[@martinlukin2691]

It was lots of hard work, jet engine noise, and lots of fun traveling around Germany and Europe when you were able to. I think there were over 3,000 service members and their families there when the base was fully operational. So all of those buildings you were wondering about were to support the the operation of the Fighter Wing and housing and taking care all those fine military members and their families who were lucky enough to get stationed there.

[@keviipiano6375]

@@martinlukin2691 Very interesting. Thank you for your answer. I'll drive past there one of these days and look at it all from a distance. My mother and my aunt used to visit friends there from time to time. My aunt met her husband there. At the end of the 90s I saw tanks and jet fighters at the airfield. But I was still very small then.

[@martinlukin2691]

@@keviipiano6375 I had a German girlfriend when I was there. Her name was Sylvia. If I had stayed in Germany, we probably would have gotten married. But, understandably, she couldn't bring herself to leave Bitburg and I lost her when I left. You are a very lucky person to have been born there. Be thankful every single day. That was by far the very best Air Base the U.S. Air Force ever had in my humble opinion.

[@keviipiano6375]

@@martinlukin2691 Thank you for your story. Yes, my aunt is German and after she met her husband there, they moved to Texas. When I stand in front of the fence now, it is unimaginable that there was once so much life there. My mother once told me about a shopping center there where she always ate American chocolate. In 2021, I was in the Barons' gym, that's where the Corona vaccinations were.

[@martinlukin2691]

@@keviipiano6375 Yes the Base Exchange shopping center shown at about 2:56 in the video is where many people shopped and purchased things. Here is a link to a video from 1992 which will give you a good idea of what it was like back then (kzbin.info/www/bejne/mquvgotng7CYqpYfeature=shared). That parking lot was almost always full of cars and taxis for hire. There was also the Commissary shown at 1:47 that sold every type of food product imaginable. It was a large grocery store. I believe it was still operational up until 2013. At 0:38 you can see both the Base Exchange in the background and the Commissary in the foreground and how they were situated next to each other. This video only shows the housing side of the base where the families resided. I lived on what we called the flightline side of the base where all the operations buildings, runway, jets, and dormitories for single airmen like myself were housed. It was located up the road and across some farmers fields. A good portion of that side of the base is open to the public and you can drive through it now. Some German businesses are operated out of some of the old Air Force buildings. I believe the housing side shown in this video is gated and locked down. You can see it through fences, but can't travel through it anymore. You have a wonderful day.

[@southpaw8040]

Brings back memories. I went to Birburg elementary from 91-93.

[@seansullivan7384]

What is you and your brothers first names? My brother and I use to cause all sorts of trouble with three brothers, Stephen Johnathon and Nathan who lived across from us. We were in 34F2

[@terrelllewis9774]

So many memories from living there for 4 years....

[@thomasweeks7992]

1968 to 1970 great memories as a child.

[@michelefultz8997]

My oldest son was born there in 0ct. 81', during my first marriage. We lived in Germany from 81'-84', what a beautiful country! I'm an Air Force brat so I was thrilled to move again.🤣

[@thedogfather6670]

So nice to see this and relive memories of being assigned there from 83 to 87. Thanks for the memories! Do you have footage over the base?

[@theadventurer8702]

Unfortunately I don't have footage over the base. It's locked up and there is camera security on the base. I was there to make more up close shots of the buildings in december. But it was raining and to much wind to fly the drone. Thanks for your reaction. Cheers, Martijn.

[@mitch3064]

My house is gone. We lived in the first building on the left as you cam into base housing from town. Had a good picture of the back of the commissary, @5:26 where I bashed my head into the stairway when I jumped up on the dock without looking. 7 stitches in my forehead. Dam near gave my mother a heatattck when I walled in the door afterwards. I didnt realize I was covered in blood. Oops..

[@marciem]

I was there from 86 to 88 but I never went on the housing side because I lived in the dorms what in the post office wish you could’ve shown that part of the base but that was a nice view of it thanks

[@willhaslem]

Spangdahlem 92-95, close enough. Everybody went to Bitburg High.

[@jackwertz8301]

Stationed at Bit from 92 - 94 (36 CRS/PMEL). First assignment of my 13 years in USAFE

[@Music-pq8cm]

I lived in building 2 1969-1971 (8 and 9 years old) ... amazing video! Thank you so much for posting this footage. During my time in Bitburg, the schools were all in the central location ... the "new" HS was a farmer's field. I remember sledding in the snow down the hill at the end of building 3. I remember the commissary and movie theater. We build mud forts in the farmer's fields behind building 1 and 2 ... played in the same patch of woods a couple hundred yards from Motsch road. I remember it all. What a fantastic experience I was afforded at that time ... to have lived in a truly wonderful place.

[@JonnyViper]

Went high school from there and left in 2007. This makes me real sad.

[@Oronjalllo]

I left in 2010

[@cohandcam]

Thank you! '70 - '74

[@controlcontrol1829]

What a large base to live on !

[@jameshuffman1028]

Wow! That's how I remember it. The old BX. Remember when you worked at the liquor store. Lol.

[@chrisbrossman1354]

Thanks for posting

[@wheelman1324]

I was born in the hospital on base and spent the first year of my life here. Twenty-four years later and I still haven’t been able to afford a trip to Germany.

[@livexcessive1702]

I was lucky enough to go back. Hopefully one day you get the chance. It was amazing to see those bright green rolling hills on a sunny day, that is if the weather isn’t cloudy like it always was.

[@kwagmyrefrontman]

By all means, visit again

[@carrie-anneking3461]

I lived at 17B3 87-90 with my son and my now x husband

[@georgeandrade8311]

Twenty years of memories for my wife and I (George Andrade & Julie Wagner Peterson). Does anyone remember the ski trips to Austria?

[@annjernigan1446]

I remember you getting stuck in a gondola and the arm pit story. Ha!

[@davidheidt8548]

Hello Mr. Andrade. I remember all of it well. I never did the ski trips. This is Dave Heidt

[@laurenross2324]

Best years of my life were spent there.. this makes me sad (2004-2008)

[@elitetraxxx]

I was there from 93-97. Goodtimes....-Omari

[@paulmcmillan5202]

I was stationed and married at Bitburg AB 1972-1974

[@kwagmyrefrontman]

Appropriate music for a ghost town because that's what it is today. 36 SPS 1975-77