German air force ready to leave Fort Bliss

By David Burge / El Paso TimesPosted: 09/27/2013 12:00:00 AM MDT



Brig. Gen. Hasso Koertge, left, prepares to case the flag for the German Air Force's North American command during the deactivation ceremony on Thursday at Fort Bliss. (Vanessa Monsisvais / El Paso Times)

›› Photos: German Air Force deactivation ceremony at Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS >> Since the mid-1950s, thousands of German airmen have served at Fort Bliss, have received air-defense training here and have called El Paso their second home.

On Thursday, the German air force took the first concrete step toward pulling out of Fort Bliss and ending those ties of nearly 60 years.

The German air force's North American command held a deactivation ceremony in front of about 200 German and American military officials, civilian dignitaries and others at Noel Field. The unit will officially disband Tuesday.

The Germans' Air Defense Center will remain at Fort Bliss until at least 2017 but will eventually move to Germany.

Both moves are part of a larger restructuring of the German military.

About 10,000 Germans have served in the North American command and 50,000 have received air-defense training here over the years, German officials said.

"I am personally happy and sad," said Col. Heinz-Josef Ferkinghoff, the 16th and final commander of the German air force's North American command.

Ferkinghoff, a fighter pilot, said he is excited about his new position as commander of the Germans' Flying Training Center at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, N.M., and the prospect of getting back into the cockpit after a gap of more than a decade.

But he and his American wife, Addie, are also sad to be leaving El Paso and the friendships they have made since arriving here in November 2011.

"But it is only 90 miles away," Ferkinghoff said, noting that they own a home in El Paso and will spend time there when his duties permit.

The German air force's North American command at Fort Bliss dates to 1966, but the Germans first arrived at the post in 1956, just 11 years after the end of World War II. The Germans and Americans began cooperating on air-defense training during the height of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and former enemies were soon military partners.

From there, warm friendships have grown over the years, Ferkinghoff and others said.


"It's my honor and privilege to welcome you all to this special event," Ferkinghoff told the crowd. "Your presence is a testimony to the long-standing
Reporter David Burge
friendships and cooperation between the United States and Germany."Those ties will remain strong, Ferkinghoff said. The Flying Training Center at Holloman will continue in its role of providing training for German flight crews for the Tornado aircraft and "Top Gun"-like fighter training. It also assumes the old duties of the German air force's North American command and will have five German units across the United States reporting to it.

"We will maintain that connection," Ferkinghoff said.

But Thursday's ceremony -- highlighted by German airmen ringing the parade field while carrying torches as the sun set -- marked the end of an era.

"El Paso is a place so many air force personnel have created fond memories and fond friendships," said Brig. Gen. Hasso Koertge, commander of the German Armed Forces command for North America in Reston, Va. "We feel a long, deep connection."

Col. Ingo Kresser, commander of the German air force Air Defense Center at Fort Bliss and the Germans' contingent at Fort Sill, Okla., has lived about 10 years of his life in El Paso -- as a boy, teenager and then during his own military career.
He said the deactivation of the North American command is "largely symbolic," and the Germans will still maintain a presence here for at least a few more years.

"But it is bittersweet now that the day has arrived and we've had our final Oktoberfest (last weekend)," Kresser said.

Col. Patrick Matlock, the chief of staff for the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, called it a "sad day" to see the first steps being taken to end the Germans' long association with Fort Bliss.

The two countries will remain strong allies and their joint mission will continue, he said. He added that he recently served in Afghanistan under a German commander.

The German air force's North American command had about 40 airmen and civilians working there, but was down to about a dozen by Thursday night. Seven will go with Ferkinghoff to Alamogordo and the rest have gone back to Germany.

The Air Defense Center has about 140 airmen and civilians serving on its staff and that will go down to about 115 in the next two years. Last year, about 500 students went through the school. About 425 will go through it this year and that number will hold steady through about 2016.

David Burge may be reached 546-6126.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_24187191/german-airforce-ready-leave-fort-bliss