Coleman Barracks AAF (ETOR) - 2013 MIL

[Sjoerd]

Hi there,

Despite the move of the Blackhawks to Wiesbaden, Coleman AAF is expected to see lots of helicopters in these days.
In total 48 helicopters are expected (Apaches & Chinooks), most likely new ones for the USAREur.

See for more details here: http://forum.scramble.nl/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=92697

Anyone for a LOG of helicopters present at current?

Thanks!

[Eric van Lisdonk]

Strange i thought Coleman is closed. Some of the personel is now based in Ramstein.

[Bram]

Hi Eric,

There are maybe some people from the A/2-502 AVN from Coleman based at Ramstein (temporarly ?) to handle all the USAREUR choppers that will be delivered in Ramstein on board AMC aircraft.
From Ramstein they fly to Coleman AAF there they make them ready for delivery to theire home base.
From what i heard is that there are still personel from the helicopter maintenance unit A/2-502 AVN based in Coleman Barracks AAF to handle the "new"choppers from the USAREUR's V-Corps. when this is finished. The personel from A/2-502 AVN will move to theire new home base.
From what i know is that the USAF personel at Ramstein unload the helicopters like they to with the other cargo.
The personel from the USAREUR is only in Ramstein when they need to make the helicopters Flyable or ready for transport to Coleman AAF or theire home base.
It looks that only the UH-60's from the USAREUR which come back from the east are coming to Ramstein on board AMC aircraft they are still using ( most of) theire"old" A and L models which will be replaced by M models in the near future.
Looks like all the USAREUR CH-47's and AH-64's are being deliverd by the well known vessel "Dynamica". from the harbor in Antwerp

Regards

Bram

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Elmar]

The folowing was seen on the road from vessel to Coleman Barracks airfield:

AH-64D:
02-05316
09-05587
02-05344
04-05426
04-05431
09-05580
03-05367
08-05557
03-05389
08-05547
02-05312
08-05551

CH-47F:
08-08047
06-08023
07-08034
08-08045

HTH,
Elmar

[falcon]

This morning (11u) the base was empty, sure they are in hangers!

so be advised..maybe on monday till friday they will bring some choppers outside?!

[Sjoerd]

The next shipment is due next Thursday (see: http://forum.scramble.nl/viewtopic.php? ... &start=120). A total of 16 Apaches would be delivered by road for assumingly final assembly at Coleman Barracks.

However, what astonnishes me, if already 2 shipments of this vessel have been done in the past 2,5 weeks, nothing of this was noted last weekend. To my opinion the hangar space at Coleman is far from capable of hosting 8 Chinooks and 24 Apaches. Even so if the first shipment was already assembled and flown from here to their respective new home bases, that would still leave 4 Chinooks and 12 Apaches, assuming these could not have been assembled within the 72hrs in between the arrival and the visit by Falcon.

That would leave me to think.

1) Is my assumption about the hangar space incorrect?
2) Could it be that assembly is performed within 72hrs?
3) Could it be that the assembly did not take place at Coleman, and the choppers were moved on by truck towards their new home bases?

Any help with the above would be appreciated.

Cheers,

[wamovements]

Coleman has the largest Hangar in Europe, I was there once and the main hanger contained more than 70 UH-60s (Including two from the Sinai desrt det), so no problem to hide 8 Chinooks and 40 Apaches

[Sjoerd]

We visited the place yesterday. Only two Apaches were outside and about to depart anytime that day.

xx-xxxxx AH-64D nm
xx-xxx97 AH-64D nm

The latter one was only readable because it's last two were outlined in white. We thought it ended in 497, but are not entirely sure. That would make it 05-05497. However, 09-05597 also exists. Since neither of these serials were noted during the second voyage of the Dynamica, I assume it is from the first, confirming that it indeed took place and that those helicopters have all arrived at Coleman Barracks for final assembly.

Is there anyone who can help with the above?

Thanks!

[Polleke_NL]

Made a quick hit and run to Coleman yesterday (approx 14.30h), saw 5 AH-64 in front of the hangar, unable to read any unfortunately.
They were all equipped with rocket pods on the outer hardpoints. Anyone a clue which ones these could have been?