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The Americans took over the Fliegerhorst, and the engineers repaired the landing strip in only 4 days. On 1945 landingstrip Y-79 was reported operational. Y-79, that’s what the Fliegerhorst was now called. Y for the American troops taking it and 79 for an ongoing number. A huge tent city was errected with an ordenance group (...). All goods going into south Germany were first put into the base and then distributed to the troops. Also, a large automotive collection point was placed at what is todays sportsfield, there, old and destroyed trucks etc. from the war were parked! The first flying unit, the 358th Fighter Group, arrived in June 1945 with Lightings, Thunderbolts, and Mustangs. Their nickname was ”The orange tails” since their tail was painted orange. The Germans called them Rotschwaenzchen. The unit’s dairy says that upon their arrival they found this place to be the best and most nicely built airbase they have seen since being over here. The houses were built only with the best materials and the gym is better then what they had at home.! The dining facility was absolutely great and remained unharmed so the unit got the best food they had for a very, very long time. Even then the americans knew that the base had a perfect infastructure such as the Rhine River for ships, the Autobahn and a Railhead. So they decided to keep the base and make it bigger. in 1951/52 the whole comlex was rebuilt and modernised. A tower and concrete Runway was built and more aircraft came in. Also the Y-79 was renamed Coleman barracks and the airfield(ETOR) was seperated. The name came from Wilson Dudley Coleman(7 March 1911 - 30 July 1944), who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for single-handedly halting an enemy column. A tradition which was upkept on the new US Base was , that a aircraft maintanance facility was established. Old hangars were renovated and so fixed and rotary wing aircraft could be maintained. About 1983 a huge hangar was errected and nowadays we have the biggest rotary wing maintanance facility of europe on the base. The 502nd Aviation Regiment is the responsible unit for the Warft.
On the 23 of Febuary 1953 the 8th infantry moved into their brand new barracks with 3500 soldiers and many tanks and other armored vehicles. In the late 80’s Coleman Airfield had more landings and departure than any airfield in Europe!! Also, in those early years units with Nike and Ajax Missiles moved in but did not stay for long since special bases such as Landau were built. As the wall came down, the tanks were not needed anymore and the Infantry left the base. Units such as the 28th and 37th Transportation moved in and still they make up most of the soldiers here. Flying wise, the aprons were expanded and a brand new Tower (see button ATC Today) was built. We have the only US Army Prison in Europe and the biggest helicopter maintance facility ( 502 Aviation Regiment) with the most modern Paint shop. The future of Coleman is very open since the Germans would like to have a joint venture as an civil/ mil Regional Airport. The outcome of that will be seen in the near future!
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