Background: I'm retired U.S. Air Force and now work as an aircraft mechanic in Hungary. I served during the "Cold War" but I now work on a formerly Communist air base with some Hungarians who were considered my "enemy" in the 1980's. I have nothing against my Hungarian co-workers. They are hard workers and good friends. It's just odd when we tell war stories, and one says, "You know, when we were enemies." But that all changed in 1989 with the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Well, they have been destroying the shelters that used to house the MiG fighters. It's a sentimental thing for my Hungarian friends because they worked in these shelters for many years. I took these photos today.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/Lotsokids/Hungary/05212014483_zpsafa008a4.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/Lotsokids/Hungary/05212014481_zps0643cd07.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/Lotsokids/Hungary/05212014480_zpscbb9a8cd.jpg)
Very interesting for me as well, former Air Force, served during the cold war. My planes were McDonnell Douglas RF-4c Phantom II.
Leon
Hmm, mixed feelings on that. Some days I miss the Cold War, at least our adversaries were professionals. Not some sand-flavored rabble.
Used to be a crewchief on tankers and F-15's. Once on deployment to Keflavik we put our airplanes in the HAS shelters. It was right out of a Hollywood flick when you'd lower the foot and a half thick blast doors and the alarms would be going off and the lights were flashing.
Thinking back to cocking tankers for alert, sometimes I wonder, were we really that close? Jesus, it seems so unreal looking back at it now.
I guess it's all for the best that those days are behind us, but it sure did instill in you a sense of purpose.
Pete; ANG E-6 Ret.
(Starting to look like the Bear is back though...)
I'm a draft dodger. :blum1: (not in the way you might think - it was the draft on the other side)
However, I did have civil defense classes in school, led by a retired army officer who was certain Americans were going to bomb us. Had all these awesome posters about poison gases and their effects on the wall...
Don't know that I miss it all that much, but it certainly feels like a chunk of history I witnessed.
Kind of reminds me of end of ww2 when everytging was destroyed. Now all that "junk" is priceless
Now if we could just stop paying retirement benefits to the top soviet brass and use that money to improve VA hospitals for US troops.. But then, I'm probably just bitter...