In 1993 it was changing fast; the Russians were leaving at a higher tempo as the German gouverment started to pay the withdrawings of the 16th AA.
The only main obstacle was fuell that had to be brought in by airplane and train. Open-doors were still held but with fewer aircraft in the static so it became a rather less visited activity by spotters and the locals.
In Wittstock, the 33rd IAP had a small celebration and opened their doors for the families. There wasn't much interest in it still some very nice things could be spotted. Here the pilots of the 33rd IAP holds a small parade. Mind the white MiG-29 in the flight-line. Immediatly it was christened as "De Witte van Wittstock"
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So along I went pass the flightline. No guards, nobody to stop you and nick a Fulcrum...! --> URL is hidden from guests, please register and login to view the hyperlink
Out of the blue, some of the Wittstock Fulcrums worn a regiment badge of an charging bull/bison on their tail. MiG-29UB Fulcrum-C was one of them.
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Only a few visitors were present like this Mi-8MTW Hip-H of 239 GwOWP from Oranienburg. Mind the crest of the army flying group on the armourplate! Evidence that this actualy was a 439th OBWP machine from Parchim (the only regiment that had these crests on their choppers) but that regiment was already drawnback to its homeland in 1992.
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With a nice winter sunshine, a An-26 Curl-A of 226th OSAP Sperenberg was parked near a taxi track at Wittstock.
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A few yards further away, its bigger brother An-12B Cub-A of 226 OSAP was standing ready to be loaded. Here a good example that a bortnumber was often changed. This Cub was first based in an transport regiment in Poland and later on in Sperenberg where it received the number "Bort 85" red. It was changed afterwards to "Bort 35" with a brush and grey paint.
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Now you can discus about this Candid if it is miltary or a civil aircraft. But with those "23's" sticking out in its tail... it's military! Il-76M Candid-B of ... euh... Aeroflot
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The same Candid to show that even the concrete plates in front of shelters and taxi-ways were transported back to Russia by train!
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Next week some more.
Dazvedanja!
Gorby Stef
