Bolar Spring Break 2008: Ramblings from a Bare Base Guest

  • Published
  • By Capt. Todd Hudson
  • 492nd Fighter Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Bolars' 2008 Spring Break Trip to Campia Turzii, Romania will be one that I will remember forever. Most memories can be classified as remarkable, some were regrettable, but all were amazing. 

Waking up in Romania was quite a significant experience for most of us on the morning of March 26, mostly due to the fact that we were in the Transylvania region of Romania. Now for those who don't remember, Transylvania is the famed home of Vladislav III, also known as Vlad Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, or most commonly Dracula. His castle loomed chillingly over the landscape as I went to bed watching bats fly around the tents. It's like watching Titanic before you go on an ocean cruise...pretty unnerving. 

Nevertheless we American Airmen woke every day refreshed and ready to begin our mission, which was to protect the NATO Summit. Tent city was abuzz with more than 300 Airmen devotedly working to make each day a success. There were smiles all around as the excitement of getting away from the home station and doing the real mission of the Air Force was on everyone's mind. As an American Airman it was an inspiring site to see. Just knowing that each person was ready to do their assigned task and complete the mission, no matter what, gave everyone involved a great boost in confidence. 

Our days in Romania were a little slower than we are used to at RAF Lakenheath, which turned out to be a good thing. We didn't have the normal flying schedule we are accustomed to, which allowed us to get outside of tent city and see some of Romania. Campia Turzii is a very rural town with an easygoing nature. The townspeople welcomed the American Airmen into their little corner of the world with open arms, as they seemed to enjoy the enthusiastic demeanor of their visiting allies. I believe that every Airman there reciprocated and enjoyed the Romanian people immensely. They most appreciated our efforts to learn their language while trying to order a bite to eat. They were patient with our efforts and would casually give us a hard time because we could not speak their language; however, "multimesc", or thank you, was good enough for them. 

Even though "multimesc" worked the majority of the time, it seems the Romanians could still get a good laugh at our language barrier. Out on the town for dinner one night, a waiter played a little trick on one of us. Somehow, the scheming waiter coaxed the unsuspecting American into ordering bear loin, which apparently is something akin to Rocky Mountain Oysters. Near the conclusion of our meal, the waiter revisited the table and informed us of the joke he had played. His punch line was received with raucous laughter by all. 

In regards to the flying business, the airspace the Romanians let us train in was fantastic. Whether flying over snow-covered mountains reaching to touch the stars, or looking down onto a deep blue lake reflecting the heaven's majesty, it was never difficult to find a breathtaking view. All aircrew were eager to get airborne once they had heard the stories of the lucky few to get training sorties during the early days of the TDY. The airspace was immaculate and the controllers were so very helpful to accommodate your requests. Flying there was also quite a bit different than England due to the aforementioned mountains. In England the radar controllers can see you from sea level to the stars. In Romania however, the untouched mountain landscape provides many places where a Strike Eagle can disappear, and Strike Eagle aircrew prefer anonymity. We enjoy living in shadows, hunting in the dark, and Romania's rugged terrain provides a pristine arena to hone our menacing talent. 

On a different subject, the chance to meet the Romanian Air Force members was another fond memory I will not forget. From speaking to the gate guard, to joking with the MiG-21 maintainers, I found a deep respect for the Romanian Air Force members. Their sense of duty and pride of country made many similarities between our countries apparent. I find it pretty amazing that I will be sending Christmas cards to Romania this year. I seriously made comrades and friends forever. 

The last day in Romania passed uneventfully. No parades, no great send off, just a few handshakes, smiles, and great memories--Mission Complete.