Three Guys in the Skies

30/08/2014

Home Sweet Home! :)

29/08/2014

Waiting in the Munich Airport- for the "big boat" home!

Been a wonderful trip to 3 amazing countries that thanks to the "Greatest Generation" and Allies- are today all free and valued friends. We are so grateful/blessed- and like the troops heading home in '45- eager to see our sweethearts and families!

Good bye! Au Revoir! Auf Wiedersehen!

USA here we come! :)

28/08/2014

Today (Thursday) saw a tired- but victorious- Tango Company accomplish its final mission: Obersalzberg/"Eagle's Nest". This was Hitler's famed mountain retreat/fortress during the war (located above Berchtesgaden) until bombed by the RAF and finally taken on the ground by the U.S. Seventh Army in May 1945. It was rebuilt after the war and used as a US Army Officers' Club.

It was a picturesque setting with views across Bavaria- and on into Austria- and a very pleasant way to end the "campaign"!

27/08/2014

This afternoon (Wednesday) saw us visiting BMW Welt. It was an incredible display of German technology and ingenuity. The day ended with a delicious dinner at Osteria- open and family-owned since 1890- and truly one of the finest Italian restaurants in the world.

Berchtesgaden/Hitler's Eagle's Nest Retreat and a brief foray into Austria up next tomorrow...

27/08/2014

27/08/2014

This morning (Wednesday) we went to the N**i Concentration Camp Dachau (just outside Munich). Dachau was a N**i work camp for Jews, Communists, Socialists, disabled, homosexuals and Soviet POW's among many others. Even though not an extermination camp- anywhere between 25,000 - 50,000 "inmates" died at Dachau from starvation, thirst, illness, torture and ex*****on. The camp was finally liberated by the U.S. Seventh Army in April 1945.

Needless to say- a very sad and emotional morning for us all.

RIP and God Bless.

26/08/2014

We arrived safely in Munich today (Tuesday)- after a stop in Nuremberg where we admired the surviving medieval architecture and viewed the N**i Party Rally Grounds (and Holden devoured a massive Hamburger). After checking into our hotel we headed out to the famed Hofbrauhaus for a traditional (and deliciously filling!) Bavarian meal.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will be heading to various City Center sites.

25/08/2014

Our final full day in Berlin was spent in the City Center. The day started with a visit to the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie. Afterward the next stop was the Topography Des Terrors- the ruins of the SS & Gestapo Headquarters in Berlin. There was a very moving and informative exhibition about the Warsaw Uprising on display.

Before lunch we cruised through the rebuilt and super modern Potsdamer Platz- which had been over 95% destroyed in WW II and neglected/abandoned as part of "No Man's Land" during the Cold War.

After lunch we then went to Humboldt Universitaet in order to see the very touching "Empty Bookshelf" Memorial to the 1933 N**i (SA) "Book Burning" of Jewish, socialist, communist, pacifist, etc. writers' works.

Next up was a stop at the new and very interesting Nordbahnhof exhibition on the Berlin transit system during the days of the Berlin Wall. From there we headed to the new Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Train Station) which is truly a technological marvel. Perhaps one of the top highlights for the trip so far for Holden came when we rode the new U-Bahn (U 55) back to Brandenburger Tor- and the subway cars were yellow!

The day concluded with a visit to the new Holocaust Memorial to the 6 Million Murdered Jews of Europe- which was as one might imagine- a powerfully emotional experience. Last we saw the location of Hitler's Fuehrerbunker- which- quite appropriately- is unmarked and nothing more than a parking lot behind a few drab 1970's apartment buildings.

At any rate, that essentially brings our time in the always fascinating Berlin to a close. Up next- we'll be printing down through Bavaria like the US Army in '45 on our way to our last and final duty station- the beautiful Munich, Germany. :)

24/08/2014

Today (Sunday) started with a visit to Tempelhof Airport- one of the most in-tact surviving examples of N**i architecture (along with Olympiastadion yesterday)- and an essential landing strip inside West Berlin for the Allies during the Berlin Airlift in 1948-49.

Next up was a visit to the very moving Jewish Memorial at Track No. 17 at the Gruenewald train station in West Berlin. It was from this location that nearly all of Berlin's Jews were deported to N**i death camps in the East (including Auschwitz).

We next stopped at the Allied Museum focused on the Berlin Airlift- and all of the efforts of the Allies in keeping West Berlin free during the Cold War. We then drove over the Glienicke Bridge (famous "spy exchange" bridge during the Cold War) and crossed into lovely Potsdam for lunch.

After lunch we went to the Cecilienhof Palace where the historic Potsdam Conference took place (Truman/Stalin/Churchill- and then Atlee) determining the post-war plans for Germany- and Europe as a whole.

Our final "official" stop of the day was the emotional Wansee Villa Memorial/Museum. It was in this otherwise picturesque country/lake villa that Hitler's top SS and Gestapo henchmen met in January 1942 to plot the logistical implementation of the "Final Solution" (i.e. the mass deportation of European Jews to death camps). A very sobering and chilling experience for all.

Lastly we traveled back to Berlin and snapped a few shots of some more "standard" sites (e.g. Memorial Church/Hollow Tooth, Victory Column, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Soviet War Memorial, etc.).

Tomorrow (Monday)- our focus will be on the city center/government districts with stops at the Jewish Memorial/Museum, Checkpoint Charlie Museum (Berlin Wall), etc.).

23/08/2014

Herzlich Willkommen in Deutschland!

First day in Berlin- and we thought we'd head out to the Olympiastadion (site of 1936 "N**i" Olympics, the Jesse Owens victories over National Socialist race ideology, etc.) and see if these Germans actually can play Fussball (i.e. soccer)! The answer? After a great Bundesliga match between Hertha Berlin and Bremen ending in a 2-2 tie- a most definite YES!

Thereafter we snapped a few "impressionist" night shots of the famed Brandenburg Gate before calling it a night. Potsdam tomorrow!

22/08/2014

Had lunch at the incredible Jules Verne Restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower today where we had a great view of the Palais de Chaillot (initial HQ for NATO- and therefore an old Ike stomping ground). Otherwise- a relatively quiet, restful day- with perhaps a little shopping for our sweethearts at home. ;)

We have loved every second in Paris- but tomorrow it is au revoir- and "On To Berlin"! Deutschland here we come!

21/08/2014

Today (Thursday) started with a visit to Roland Garros (site of the French Open)- named after the famed WW I fighter pilot. We saw Rafael Nadal's (Champion 9 out of last 10 years) "lucky locker" and we sat on Novak Djokovic's "favorite bench" where he likes to joke around with the other players on tour. The tour was even better as we were lucky enough to see some French juniors practicing.

Thereafter- we headed out to Versailles for lunch at La Veranda- which is located at the Trianon Palace de Versailles (Ike's HQ during later stages of WW II). Afterward we toured the Versailles Palace and saw (among many other things) the Hall of Mirrors where the WW I Armistice was signed.

Next we returned to Paris for a quick tour of Invalides (French Army Museum & Napoleon's Tomb)- before catching a lovely dinner cruise of the Seine. Vive la France! :)

21/08/2014

Holden learning his 1, 2, 3s in PARIS!

20/08/2014

In a lot shorter time than it took the Allies in '44... we arrived in Paris- and hit some of the iconic sites [e.g. Arc de Triumph, Eiffel Tower (from afar), Notre Dame, The Louvre , etc.]. A truly magical place. Versailles (Ike's HQ during WW II) up tomorrow...

20/08/2014

Some shots of Mike's beloved La Ferme in Honfleur (and it was stunning!)- as well as a few of The Chateau de La Roche-Guyon which served as German General Rommel's HQ during the Normandy Campaign. From there... it was on to Paris...

19/08/2014

Today (Tuesday) Tango Company completed the Normandy portion of the trip with a visit to the excellent D-Day Memorial/Museum in Caen (70-80% destroyed in the war) followed by a quick stop at the German Battery at Merville and a drive over the legendary Pegasus Bridge (famously liberated by British commandos on D-Day).

The team then drove on to Honfleur (staying at one of Mike's favorite hotels- La Ferme) for some R&R before making the big drive "on to Paris" (much like the Allies in 1944) tomorrow (Wednesday).

19/08/2014

Yesterday (Monday) saw us visiting the D-Day Beaches. The itinerary was: Sword (UK), Juno (CDN) and Gold (UK) Beaches, lunch at Aromanches, the imposing German coastal battery at Longues-sur-Mer, the moving American cemetery, Omaha Beach (USA), Pont du Hoc (USA) and Utah Beach (USA). Finally, the day concluded with a visit to the German cemetery at La Cambe. Such sacrifice in such a beautiful setting...

An incredibly powerful day that left us all profoundly grateful for the astonishing accomplishments of the brave soldiers, sailors and airmen of the USA and our allies. Also... pretty damn happy that the US Army Rangers play on our team! ;)

17/08/2014

Tango Company has safely arrived in Normandy, France! Our quarters are located at the beautiful Chateau d' Audrieu. The Chateau served as the headquarters for the German 12th SS Panzer Division during the Normandy Campaign before eventually being liberated by the British Army.

Big day tomorrow (Monday)- as we head to the D-Day beaches, memorials and cemeteries.

16/08/2014

Orders received. Next stop- Normandy, France. As we say good-bye to a great city, country and the very best of allies- a few final shots of Grosvenor Chapel (favored house of worship for early war American volunteers in the RAF- and later war USAAF pilots) and the historic Connaught Hotel. Talk to you on the other side of the Channel!

16/08/2014

Paid tribute to the British Army on Thursday and the RAF on Friday... Today (Saturday) it's the Royal Navy at the HMS Belfast- a light cruiser that saw action on D-Day! Super fun, highly recommended outing! Ahoy!

15/08/2014

What a day! Ike's London HQ and then off to the Imperial War Museum Duxford for a focus on the air war (including the famed Memphis Belle, Spitfires, Hurricanes and German Messerschmitts, V-1's & V-2's)- followed by lunch at the Eagle Pub (favorite hang out of RAF and USAAF pilots during WW II) in Cambridge and a tour of the great Cambridge University (we're all sending in our applications!!!)...

14/08/2014

Important missions today... Nelson's Column, the always amazing Imperial War Museum (London)- including the brand new 100th Anniversary WW I Exhibit, The iconic Churchill War Rooms and a few frosty ones for HHL and GPOP (and a jet-lag busting Pepsi for Holden) at the tucked-away Grenadier Pub!

13/08/2014

First duty station... London, England.

13/08/2014

3GNS landed safely in London. After a quick tour around the central city, they checked into The Connuaght where Holden was greeted by a helium balloon and vanilla milkshake. Not exactly a Navy Seals mission, but with the jet lag, exactly what the doctor ordered.

12/08/2014

Tango Company has received its orders and is reporting for duty!!!

09/08/2014

Follow three generations of Long-Gerings as they visit historic World War II sites in England, France and Germany.