Urbex in France? Urbex in Luxembourg? Urbex in Belgium? Or urbex in Germany? That was the big question after our visit to the *Deportation Prison Birkhausen* was a unexpectedly short one – where should we continue our urban exploration day trip? There were plenty of options, but since Kaiserslautern (a.k.a. K-Town, especially amongst American military) was rather close we decided to continue our explorations there. The next place to visit: The USAREUR Communication Facility Lohnsfeld.
Very little is know about this former US military installment. The Energy Engineering Analysis Programm (EEAP) from August 1986 prepared for the Department of the Army, European Division, Corps of Engineers described it as “Located at Lohnsfeld, the station consists of a barracks and receiver building”. The facility was open from at least 1953 and on 1998-09-03 the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the Lohnsfeld Communications Station will be returned to the host nation, in this case Germany. It seems like my home country didn’t have any use for it and left the comm fac in the middle of nowhere abandoned, until… it was demolished in October of 2007. Which I found out about after I went there with my old buddy Gil – after we drove through the middle of nowhere for maybe half an hour, including dirt roads along some fields and an airport for model aircrafts. So maybe urbex in France, urbex in Luxembourg or even urbex in Belgium would have been a better alternative. (The place I really wanted to go, Villa Viktoriastift, one of the few abandoned mansions in Germany, became inaccessible a week prior when the new owner of the place was fed up by geocachers swarming the place – so he informed the police, threatened to sue some people (including the person who put the cache there!) and hired security…) Luckily Lohnsfeld wasn’t our last stop on our trip to Palatinate – and the last location made up big time to the first two less successful ones…
USAREUR Communication Facility Lohnsfeld
2011/11/11 by Florian / Abandoned Kansai
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Abandoned Kansai 
I was stationed at the Lohnsfeld Receiver Station from 1968 to 1970. It was the High Frequency Radio Receiver station that received the transmissions from the US, Turkey, Iran, Greece & Ethiopia and relayed them to the command center in Pirmasens. The surrounding farmers fields were full of antenna towers and cables. There were usually 20 – 25 men stationed there
Thanks a lot for the additional infos! Rather small places that were abandoned before the age of the internet are always tough to do research on – especially military facilities.
I was stationed at the Lohnsfeld Receiver Station from Feb 1971 to Jan 1972. The command center in Pirmasens was a USASTRATCOM-facility.
There was a barracks and Kitchen at the site for those of us (20-25 men) who were not married.
Just over the hill from the antenna towers and cables was an olympic size pool at Winnweiler.
http://www.winnweiler-vgwerke.de/vg_werke_winnweiler/Schwimmbad/
It’s a shame that they demolished the station, but I guess it was outdated and they couldn’t find another purpose.
I hope you had a good year in Lohnsfeld! (5 years before I was born…)
Micky,
We had some great times. Sgt Hindman, Fred Paquette, Crittendon in the kitchen. “The Gator” Tom McGuire, Fred Flores. Great Parkbrau Great Pool Table. Great chess games. Paquette and I even got to play football for the
Sembach “TIGERS” What a hoot. Well old friend, hope all is well.
Chris Simmons
Good times indeed Chris!. Went back a few years ago while the buildings were still standing, but abandoned. Went in to Winnwieler and had a couple of Bischoffs at the gasthous and had lunch with Gertrude. The building was there, but Maggies was gone. I am at mhaas@comcast.net. Hope to hear from you
Didn’t you have a car? We’d drive in to local town and get a few drinks?
Yo Chris, Tom Maguire here. Don’t know what to say. But we had good times dude!
I was stationed at Lohndfeld from June 1974 to December 1976. One of my best assignments. Still in contact with a few friends from that assignment. Worked on the Microwave and HF Systems along with the Antennas.
My name is Lewis Smith (Lewy)
Well,I remember you, and many others. I preceded Hindman as operations nco, a position I held for one day, then I was assigned to the nca,, which is why I was sent there. Sgt Fischer was my sponsor. Later, Sgts Blair and Zane Grey Fatkin replaced Fischer Some names I remember : Michael Piekarski, , Barney York, Fass, Buekema. Nelson was not SFC when I left after a year or so, to be the chief of the nca control. Nelson had just completed the nco academy when I left. Hindman, who I had previously known, retired to Arizona, near Ft Huachuca. I don’t remember what became of Russell Post. I retired in California in 1974.
I was stationed there 1980 thru 1986.
Good to Mike on line after so long we were in my words the Best Site in the whole Army Great food Great Friends and some great Beer. I really miss that site and the Friends I made while stationed there. God Bless you all.
Fred,
Seems like I remember a Fred Flores from my days in Lohnsfeld.
Lived in the barracks there.
-Bob Stone
Yeah Freddy I remember you…relax and become naked.. you were a trip… Tom Maguire
Well Mr.Stone good to see you are ok and well. Those were some great days there and yes it is too bad that the station is now gone forever and soon even the memory will be gone as we all grow old. I am on Facebook if anyone wishes to chat. Freddy
I also was stationed at Lohnsfeld from 82-85. It was some of my best times and I am happy to say that even after so much time I am still in contact with a few of my fellow service members. I also meet my wife from Neuhof just north of kirchhiem. It was sad to see the site abandon and more so when it was torn down. I will still stop by this summer when I go on vacation this summer. I will stop by Alferds and have a beer and raise my glass to all that spent time here.
Phil Rouillard. Elk River, MN
Thanks for sharing your story – it’s always great to hear from people who have a close connect with the places I (try to) explore!
Jim Rogers
My brother and I were both stationed at the site from from 73 to 75. Met a lot of good friends and had a few beers from the Parkbrau machine. I have tried to find some of the guys but not much luck….Good times
wow I left in Sept 73 almost got caught up when Iran blew up but I was able to get out of it too old. I really miss my Parkbrau and all the friends I made in Lohnsfeld to this day I still think of all those people I call my friends. I saw a lot of photos posted in different sites of Lohnfeld and Wenwiler (sp) I am on face book under fred flores chicago I hope to hear from all you guys remember we are getting older as the days pass by.
Surprise…After doing a drive down memory lane, I found this post. I was stationed there from 1974-1976. This SP5 Lewis Smith (Lewy) microwave tech. I remember the two Rogers brothers that worked with SSG Chet Buford in the other room. I’ve maintained contact with Chet, Vince Webber and Percy Barnett (Butch). Wow…
Jim, this is Lewy (SP5 Smith). I was there with SSG Chet Buford, SSG Schoberg, SP5 Vince Webber and so on…
I was stationed at Lohnsfeld 1968-69, took care of the mobile Tropo Van
I was stationed at Lohnsfeld in 1969 as a 32B20(fixed station receiver repairman and operator) before being transferred to Vietnam. I tell everybody who cares to listen what a great place to be stationed.
James Weeks. Stationed in Lohnsfeld for about six months in 1964. Moved to control after that. Maybe the best six months of my life.
Was stationed at the site with a BJ McDaniel my name is Gary Marlar you can reach me at blusky1947@yahoo.com
Anyone remember a SFC Schoberg?
While I was there from 68-70 I remember SFC Blair, SFC Fisher ( I bought his MG Magnette), & MSG Hindman, the station chief. MSG was preceded by a SGM whose name I cant recall.
Yes, SSG Schoberg (Mr. Maintenance). I (SP5 Lewis Smith) (Lewy) was one of your maintenance techs along with SP4 Percy (Butch) Barnett. What a find.
I do. I remember you took a trip around Germany and came back with some terrifiic photos.
Or, Msg Bobby L Beaver?
One think I can say about Lohnsfled it was a great place to live never a day goes by without me thinking about the site and people good to see some people whom I had such a great time with.
My father Bob Kooken was station at the site from 73 – 77, we lived in Lohnsfeld. I can remember holidays having dinner with at the mess hall. It is a shame to see the site destroyed as it was a part of my childhood. My father passed away in 1991.
I put some pictures of the station take in the late 60’s on facebook. Search for Lohnsfeld Stratcom to find them
Thanks a lot, will do!
I was stationed at Lohnsfeld from 2/1967 to 12/1968. Best duty I ever had. I became excess and redeployed to VIETNAM.. Locals were great people. Seen some old pictures of site. Brought back some Good memories. CSM Russel G. Post and SSG Raymond F. Nelson were my superiors. Two great men.
I was stationed there, 1964/67. Grezt place rember well, Sg Brown, Sg Hite, Sg Grove, to mention a few..Great place great people. Rember Red Millers VW, you mite have to push to start but it would get us to town for a few beers!!!
Yogi, I will always remember all the guys you mentioned above as I was there from June 64 to November 66. I was trying to look you up over the years but could not find you. Best times of my life, when they asked me to re-enlist I said I would if I could stay in Germany for the whole tour, but because of Nam they cut the tour to 3 years so I said I guess it is time to go back to CT. We sure had some good times!
Yogi: I have been trying to reach you for years but could not find you. I was there from June 1964 to November 1966. We had a great time and were on the basketball team that played up at Sembach. Reach out if you can as I am on Facebook.
This is SSGT Phillip Brown. I remember most all of you guys. We truly had a “Great Experience”. Please stay in touch./ Thanks
I was station at the HF REC DET in Lohnsfeld 81-83. It was one sweet assignment with alot of great guys. Spec4 Allen ran the mess hall with two Germany ladies and we had steak and shrimp every Friday and no one ever questioned how we got it. Spent many nights at Alfred’s drinking and playing darts
I spent many years stationed at Lohnsfeld i know all about it
Yes the lohnsfeld was the best duty
[This is Sgt Brown that Bear mentioned above] Lohnsfeld was truly a great experience. I reflect most on the good times in the Day Room, Dining Room and the Movies that were air dropped to us every week. As well as the good times at the town Hoff Bra House. Sgt Hite and Sgt Grove were good people. Does anyone have any pictures?
I used to run the projector at night in the dining room for Sgt. Hite who was my supervisor. He was the greatest supervisor I ever had.
I used to enjoy rubbing the movies at night as well, but I cant remember how we got them! Were they air dropped?
We had to drive up to the relay station at Donnersburg to pick them up, usually once a week. A microwave relay near K-town would pick them up from us after we were done. This was 1969 & 70
When I was there I had a license for the deuce and half and used to drive to pick up the movies, but honestly after all this time I forget where I picked them up
I was stationed at Lohnsfeld 1955 and 1956. II was the company clerk during that time. During my time there we had 3 different commanding officers. Several buddies and I use to walk up to the Simbach Air Base the back way to attend chapel there. Several guys had cars or motorcycles. I was the only one who had a bicycle
With the help of two other former Western Electric guys, I changed out the old Blaupunkt (?) receivers to Collins R390s. ’57-’58.