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Detailed information, history and photos
| Serial Number | 40559 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Civil reg. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mil. reg. | 69-16338 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This helicopter was accepted by the United States Army and became registered as 69-16338 in October 1970 till it was SOC. This became preserved with the Point Alpha e.V. Museum since ? Point Alpha, once a US Army and NATO outpost during the Cold War, played a significant role in monitoring the East German border in the Fulda Gap, a vulnerable point in the border separating East and West Germany. The US Army's 11th Armoured Cavalry Regiment was stationed there from 1972 until the US Army's withdrawal in 1991. Today, Point Alpha has been preserved and transformed into a border museum, offering insight into this critical period in history. The decision to preserve this site was driven by a private citizen's initiative, aiming to educate tourists and schoolchildren about the Cold War's ideological conflict between communism and democracy. In 1995, Point Alpha was officially placed under historic protection. Subsequently, the Border Museum Association, known as "Rhoen Point Alpha," was established, and construction began on this memorial with the support of the Thuringia state government. The museum features a collection of items, including weapons, vehicles, and more, providing a static display that offers visitors a glimpse into the past. Additionally, an educational center is part of the museum complex, contributing to the understanding and remembrance of this significant period in history. Since January 2009, the cross-national Foundation Point Alpha has taken on the role of overseeing the memorial site. To support its mission, the foundation received a substantial endowment totaling 9.22 million Euros. This funding was provided by the governments of Thueringen and Hessen, as well as the administrative districts Fulda and Wartburgkreis, and the town councils of Geisa and Rasdorf. The objective of this financial support is to elevate the profile of Point Alpha as a memorial site commemorating the division of Germany and to establish it as a center for documentation, education, and research about the Cold War in Europe. (Point Alpha Stiftung) Regrettably, this helicopter suffered significant damage along with several other historic military vehicles, including an Alouette II, which had recently been placed on display inside a show hall for the winter. The incident occurred on the night of Monday to Tuesday, the 28th of December 2010, when the roof of the approximately 525-square-meter building collapsed. The weight of the heavy snowfall from the previous weeks was the likely cause. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. According to a report in the local newspaper, the US Army, in command of Germany, had pledged to provide assistance either in the form of a replacement or restoration for the severely damaged OH-58 Kiowa. Remarkably, this particular OH-58 Kiowa is the last remaining one in all of Europe. On September 16, 2011, this helicopter was transported by road to Bueckeburg for additional storage. However, it has since been returned to the United States Army Europe (USAREU) and designated for scrap. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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