Sembach Germany

Dick Denesha was an airman assigned to Sembach AFB between July 1954 and July 1957. He was at Sembach Air Base when the U-2 crashed on 17 September 1956, and he offers the following detail based from his memories of the incident.

Question: - When did you arrive at Sembach Air Base? What was your rank and profession, and what unit were you employed with?

Answer: - I arrived at Sembach in July 1954. At the time I was an Airman 1st Class running the Reciprocating Engine build-up shop. We assembled the bare engine with a kit to install on various prop planes. My profession was "Reciprocation Engine Mechanic" specializing in R2800 engines used on the B-26's and C-123's. I was assigned to the 66th Field Maintenance Squadron. I departed Sembach in July 1957 - a great 3 years.

Question: - About what time of the day did the U-2 incident occur?

Answer: - If memory serves me correctly, it was in the arly morning, about 09:00 hours.

Question: - Where, exactly, were you, at the time of the sighting?

Answer: - I was leaving the EBU shop on the base through the north door. I exited the door away from the ramp.

Question: - What caused you to be looking at the right place at the right time?

Answer: - I looked up when the explosion caught my periphial vision.

Question: - Can you describe exactly what you saw at the time of the explosion?

Answer: - I saw a big white puff of smoke and bits of aluminum raining straight down. I did not see any large pieces falling from the puff.

Question: - Were you able to follow the path of the aircraft remains falling to the ground - i.e. was it just bits and pieces, or was there sufficient remains to physically identify the object as an aircraft? I seem to recall that you said something to the effect that you followed the decent up to the tree line, at which time you lost sight? - about how far would the crash point have been from where you were located?

Answer: - As I turned to go back into the shop, I caught sight of the fuselage disappearing to the left of the town of Sembach and I lost it over the horizon well in the distance. I have no idea how far that would have been but the locations indicated in your maps correspond to my memories.

Question: - Can you describe your followup action? i.e. call to authorities?

Answer: - As I recall, I called the control tower and told them what I saw and then reported it to the shop NCOIC. That was the last I heard of it. Nobody contacted me about it.

Question: - I seem to recall that you mentioned that the remains from the crash impact point were moved to Sembach - that the remains were covered with a tarp - and that there were military police on guard 24 hours a day. Was there any gossip or speculation amongst the troops as to what the aircraft was or who it belonged to? Also was the location where the remains were stored "off limits" to everyone - or could any USAF type drop in for a visit and look at the remains?

Answer: - The remains of the aircraft were trucked in to Sembach in a 6x6 the nest day. I only remember seeing one truck but I wasn't on the flight line constantly. The remains were put in a round corral hastily constructed of stacks of Pierced Steel Planking that we had stored close by. The site just to the right of my shop. I think they took over an RF-84F revetment on the 303rd flight line. The remains were not covered that I could see. You really couldn't see inside but one wing tip stuck out quite a ways. Nobody got near the area as it was well patrolled by the Air Police. The only "gossip" I heard was from one of the recovery crew that "It was the biggest jet engine I have ever seen". Nobody really talked about it.

Question: - About how long were the remains at Sembach before they were moved out?

Answer: - I dont think the remains were on the base very long. I seem to remember going to work one morning and the entire area was cleaned up as if nothing had been there.

Question: - Do you have any detail pertaining to the body of the pilot? i.e. was it brought to Sembach along with the remains of the aircraft?

Answer: - Nothing was said about the pilot on the base.