Esbjerg Airport in a historic host role for 250 U.S. soldiers
Host Nation Support was carried out in Esbjerg, where Denmark acted as the host nation for NATO and U.S. forces deploying personnel and equipment onwards into Europe.
“The cooperation between airport operators, the Home Guard, the Armed Forces and the authorities has been excellent. Esbjerg Airport has hosted 250 U.S. soldiers and facilitated 44 helicopters. This is the first time Denmark and the airport have received so many soldiers and military helicopters at the same time. It is an operation we have been planning for several months. For example, we had to use paper and pencil to measure and determine the placement of the different helicopters – Chinooks, Apaches and Black Hawks. Both airport staff, our regular customers and partners have made a tremendous effort to reach the common goal of welcoming the Americans,” says Susanne Kruse Sørensen, Airport Director at Esbjerg Airport.
Departing again
On Friday afternoon, the stay ended for the majority of the 250 U.S. soldiers who have been based at Esbjerg Airport.
Feedback from the U.S. military has been positive. SPC William Thompson from the 1AD CAB division of the U.S. Army says about the stay at Esbjerg Airport:
“The airport has been a tremendous resource for us. The airport staff have been extremely helpful, attentive and polite. Whenever we had a question, they were ready to help,” says SPC William Thompson.
“Our own chefs provide the main meals, but lunch and snacks consist of field rations. Therefore, it has been nice to be able to visit the airport café and buy a proper meal. The Danish Armed Forces have also taken good care of us with excellent facilities in our tents,” says SPC William Thompson.
The positive feedback is welcomed by Operations Manager at Esbjerg Airport, Claus Schandorf. It has been important that the soldiers were able to feel “at home” during their stay.
For many of the soldiers, the journey now continues to Poland, where they will be deployed for the next eight months. For Esbjerg Airport, several months of planning have come to an end – but the airport stands ready should a new operation become relevant.
Until then, the many offshore helicopter departures and weekly scheduled flights to Aberdeen and Stavanger continue for both tourists and business travellers.