Alpine village in Italy where F-16 crashed returns to normal

[unhappycamper]

The only noticeable difference in this Italian alpine meadow is the red and white tape that still keeps people away from the site where an F-16 from Aviano Air Base crashed on Sept. 18. Other than that, life has pretty much returned to normal, according to a local resident.


Alpine village in Italy where F-16 crashed returns to normal
By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, October 4, 2007

SORAMAE DI ZOLTO ALTO, Italy — Two weeks after an Air Force jet plummeted to the ground near this tiny Alpine village, life is pretty much back to the way it was before.

“Everything is normal,” said Gino Soramae, whose house is fewer than 100 yards from where an F-16 Fighting Falcon from Aviano Air Base crashed on Sept. 18.

Soramae said he didn’t see the crash, which took place in the early evening hours: He was inside his home watching television. He said he heard what he thought was thunder, but didn’t think much about it because a heavy storm was hitting the area that day.

During the next few days, about 50 American personnel in uniform — and about the same number of media — showed up, he said. Two tents set up by the Americans and a few portable toilets in the field near the crash site still remain.

Other than that, it’s been pretty quiet, Soramae said.

Two Carabinieri officers — who declined to talk to the media — are on hand to make sure no one crosses the red-and-white ribbon that stretches between trees.


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=49259