In 1989 I had been stationed in Germany for the previous two years. Tension had been building gradually all through the summer of 89 with people "escaping" from the East through Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Those of us who remembered the soviet reaction in 56 and 68 to any form of dissent were really concerned at what "Uncle Gorby's" response would be. We (my family) that summer, had been camping at an American forces camp site by Lake Chiemsee (between Munich and Saltsburg) and speaking to our American cousins at the camp site (mostly US army) we discovered that a number of them had been recalled so we decided that things being what they were we would head back to Bruggen. The E52/A8 was absolutely chocker with Trabants as far as Munich where they thinned out somewhat but all of the occupants were deliriously happy.
Back at Bruggen everything seemed to be normal but the word was that the normal Taceval season was going to be delayed for fear of being seen to aggravate the situation. The night the wall came down we stayed up all night watching the events on television wondering where it would end.
The following night our OC, who was leaving, held a little going away do for his officers and SNCOs. I remarked that within 10 years there would be no meaningful RAF presence in Germany and Bruggen would be the last to close (the golf course would ensure that). I was immediately rubbished by all present who couldn't see any drastic changes. Well I was wrong about the 10 years (it was 12 or 13) but right about the golf course. Incidentally, not all the "West" Germans that we knew were over the moon about reunification fearing higher taxes and a drop in living standards.