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Wheelus Base Pictures 1959 ( AFB ) |
East Beach, NE corner of base 
Wheelus Main Beach on NW area of base
Hq. 17th AF compound, located in the west central area of the built-up section of the base.
General (17th AF Commander) Residence, on Mediterranean in NW corner of base.
In front of Trailer 17-405 (Dan Thomas,[l] Ray Kohler [r]), Trailers were on NE section of base.
Trailer Park, Street in Trailer area, NE section of base.
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I was stationed at Wheelus from 57 to Feb 60 with 6938 RSM, USAFSS.
Would love to hear from anybody there at the same time
Wow thanks for the Pictures, I especially like the beach photos. I spent three years at Wheelus as a child when my Dad was stationed there 1963 to 65 We learned to swim in the Mediterranean off that beach!!
I spent many 30 day TDY’s to Wheelus from RAF Wethersfield, Essex England, from 1958-61. Managed to leave base 1 time in a school bus to go look at some ruins, I was an engine man on the F-100’s and we didn’t have much off duty time. I remember the HEAT & the FLIES, I was always happy to leave.
I lived in Tripoli with my former husband, Niles Woodley, from 1957-1959. Wish I’d known about this site a bit earlier. I am trying to write a report in Spanish on Libya (a real task since I am not yet fluent in Spanish) with a concentration on Tripoli. The pictures brought back many fond memories. Unfortunately, I don’t seem to have very many photos to share with my classmates when I make my presentation next Monday, March 7, 2011. I wonder if there is a way that I can download these photos to my computer. Perhaps I can left click to see the options.
Who was the base commander at Wheelus during 1957-1959? I would love to have been there briefly when General Chappie James was in charge. I went to that site before discovering this one. I did some substitute teaching at the elementary school, but I don’t remember either the name of the school or the principal at the time.
I’ll definitely use some of your memories in my report. No names, of course. I’ll share this site with my daughter who was a toddler when we were there. In fact, she must have been about 9 months old when we arrived. Our landlord, Peppi (Peppino), was a cute young Italian guy around our ages, who taught us some Italian grammar. In fact when we went to France a few years later, 1962, the first thing I said to an electrician who came to our house, was “Buonjiorno”, not “Bonjour”! Anyway, I’ll return to this site in case someone can help me out.
Thanks for your wonderful memories.
To: Darrell LaMotte
I was also stationed with the 6938th RSM from mid 1958 thru September 1959. I was a ditty bopper and RFP op on able trick. Some of the people I knew were Jim Newman, Jerry Fearr, Phil Morosco, Ron Stewart, Terry Thomspon. After Wheelus I transferred to 6950th RGM @ Chicksands, UK. was discharged at McGuire on 30 September 1960. email is tharder316 @ aol.com
It is heartbraking to see old places, like this beach.
I did spend one or two days at Wheelus airbase in june 1961 when I was a UN-soldier moving from Gaza to Congo, Leopoldville by Globmaster. We had a nice time at Wheelus and finished with a bath in the Mediterrean. I am thankful to the skill Crew at the big Globmaster taking us to Leopoldville-N`Djili airport.
I hope there will be Peace again in Libya.
Thank you for posting those pics from 1959. I lived in that BIG house from 1958 to 1959 before the 17th Air Force Hdqtrs. was moved up to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Behind the house was an aviary filled with pigeons and a small gazelle and down the stairs was a beach with mountains of dried seaweed leading into the Mediterranean. When not in school (7th & 8th grades) I spent most every day out at the riding stables with the love of my life, ‘Poor Joe’, a retired gharry (cart) horse that cost my father $125!! Marlana Morrison rode ‘Tina’, Randy Gallagher had ‘Missy’ and we swam with our horses in the sea and drank shay, a strong, heavily sugared tea prepared by Arab friends under the shade of date palms. I also remember our Teen Club on the base and the theme parties, i.e. Bohemian/Beatnik. Music: Charlie Brown by The Coasters and Bird Dog sung by The Everly Brothers, which was banned from being requested at any of the dances! Next month I’ll be 65 yrs. old and still horseback riding - don’t remember what I did last week, but remember those things about Wheelus over 50 yrs. ago - it’s starting!!!
Susie Spicer. Just read your post regarding my picture of the ‘BIG HOUSE’ on the Med. coast within Wheelus AFB. So you lived there? It seems to me that Gen. O’Keefe was commander of the !7th Air Force when I left Wheelus in Aug. 59. I do remember my wife and I, a lowly 2nd Lt., attended a New Years reception at that house (probably 1/1/58). I also seem to remember a General Spicer as well. As you say memories fade with the years. (I’ll be 77 later in the spring.) As a previous commentor said, I hope there will be peace again in Libya.
Susie Spicer: I have fond memories of both your father and mother, although short. I was in Tripoli with my parents on summer vacation from college in 1958 and remember going to the Officer’s Club on Friday nights after which your father invited ALL of us to the “Big House” for breakfast, cooked of course by “Mama”….and this was at midnight!! This happened several times…and along the way once or twice your father stopped and invited some of the airmen walking home from the Airmen’s club. I marvelled at the fact that your mother wasn’t upset by this at that time in the morning and how friendly your father was with the airmen! My father was a geophysicist with Standard Oil researching the Libyan desert, not USAF, but we were all welcome. I think back about those times a lot…especially in the last couple of weeks with what is happening there!
Donna: How thoughtful of you to take the time to share that special remembrance. I read your comments over the phone to my mother and she got a real kick out of them, saying a lot of the times she didn’t do the cooking and let everyone help themselves to the kitchen. She also said there was lots of late night swimming in the Mediterranean with and without clothes!! I would have only been 12 or 13 at the time - who knew what those silly grown-ups were up to!!!
APRIL 5 2011 Martha Druke
My husband and I were stationed at Wheelus from December 1956 to December 1958.Robin Olds was the Commander. His wife was the actress Ella Raines.It always caused a stir when they entered the Officer’s Club together.There is an article in the June 2008 Air Force Magazine titled The Robin Olds Factor written by Walter J Boyne His photo is on the front cover. He had a remarkable career. We lived off base in a duplex
villa near Benvito?sp. Our second son was born at Wheelus inDec’57. John was a pilot fresh from graduation from pilot training and Olds would not let himfly the jets so he ended up flying cargo etc as I understand it.We made many friends at Wheelus like the Al and Lou Sullivan, Roy and Floy Peters,Bob and Rita Frias, John and Dot Wagner, the Pauls, the Benders,John and Inge Johnson and Tim Brode and others whose names I cannot recall.
I recall soaking our vegetables in a clorox and water solution for 20 minutes also the eggs.before eating them. I also recall witnessing one of our jet planes going down just as I came out of the PX and seeing the pilot bail out. We learned how to play Bridge over there which was a blessing and a lot of fun. We would trade magazines that we bought at the PX. We bought Rosenthal China and Gorham Silverware and Hummel figurines at the px which we still have. We also slept with a gun under the pillow. I remember the heat and the sandstorms or ghiblis when the sand would get in your mouth.
I was stationed with my husband in athens greece in 1959. I became pregnant with my second child. I decided to go to tripli to have my baby as i had had one in germany and it is nice to be able to speak english with your doctor and nurses. So I donned my maternity skirt with the hole in it and a top and my black higt heel pumps and boarded a tanker. The men werfe so nice to me and made sure when i had to climb up and down the ladder to go to the restroom that i had protection from falling. I arrived at the hospital with one other pregnant wife and she immediately had her baby. I was left alone for two weeks with no one to play bridge with. my husband in athens, arranged for me to leave the empty floor where i was housed and got me onto the cancer ward. i walked around the base everyday to get exercise and it was sunny, warm and beautiful. i had wonderful care. the doctor broke my water and my second baby girl came in 2 hours. My husband flew over in two weeks and we went home to athens.
I was stationed at Wheelus from September 1956 to April 1958 with the 7272 Air Police. Came on Base during the Suez Canal riots, (my first duty assignment). Remember town patrol with fellow British M. P.’s cruising Omar Muktar Blvd and 24 December Street.
I was stationed in Tripoli in l956 & l957 during the Suez crisis. A lot of TDY’s were there at the time. Were you on TDY? I was in the 7272nd Air Police Squadron. I don’t recall a Jack Lawrence but I worked for Sgt Young and Sgt Holden & Sgt Waite…do you recall these people in the 7272nd?
comment by Myra Wandry -
I was never stationed there except for four weeks maternity. My husband and I were stationed in Athens, Greece and we only had a medical clinic. My friend and I were pregnant and we had two choices have the baby in Tripoli with an American doctor who spoke English or have it in the Greek hospital and take a chance no one spoke English. She was very young having her first child and she chose to stay in Greece and she had fantastic experiences. While I was the older of the two24, I had already had a daughter in Bitburg Germany and I knew what to expect, so I listened to stories about flying over two weeks earlier, having other girls there from Turkey and other countries were they were stationed and had no American hospital So I go on a tanker in my maternity clothes and high heeled pumps and rode in one of those bucket seats on the side of the plane. Had to climb a ladder to get to the latrine with young airmen helping keep a watch on me. Another girl came in the same night I did from turkey and had her baby that night. lucky girl.
So they took me into the hospital, put me on a wing all by myself and I was scared. Next day I had visitors. My father in law was a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force and he sent them to see me. Thank God. I told them I was scared all by myself down that long hall about half way down and it had muted lights on it and there were young men all over the place aides I guess with the white over their eyes, I learned from not having the proper drops put in them and that scared me. Anyway they got in tough with my husband and they arranged for me to get on a floor in the cancer ward. So I stayed there for two weeks, would get out and walk around the base in the beautiful sun shine, go to the bx of course, have my hair done, read and play cards.
On my due date the doctor started labor and two hours later another beautiful baby girl. Had to stay another 2 weeks for space available air craft. My husband came and we rode back together. I had forgotten to take skinny clothes so had to wear same maternity clothes back. I was mortified. Now it is funny.
I don’t even remember the people that kept visiting me and had me over for dinner. My ex husband is dead and buried in Texas. It just has to be a wonderful experience for me. I had two more daughters and had 2 hr births. how lucky can you me. Thank you God.
So long for now. Was just awaken at 9 a.m. by a young Czech student looking for homes with high school students in them. Don’t know what he was selling.
myra wandry
I would like to talk with someone wo remembers t old dog who rode the base buses to the different chow halls for his meals. his seat was right behind the driver and you better not be sitting there when he got on. i was not stationed at Wheelus, but was there many times TDY with the 417TFS out of France and Germany. this would be the years 1958- 62
Now that you mention it, I do remember the dog, I don’t remember anything about him, just that on occasion there was a dog on the bus. I also was there TDY from 1958-61 I was with the 20th FMS from RAF Wethersfield England, I was sent every other month for about a year & a half. I also remember the Bob Hope Christmas show there during one of those years & the Wheelus brass not wanting the TDY people to attend. Tom
Tom I have a lot of good memories and many long hours on that hot flight line. the base probably had good reason to try and keep the TDY troops in Tiger Town we were a bit rowdy upon occasion. the old dog was a regular passenger on the buses, when he got on whoever was in his seat had better move or he would sit and stare at you until you moved.. one night in 1959 around 2200 hrs. we were having a big party and bonfire on the beach, the security police sent two troops in a jeep to throw us off—–big mistake, somehow their jeep ended up in the Med.—- and the main base ended up off limits for the TDY troops. I was there when they found the “Lady be Good” I think that was in early 1961. Fred
thanks goodness I was tdy to have a baby and was not at the parties. anyway, I was a wife. tdy from housekeeping. m. wandry
Fred, Tom,
The dog’s name was Bruno. I was with the 6938th RSM on the east edge of the base and Bruno spent a lot of time in our chow hall. He alos spent a lot of time sleeping in the hallway of our barracks. There is a picture of him somewhere on the internet and if I can find it I’ll post it here.
Tom, You are correct, I couldn’t remember his name. sure is good to talk with someone who was at Wheelus back in those days. It has been a long time ago, but I can remember a lot of things clearly. Fred Lavery
Fred, Something that really stands out with me while I was at Wheelus was when the Irish troops came in to RON. I had seen them at the flt line when their transport[s] came in. They were heading for the Congo to establish peace/order during the Mau Mau uprising. I saw the troops that evening at the club wearing their heavy wool uniforms enjoying a beer in the 100 degree weather, then at about 9:30-10:00 P.M their Sergeant Major entered the bar & with a foot stomping & putting his swagger stick under his arm, he announced “TIME PLEASE” ALL the troops put their beer down, put out their smokes & formed up to head to the barracks. Then a week or so later I saw the transport returning the body of one of them that had died in the Congo & was being returned to Ireland with an Honor Guard, VERY Impressive, it was the first time I had seen that done. In talking to the air crews that were flying the airlift, things were very dangerous down there, they couldn’t trust anyone.There were some serious times as well as the fun & games with the other Sqdns & the permanent party there. You sure brought back some memories to me Fred! Tom
Tom I spent 24 years in the military, Army an Air Force. I retired in 1978 and stayed here in Tucson Az. looking back on my career the TDYs to Wheelus stands out as good times. at the time, sometimes, I didn’t think so. going to Tripoli city, the ruins of Leptis Magna and other places were things that can’t be done today. there are so many things that I can remember about those days, I guess that happens when you get older. how about you ? did you stay in the Air Force ? if you can locate the picture of the old dog, send it to me I would sure appreciate it. Fred
I have a picture of Bruno the Wheelus dog but don’t know how to post pictures on this site.
Fred, I was separated fror the AF on my return to the States in 1961, got my Honorable Discharge in 1963. In 1979 I received an ad from the Naval Reserve Base at Glenview IL that they were looking for prior service people to join the Reserve. I was going near the base the following week so I stopped in, I had less than a month to decide if I wanted in or not because of my age, I had to have a total 20 years in before I was 60 years old, counting my AF time. I enjoyed working of aircraft & they had openings for enginemen so I signed up and stayed until our Sqdn & Base was decommisioned in 1994. I was able to retire with benefits from the Naval Reserve, our 2 week training periods were spent in the Far East, Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Austrailia ect. we also spent a lot of time in Hawaii and shorter stops in Alaska. I made it up to Aircraft Machinist Mate 1st Class [E-6] same as a Tech Sergeant in the AF. After aprox 16 years in the Naval Reserve I never set foot on a ship, which was fine with me, we flew the P-3 aircraft, a 4 turbo prop engine patrol aircraft too large for carrier operations, primary job was finding subs and tracking ship movements in the areas we were assigned. We were supposedly being trained while overseas, but in reality, our crews with their years of experience were training the regular Navy crews, in maint as well as missions. Believe me it was more fun than Wheelus! Tom
TOM - please check your email and reply with pic in attachment. thanks!
@ Fred…I read where you went to Wheelus TDY with the 417TFS…did you by any chance know Lt. Sidney Wright?
@Fred..not certain if Sid was with the 417TFS but he flew F101’s out of Chaumont, France and came to Wheelus often in the summer of ‘58.
Donna I did not know him, I was in the 417th from 1957-62 he may have been before or after me. Fred
Tom I retired on 1 July 1978 as a Master sgt. was on the senior list, but decided not to take it I would have another two year commitment an didn’t want that. went to work for Flight Safety International as a Learjet instructor teaching pilots and maintenance crews. retired from there in 1993 an took up golf, (big mistake). in 1996 got an offer from Rayethon Aerospace to be a Tech. Rep. here in Tucson, on the 12 year inspection for the C-21A (35 model Lear) the Air Force bought 80 of them as VIP an courier aircraft. my contract was up in 1999, went back to playing golf. Flight Safety talked me into coming back to teaching in 2000, it was only part time and I retired again in 2005. got it right this time, have stayed retired !!! I had lung cancer in Aug. 2009, took Chemo. and Radiation and then had half of my left lung removed with surgery in Dec. 09. since then I am free of Cancer, but it’s a day by day thing. I stay pretty active. my wife and I have a lot of family here in Tucson, so that helps. I am almost 76 years old, and have a full life so far, and a ton of good memories, with Wheelus and old Bruno being part of them. Fred Lavery
Fred, I was diagnosed with lung cancer on June 6th 2011, it is inoperable and I’ve had 3 chemo treatments so far with a cat scan coming up on Sept 16th to see what effect the chemo has had. I had colon cancer in 01 and was operated on & they removed about a foot of my colon & 10 or so lympth nodes which were not cancerous. I had good check ups until 07 then the bottom fell out this year. I’m being treated at “The Cancer Treatment Center of America” at Zion IL, I believe they have a Hospital around the Phoenix area as well as others in different part of the Country. I have a lot of confidence in them, all they treat is cancer. My son lived in Phoenix for about a year, he’s a attorney and was working with “The Goldwater Institute” at the time. While visiting him I took his 2 kids & drove over to the Airbase with the “Boneyard” in Tuscon which happened to be closed because it was a Federal Holiday, we still toured the museum & static aircraft display. That area is just TOO HOT for me, I know it’s a dry heat, it’s still too hot for me. I enjoy moving snow on an open tractor, I have a driveway over 500 ft long that I maintain, I turned 75 this year & still prefer plowing snow to cutting the 2-3 acres of grass that I do. I still remember taking panels off of our planes that were too hot to touch while in Wheelus as well as turning the planes so the wind blew down the scoop before & during maint. operations, I didn’t care for the heat there as well. It’s been nice trading stories Fred, Tom
there was an issue with email deliveries, it has now been resolved.
Tom I don’t care for the heat either, I put up with it so I can enjoy the other eight months of great weather we have here. we fried an egg on the horz. stab. of an F100, took awhile, but it did cook. my wife is from Aurora IL. and I grew up in Brazil Indiana. I know about cutting grass and shoveling snow. that was ok when I was young, but not now !!! Tom, I can only hope your scan comes out good and believe me I know about that. Fred
( by T Harder )
Bruno the dog at wheelus
Fred, I came across this while looking thru some photos, that’s me posing in the scoop of a F-100 at Wheelus. Tom
F-100 Wheelus
In response to the current interest in Libya and Wheelus AFB, I’ve rounded up some more pictures from 1958-59. Downloading them to the site tonight. Al Sullivan, Hq. 17th AF, 1957-59.
Gads, I am glued to BBC (by way of NPR) listening to all the news. Memories just keep coming back. Daddy was stationed at Wheelus from 59-62, was Officer’s Club Officer, Commissary Officer, and Materiels Supply Officer. He was instrumental in the design of the stained glass window at the main Chapel. I used to swin at the beach, and “run” up and down the cliffs.
posted by Al Sullivan;
catholic church
donkey cart
harbour
city gate
city gate 2
picnic
palm grove
wheelus hospital
salt flats
king Idris palace
mosque
coastal structure
shoreline
shoreline 1
@ Al Sullivan. Al, thanks a lot for posting those pictures. I was as Wheelus in 1959 with the 6938th RSM and recognize quite a few of them.
!was stationed at Wheelus with the 1615th Support Sq, MATS from Sept 56 to Mar 58. I enjoyed my time there, and boy do I remember Bruno. Besides the NCO Club, The Mirage and the Oasis on base , I frequented the Shores of Tripoli Club down town. :ove to here from anyone during this time frame, so we can recount some memories.
It was 1959 or 60 I just got off the shuttle bus in Tiger Town coming from a movie, I looked up and got my first look at “Sputnik”. just another memory of Wheelus. another memory was the Ghiblis, we would have very little time to cover and tie down the aircraft, and get to cover ourselves. and of course there was the beer tent in Tiger Town, spent many evenings there raising hell and telling lies. does anyone remember the base going on alert about 1961 because of an explosion that blew a hole in the dam holding the sea water for the salt flats. it seems after that the smell wasn’t as bad from the rotting fish . I have no idea what caused that explosion !!! as I watch the news today, I wonder how many of the streets in Tripoli I have walked down. would not want to be there now. just another walk down memory lane. Fred Lavery
My father was stationed at Wheelus from 1965 to 1969. Our family was evacuated once (minus my dad) during the 6 day war. But we returned 3 months later. When Gaddafi took over the country from King Idris in 1969, we all had to leave. I left many good Libyan friends behind, along with all of my “Air Force Brats” friends. I hope in all this fighting they have not destroyed the museums in Tripoli or Sabratha, or the sites.
I discovered this website about Wheelus Airbase recently and it’s become a tremendous resource of fact and detail about the Base and downtown Tripoli, life there in the 50s. I served an 18 momth tour there 1958 -1959 with the 591st AF Band at Wheelus and pulled a lot TDY in France, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Greece. I had a tremendous time (maybe the years have softened therough edges of my memories about Tripoli and the military life as an A/2C.) A couple of years ago (ten actually — time flies) I got into writing — short stories, articles and stuff — and decided to do a novel about life in Tripoli and on the Air Base. I wanted accuracy and detail and I got a lot of it from this website and a couple of others. The actual story is a wildly fictionalized tale about a downtown nightclub — Club Tripoli — but the on-base life as well as the off-base atmosphere of Tripoli gained a lot from the details I gleaned from this website. Thanks to all of you. I couldn’t have done nearly as well without your site to guide me. It’s been a long time since the 1950s. Terry Wright, A/2C.
Terry Where can I get your book ?? Fred Lavery
Fred:
The book is readily available on Amazon.com in the books section. Take a look — there’s a little detail available on the”Look Inside” feature and on my author page. I just read a current posting from Shirley Kirkley who was talking about the flies that could drive you crazy. I’d forgotten them and I wish I’d included a line or two about the critters in Club Tripoli.
Terry Wright, A/2C
Fred Lavery. The book is available on Amazon.com. Take a look in the Books section under Club Tripoli, and do the”look Inside” thing.
Terry
I was at Wheelus 1957-1960 in the 6938 RSM USAFSS also I don’t remember the name La Motte do you remember a Joesph Bobeck?
stationed at Whellus permanent party from 2/63 - 8/64 7272 Hosp. thoroughly enjoyed it! maybe too young at the time to be aware of any negatives. roomate was Al Singewald, CT, spent some good times at RAF base on the other side of town. spent 30days in the Hosp with hepatitis (7 got it), missed the Bob Hope show on base that year at Christmas, but Tuesday Weld visited us at the Hosp! Had good times with Nedra Foster, oil co. dependent from Little River KS & her family. rotated to Wilfred Hall, Andrews AFB in 8/64, always wanted to revisit Tripoli, now may be able to do so when the dust settles. Gadhaffi was not much at the time, roaming the desert in an army unit.
Floyd, I was also there during the same time period. I was on Able trick. Joe Bobeck lived just across the hall from me. My roommate was Terry Thompson, who was from Memphis like me. Do you remember Jerry Fearr or Jim Newman? Both were from CA and worked on Dog trick.
My many TDYs to Wheelus from 58-62 were a great experience. I was a crew chief on an F-100 so my work days were usually around 12hrs. that didn’t leave a lot of time except week-ends if I wasn’t on the week-end crew. King Id was the big dog then and was American friendly. I did make some tours to Leptus Magna and Sablanka (spelling optional) but didn’t have a camera, so no pictures, only in my head and after 50+ years they are a little fuzzy drank a lot of beer in Tiger Town, seems like if we went to the club on base we always managed to get thrown out !!! went to Tripoli city a number of times, looked around a lot and one Day a number of us went to the old city and managed to escape. was great to be young. Fred Lavery Tucson Az.
While scanning through these entries I noticed that someone wanted to know the name of the base commander in 1957. As I recall, it was a Colonel Cain or Kane. Major General Richard O’Keefe was the commander 17th AF when they relocated to Wheelus from Rabat, Morocco.
Hello from Martha Druke
Our 2nd son was born at Wheelus in Dec 1957. At that time I think Colonel Robin Olds was the base commander.
I was in A- trick also Bobeck was my room mate don’t remember Fearr or Newman Are you in contact with anyone? I live in Tx. Do you remember the LT. name? How about Tin Engh from N. D.?
I’m glad I found this site.
I spent about 6 months at Wheelus. Two(2) months in 1958,1959 and 1960.
Went there from France with the 50th FBW/TFW and the 10th,81st and 417th Sqdns. I got to Toul-Rosieres AFB, France in Sept. 1957 and was assigned to the 81st FBS. First trip to Wheelus was early 1958 to transition from F-86H’s to the F-100D/F. Spent my days there in Tiger Town and I remember the dog that rode the buses. I think I heard his name was “Sarge” because of the stripes someone had painted on his side…..I”m just not sure.
I also remember the heat and sand storms(Gibli’s). I have a few pictures of Tiger Town and an aircraft from the 7272nd loaded with a dart target.
If I ever figure out how to up-load them I will.
David I got to Toul in June 1958, they just got the HUN I was assigned to the 417th “Red Dorks”. I went to Wheelus many times and spent many hours in the beer tent in Tiger Town. as you know the 50th TFW moved from Toul to Germany the 417th went to Ramstein and the 10th and 81st to Hahn a good friend of mine went to Hahn, Bill Giberson. we could have crossed paths at Toul or Wheelus. the old dogs name was “Bruno” rode on the bus with him many times. I stayed in the Air Force and retired in July 1978. my last assignment was here at Davis Monthan and I have been in Tucson since then. Fred Lavery
I am looking for anyone who might have been at Wheelus from Sept, 1951 to Nov, 1952 and assigned to Security Service. This might have been the 38th RSM, or its predecessor. I am researching my son-inlaw’s father who was assigned there at that time. His name was Joseph Wojciechowski and was a 29351. Thanks,
To Susie Spicer I was at Wheelus 1959 to 61 as a photographer in the Base Photo Lab. The Following story is an excerpt from my book “Helluva Ride” (Lulu Press.com) that is an example of the kind of man your dad was. I think every GI loved that man and would follow him into hell!
I was also fortunate enough to be in and out of the big wigs offices many times. If you do your job efficiently and in a professional manner those guys appreciate it. They hated the bungeling photographers that fumbeled with their cameras or had no talent for posing a group or how to get them quickly at ease with a minimum of disruption. Apparently that was my major talent and best asset. Anytime a job came up to go to the big USAFE Commanders office, Brigadier General Spicer, I was always sent if I was available. General Spicer was the Enlisted mans General. He believed in his troupes and annually held a raffle that if you were one of the eight drawn you went on Safari to South Africa with him, all expenses paid, except you had to buy your own ammo. Because I was in and out of his office so many times shooting pictures of him presenting this and that award, he quite often called me by my first name. I was very sad when they decided to move USAFE Headquarters to Ramstein Air Base, in Germany. Shortly after the General left we were “blessed” with the arrival of a new Lt in the Information Services office that drove us photographers bonkers. He must have taken a photo course in college because he figured he knew everything about our jobs. He would go so far as to say where to focus, what “f” stop and shutter speed to use and would pose every shot. (You can imagine that this did not set well with my style but he was the Lt and you did as you were told.) We all did our best to avoid jobs that the Lt was going to “run.” Then I was assigned to go to the Commanders office with the Lt to shoot the Base Commander receiving the USAFE Year’s Outstanding Safety Record Award. General Spicer had flown down from USAFE Headquarters in Germany to make the presentation to his old friend Col Griffith. The Lt and I entered the Commanders office for the picture. The Lt immediately started directing the General and the Col where to stand and started to tell me in his customary style where to focus when General Spicer said, “What are you doing Lt? I think Jim knows a hell of a lot more about this stuff than you do. Why don’t you go over there in the corner and watch and learn.” My God, the expression on the Lt’s face. If he had been slapped, his face wouldn’t have been redder. He retreated immediately to the corner like a kid sent to his room without supper. I went into my best professional mode and got them relaxed, a couple good laughs and nice shots of the award presentation and we were out in less than two minutes. The only thing the Lt said to me as he drove me back to the Photo Lab was, “Are you somehow related to the General?”
“No Sir.” was all I responded. After that any job I went on with the Lt he never offered me photo tips nor did he pose the subjects. On a couple occasions he would softly mumbled, “Well, I guess you know how to handle - (this or that).” I never answered because it wasn’t a question.
jim.voris@yahoo.com