On Thursday, June 12, 1997 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, The Stoner Family wrote:   
   > Bruce C. Fielder wrote:   
   > >    
   > > I was too young to know where I was, but:   
   > >    
   > > I was there from 65 to 66.  The base was in France (I assume that I had to   
   > > leave when DeGaul kicked NATO out, but don't know).  It was close enough to   
   > > Belgium that I lived there in 65 (before we got "on base"), and I remember   
   > > that Germany was about 20 minutes away.   
   > >    
   > > That puts it in the France/Luxemburg/Germany corner, which *should* narrow   
   > > it down, but this info hasn't helped me at all!  I was 6 when I lived   
   > > there, and apparently understood French (sigh).   
   > >    
   > > [sorry this base wasn't in Germany - ;) ]   
   >    
   > --    
   > You didn't say if this was Air Force, but if it was, I remember being at   
   > a similar place.  I can't remember how close it was to Germany, but it   
   > sounds like 1(F) Wing - Marville France to me.  I was there in '57-'58   
   > before moving to Germany.  We lived for a few months in Virton, Belgium   
   > while waiting for a PMQ.  A number of people lived in Belgium, and us   
   > brats were brought across the France-Belgium border every day by Air   
   > Force bus to attend school on the base at Marville (actually at the   
   > PMQ's - the base was not right at the PMQ's, but was something like 20   
   > km from there).   
   >    
   > This base was closed when deGaulle kicked us out, so only older brats   
   > would likely remember it.  The PMQ's there were huge four-story blocks   
   > with french windows instead of balconys as in Baden.  They were built   
   > around a rough square and had many entrances.  They were designated "A"   
   > Block, "B" block etc.  I lived in B block and F block during our short   
   > stay there.  Looked more like a prison compound than living quarters,   
   > but we had no complaints about the apartments themselves.   
   >    
   > Also, at the time there were 2 other possible bases in France -   
   > Headquarters at Metz France, and 2(F) Wing at Grostinquin France.  At   
   > that time 3(F) Wing was at Zweibruken Germany.  I believe 3 Wing was   
   > moved to Lahr.  I also seem to recall there being an army base at Soest   
   > Germany, although I haven't noticed any postings to this group from   
   > Soest. (I also thought Lahr was army - but judging from the posts here,   
   > it was air force).   
   >    
   > One other bit of trivia here, when discussing "best" and "worst"   
   > postings - overseas, in the air force at that time, the "best" was   
   > considered 4 Wing (Baden), followed by 3 Wing (Zweibruken), then 1 Wing   
   > (Marville) and then 2 Wing (Grostenquin).  Apparently the PMQ's at   
   > Grostenquin were some kind of metal huts, which caused that base to be   
   > nicknamed "Gross Tin Can".  I am only speaking from rumour, here, as the   
   > only time I saw Grostenquin was at night when a bus from Marville took   
   > us kids to Grostenquin for a Teen Town dance.   
      
   Like 1 Wing, The PMQs at 2 Wing were located at the town of St. Avold,   
   approximately 8 miles from the base. There were no tin huts at the PMQs. They   
   were very similar to the PMQs in 1 Wing and you can Google to see photos of   
   the Qs. However, the    
   buildings on the base were mostly prefabricated aluminum, hence the name   
   "Gros-tin-can." However, The teen town you visited was attached the base   
   theatre which was a concrete building. We also called GT (short for   
   Grostenquin); the biggest aircraft    
   carrier in the world. The west end of the runways, in particular, were in a   
   flood plain and during the spring thaw, the runway would be surrounded by   
   water, hence the aircraft carrier reference.    
      
   As far as the trivia question as to which was the best base: the answer is:   
   "what you make of it."   
   True that GT was not the prettiest base, nor was it in the most scenic part of   
   Europe, but the Esprit d'Corps was tops. I do not think you will find any 2   
   Winger who was not proud of that base. i was also posted to 4 Wing for five   
   years at later date and    
   truly enjoyed every minute of it, but it is 2 Wing that holds the most   
   cherished memories for me.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)