On Tue, 8 Dec 2015 20:58:05 -0800 (PST), bern12@rogers.com wrote:   
      
   >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.   
      
      
   Is this really a 2015 reply to a 1997 message or just a server hiccup?   
      
   I only ask because there are so few posters here nowadays and the only   
   messages I get are re:'s.  I never see the originals.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)