Your Home Away From Home in Gongguan - Outside the Gate 'UPDATED'

Jim Caumo, Taipei Air Station, November 1963 - February 1965, furnished these photographs of his off-base home and apartment near the Air Station. On base quarters were very limited and most folks had to reside in the civilian community. Quite an experience for a young man on his first Air Force assignment. (Be sure to click on the photographs for a larger view)


 



































On the balcony looking toward Taipei Air Station. The Gate area was just on the other side of that hill with the trees. A freight train is parked on the tracks.

Looking out the balcony to the left of the previous photograph, same hill in background. Notice the rail tracks just outside our apartment.

Jim's first home off-base, a small bungalow. This landlord also owned the apartment next door, which he moved into. The photographs above and below were taken from that apartment. Jim also resided in the Chinese Hostel outside of the HSA Compound, as many of us also called home one time or another.

Another shot from the balcony. Notice the train tracks and possibly a railroad station.

A shot off the balcony again, showing a steam engine hauling down the tracks .

Here's a Google Earth Map of the area these photographs were taken in. It was impossible for Jim to identify the exact area he lived. The streets have been changed, Roosevelt Road has been re-routed, the railroad tracks have been removed, everything is different in this area, including our beloved Taipei Air Station. Anyone else live in this area?

UPDATE - 13 February 2011 -

I ran these photographs through Photoshop and tried to clean and sharpen the images.

They seem a little clearer now.

I know a few friends visit this site regularly for updates.  Hope this is an improvement.