Take a look below, find the building number and write to us with information you remember.
Please Email us with the following information:
Building Number:
The year(s) you have knowledge of:
Office or Unit that occupied the building:
When we receive your Email, it will be added to our list for all to see.
We know that offices and units moved around to different locations through the years.
We've numbered the building according to building numbers established on the document below.
Open the photo above or the site plan below by left clicking on your mouse once or twice.
I moved the map around trying to match the map with the aerial photo above.
To get a larger view of this plan, left click on your mouse.
| Building # | Year | What Office or Function Inside | Remarks | Identified by |
| 1 | 57 | SSO 13th ATF (P) | Bldg 1 left of Flagpole, 3d door | Bill Allen |
| 1 | 57-58 | Hq ATF13, Operations, Special Operations, Telephone Switchboard and the Comm Center. | Richard Eisen | |
| 2 | 65-75 | Medical and Dental Clinics | Orrin Langley | |
| 4 | 57-58 | Intelligence | Richard Eisen | |
| 5 | 74 | APO | Orrin Langley | |
| 5 | 74 | Officer's Club | Orrin Langley | |
| 6 | 66-70 | Cotton Bldg 2165 Comm Sq later Group | David McComb | |
| 7 | 66-70 | NCO Club / NCO Open Mess | AKA: Club 13 Falcon Club | David McComb |
| 9 | 74 | Facing Pk Lot was Bank on end close to Post Office | Orrin Langley | |
| 9 | 74 | On the opposite end of bldg was the Personnel Office | Orrin Langley | |
| 9 | 74 | On side facing Swimming Pool was Accounting and Finance | Orrin Langley | |
| 9 | 64 | Rooms facing swimming pool were Airman Quarters | Imagine - a pool outside your front door! | Charles Adkins |
| 10 | 70-72 | 327th DCM - Supply, Trans, EOD, Acft Maint, Weapons | John Koztecki | |
| 12 | 65-68 | Barber Shop | Operated by NCO Open Mess | Kent Mathieu |
| 13 | 66-70 | MARS Station | Other offices in this bldg also | David McComb |
| 13 | 74 | Special Services Supply | Across- Weight & Massage Rms, Showers | Orrin Langley |
| 13 | 74 | The Tucker Inn Service Club | Orrin Langley | |
| 13 | 74 | Safety | Orrin Langley | |
| 15 | 74 | Two small Class Rooms | Orrin Langley | |
| 16 | 57-58 | Unaccompanied married men's quarters | Richard Eisen | |
| 16 | 74 | Stars & Stripes Book Store | Orrin Langley | |
| 16 | 74 | Project Transition Class Room | Orrin Langley | |
| 16 | 74 | Special Services Office | Orrin Langley | |
| 19 | 66-68 | Legal Office in Right Wing of Bldg | 1st & 2nd Windows from the left side | Ted Ryan |
| 19 | 66-68 | OSI Office Right Wing | Central portion of building | Ted Ryan |
| 19 | 66-68 | Civilian Clothing Folks in last two windows of Right Wing | Also in left end of left wing of Bldg 19 | Ted Ryan |
| 102 | 66 | Barracks - Dorm - Billets - | New Barracks opened early 1966 | Kent Mathieu |
| 105 | 74 | Dining Hall | Orrin Langley | |
| 108 | 74 | Supply | Orrin Langley | |
| 112 | 74 | Laundry operated by Special Svcs - Wash Dry Fold Available | Orrin Langley | |
| 124 | 74 | Civil Engineer | Orrin Langley | |
| 125 | 74 | Civil Engineer | Orrin Langley | |
| 126 | 74 | Motor Pool | Orrin Langley | |
| 125 / 126 | 70s | One of these buildings became the Airmen's Club | After the "new base" was constructed | David McComb |
If you have information on buildings that is different from what we have above, please Email us and we will include your information in the listing.
Thank you for your help.
We would like to show where things were during the period these buildings were in use until the gate was closed.
26 comments:
This was the absolute best place I ever visited. I love the people, since everyone is trying to learn English, and I was trying to learn Chinese. Young kids used to stop me on the street to try speaking English, and I'd try to answer them in Chinese.
I used to ride buses to go places, with a 20-ride bus pass. At the time, $1US got $20NT. A bus pass was $20NT. A single ride in a cab to the Navy PX was $25NT. I loved the place and the people.
Sorry to correct you, Mr Anonymous.
Before mid 1980's, the value of one US dollar was never lower than 36 New Taiwan Dollars.
Sometimes, one USD was worth of 40 NTD. Sometimes it was 38. Other times it was 36. Taiwan government strictly controlled the exchange rate. And the exchange rate was always fixed at 36, or 38, or 40.
In early 1980's, Reagan government started pushing Taiwan to appreciate the value of NTD due to US's astronomical trade and budget deficit.
Several years later, around 1987 or 1988, Taiwan government caved in under the threat of trade and tariff retaliation by US government. Since then, NTD had been appreciating at a dramatic speed. In no longer than 2 years, the value of NTD for USD
skyrocketed from 36 to 25.
25 NDT to 1 USD is the historical peak that NTD has ever reached.
In the last 60 years, there was not a single day that 20 NTD was worth 1 USD. It has never happened before. Well, I guess it will never happen in the future.
Best Regards
Wang Chun
In 1966 to late 1967, I stand...
One US$ was 20$NT. That WAS the official exchange rate.
And actually, the bus pass was 19$NT, not 20$NT, as in my previous post? Still got 20 rides?
I know the exchange rate has risen, but your knowledge of older rates seems to be lacking.
More info:
I was assigned to the Taipei Air Station, to the 2165th Comm Sqdn.
I remember when the NCO Club exchanged $1US for 20$NT.
As my earlier post said, I really loved the area. It doesn't have anything to do with the exchange rate at the time.
I was the supervisor at the sideband station, and used to run MARS radio traffic to the US as AI8AF/BV1USG during the very-early (1am Taipei-time). I lived in the 'new' barracks, and many pictures of the area were taken from my 3rd-floor barracks window. I was there before the chow hall was built, but remember when it opened, shortly before I left. We ate our meals at the NCO Club.
When my tour was about to end, I actually tried to extend my original 15-months to another year, but was turned down. I really didn't want to leave!
I was learning the Mandarin language, and could sign my Chinese name.
I used to frequently walk the 7 miles from TAS to the Navy Exchange, and visit along the way?
I could afford a cab, but why? If I was short on cash, I took a bus. If in a hurry, I took a cab. If in no hurry, I walked!
I have nothing but the greatest respect for the people of Taiwan, for they showed me friendship, and opened their homes to me.
Oh, my e-mail is:
schleifed@hotmail.com
I'm always open to talk (write) about my time there!
It is difficult for outsiders to understand an overseas US military base. I was a visitor to Taipei Air Station several times when I was young. The station will only use US dollars for services or goods purchased. If you want to get NT dollars, then you can exchange with anyone who has NT dollars. Therefore, the exchange rate is set by people who have NT dollars.
I was stationed in Taipei twice one the 1960s (63-64) and (66-68.) The official exchange rate was fixed at NTD40 to USD1 during my times there.
One could get a bit more than 40 on the "black market" or when exchanging USD bills larger than $20.
The official USD exchange rate to NTD
1949 June 1:5
1950 Feb 1:7.5
1950 July 1:10.3
1958 Nov 1:36
1950 to 1961 1:40
nttp beat a dead hrse but, let's do. during y time there it was 1us=40nt.
4/10/60-5/23/63
I cannot remember what the exchange rate was, but dollars went a long way while I was at Taipei Air Station and HSA/PMO in 1973-75. You could buy a drink at the ShuLinKou NCO Club downtown for 10 cents during happy hour and I recall getting three tailor made suits for less than $100.
From late 1965 to July 1968, the "official" exchange rate was: US $1.00 = NT$40.00. If you went downtown and had US$100.00 dollar bills, the price went up to sometimes NT$45. to NT$50. It depended the travelers that wanted large bills.
My memory is that from January 1966 - January 1969 when stationed at TAS (and Shihmin) the exchange rate was always $1 - $40NT.
I was there in 64-65, exchange rate $1 US to $40 NT. Bldg '9' on the photo was Personnel, Dispensary, 6213th HQ and First Sgt. office. I worked in Personnel. There was a library on the pool side. There were no quarters on site as we all lived in town. They started to build quarters just before I left at the end of the pool area. There was also a small barber shop and PX just at the east end of building 9, don't remember the exact location. Carton of Marlboro's $1.10 ... paid the amah for a month of housekeeping.
Came to Taipei AS in Feb of '69. A problem with my APO, caused some delay in going down island. Tony Garman in personnel helped me and showed me the sights. Really wowed this country-boy. After a week, I was sent down to Tainan AB via the Train, thank god it wasn't the Guanch! Short for Mao Guan Chi. SIC? Traveled all over the island from O Luan Pi to Taipei. Chiayi, Kaoshung, Tsoying, CCK as part of duties in Supply and Computer conversion teams. It was 40 Nt to $1 when I was there. We rented fro a Taiwanese family. The father was a German teacher at a local school, and the Mrs. had a Pharmacy of sorts on the 1st floor of the home. All the People that I met were very gracious to me and later my wife. Possibly the best year of our life. Looking for info on any medals or commendations that might have been awarded during my time there that would help qualify me for "A" membership in the VFW. Any Help, please contact me at - BISKOPETE@comcast.net. Thanks fore taking the time to read this.
Pete Kalabisko
Your blog help us to finish homework. Thanks a lot!
Building identified as #20
Building number unknown
1969-1970
2165 Comm Group/LGMP Consolidated telephone/cable/antenna maintenance shop
BTW, you've overlooked one of the base's buildings: directly above #19, off base, you will see a feature in the field that is white in color. That is one of the 2165 CG's antennas. To the left of it is a small dark building with what looks like a gray roof. That is the 2165 Comm Group radio maintenance shop. These are not to be confused with the large 2-3 story building to their left. Starting at the water tower and moving off-base up and to the right, in the middle of one of the fields, you will notice a fence. It surrounds a large antenna also used by the radio site.
I think the photo was taken on the hill. I grew up in that area (but my parents' apartment is not in the pic.)
add my two cents worth. I came here in September 1971 (been here ever since) and the exchange rate for years was US$1 = NT$40. I can't imagine that the NT would have devalued 50% in just a few years time. The whole point of the NEW Taiwan dollar was to bring stability that the old Taiwan dollar didn't have.
I was there in 1966-1967 when the single sideband moved. Collins Radio installed new radios and antennas. To get to work after hours (night shift) we had to climb the gate at the motor pool and then walk down the road to the radio building, by the microwave tower. Before the new radio building was finished, we worked out of an office that faced the 2nd floor windows on the Cotton Building. No air conditioning or fresh air, but lots of radio's generating heat (mostly tubes back then!). The new radio building had air conditioning to cool the 15KW Collins transmitters, so we had cooler air.
I remember one wild beer party on Chinese New Year, while they were building the microwave tower? Lots of aluminum conduit, which makes ideal bottle-rocket launchers... The Chinese security guard had one of us hold his rifle (empty, no ammo) so he could run up the road to get some bottle rockets. When he got back he was shooting bottle rockets out of his rifle barrel. We had quite a battle that night. Probably kept the people living on the road across awake, but they were always very friendly to us.
I was the night NCOIC at the sideband station, and had access across the hallway to the MARS station, which had been inactive for several years. I re-activated AI8AF with net control in Japan and ran a lot of phone-patch traffic to the states. Even on nights when I had no traffic, I routinely checked into the net.
As far as the exchange rate of NT$ to US$, I may be wrong? 40NT$ is a better deal than 20NT$ to the US$? I do know that a US dollar could buy a lot back then.
Until shortly before I left, the new chow hall was under construction and I only ate there for about a month. Before that, we ate at the NCO club. Pretty good food, 24-hour bar. Stag night was quite the experience at the club?
Anyone else remember this time? Post your comments! or, contact me via email at
schleifed@hotmail.com
Do anyone that was there around 69 remember the disaster preparedness being setup by a TSG Robert Jenkins? I'm looking for information about it. Thanks.
Bartleby: 1956 -1960 $1 + 40NT. Loved my stay had a live-in Mamasan for $20.00 a month. Loved pedicabs. And I remember when the US Government promised to never abandon Taiwan.
First came to Taipei from RVN for R&R in October 1969; enjoyed myself so much, I came back in two weeks for 6 days leave. 1 USD = NT 40. I engaged a "guide" for NT 600 a day, which definitely was US $15.00. Amazingly, was assigned to TAS April 70 thru Apr 72. 1 USD = NT 40 during the period. I used to exchange USD for NT at the bank on base (I think it was American Express?). I never forgot that exchange rate, being as mathematically challenged as I was!
I was stationed on Taiwan in 1975 -1976. Spend my time working at Lo Shan mountain and living in Taipei on off weeks. Now at the age of sixty I live in Florida, and wonder of all wonders I meet and marry a woman from Taiwan. A trip to Taiwan is in our future, and I'm sure I won't recognize anything. Does anyone know if it is possible to visit the Lo Shan site. It was so beautiful up there.
I was TDY from 1838 EIS Philippines to Makung Comm site in 1973. I remember walking in the tunnel and going through security each day to get inside to work. Was quite a thing to see inside there. We had an officer watching over us at all times while doing install and maintenance. Was there for a month. I remember the small area where a local cooked our meals. I remember how remote it was and a little boring times with just a pool table. Didn't take very long to drive around the island. But, it was vary interesting. Spent time in Taipei; Kouchung and Tainan also. Guam, Hawaii and Louage finished out my Great Tour. Moved around a lot - time flew by. Thanks.
I was Stationed at Shu Linko from july, 1962 to july 1963, then transferred to Chiayi for one year, then Kaoshung for 2 months, then Taichung for one year. Loved entire experience. Bought a motor cycle in Hong Kong and spent weekends going up into the many small mountain villages that never saw a “ white” person. Learned Taiwanese enough to get by. Was in ASA. Had house boy, $20/ mo plus 6 packs of cigarettes, same with the cook and the driver. All buddies now paased away. Garypederson83@yahoo.com
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