Taipei Air Station - What's Left Today?

The Fuji Film logo, green and red signs above, is the approximate area of old Fox Studio seen below.

I spoke with the shop keeper at the Fuji store, she was young and had no knowledge of the old days. I went next door to a jewelry shop and the owner was not familiar with Fox Studio, but he locked up the store and took me to a dentist a few doors north who seemed to remember the old Taipei AS. He told me, "it has all changed." I left it at that, gave him a copy of the Fox Studio photo and went on my way.

This photo courtesy of Rick Ferch - TAS 1964-1965

Looking south on Roosevelt Road, standing in front of Fox Studio.

Fox Studio was where many of us had ID photographs taken for our Identification Cards and Badges. As I remember, getting my photo taken at Fox Studio was the first thing I did in the morning after I arrived at Taipei AS and began in-processing at our personnel office.

I spent a couple of days at National Taiwan University, NTU, this week looking around and taking video and still photos.

In the next few blog posts, I will guide you through the old area, to show you what remains of our presence that once was Taipei Air Station.

The old Taipei Air Station I once knew is gone, nothing remains.

But, our history still has roots in the few buildings still standing of the re-build that took place in the 1970s.

I begin our video look today on Roosevelt Road. I rode the MRT and came up to street level on the right hand side of Roosevelt Road and begin walking south, toward the Circle on Roosevelt Road.

I talk about the road going under the circle on Roosevelt Road, I believe that the only vehicles that can use the underground tunnel are buses, as I noticed a double star painted on the street along with Chinese characters.

Lets begin our walk here on Roosevelt Road.

Continue to the Circle on Roosevelt Road

and then

Move on from Roosevelt Road to the area of the old Barracks and Mess Hall at Taipei AS now a huge parking lot.

Three videos for you to review. I apologize for the sound quality, I took these films with my Canon Power Shot SD700 IS camera.

I suggest you crank up your audio to full blast so you can hear my commentary, it makes viewing more interesting.

Of course, I need your thoughts on what I have incorrectly said and what information I may have left out.

Please leave your remarks below.

If you have ideas for more videos from Taipei, let me know , either by email to Taipeiairstation@yahoo.com or leave a remark below in the comments.

On my next Blog Post, we will look at the area from a 10th story window. Then we'll take a look inside the NCO Club and the Headquarters building.

Tsi Gen.....

Summer at Taipei Air Station

Here is an aerial shot of the barracks and pool circa 1968 time frame.

Our pool sure looks inviting. Ummm....

With the temperature at 91 and climbing, it's summer time in Taipei!

Sea Dragon R&R Center - Revisted

You can get a good idea of where things were "back in the day" on this Google Earth Map.

Be sure to double click on the map & pictures to get the super size view!

John Crum found this map in the "Guide to Taipei Booklet" which points out the approximate location of the Sea Dragon R&R Center, circa 1967. This map locates the club on the right side of Chung Shan North Road a few hundred yards south of the gate coming out of the HSA West Compound.

This area is also in one of the old "Bar" location maps on the Shu Linkou Air Station web site.

Yesterday, I took my Canon Power Shot camera and recorded 3 video pieces of the area I believe, the old Fleet Reserve Association Club and Sea Dragon R&R Center, once stood.

Many thanks to all who have written regarding the old R&R Center. I think we have put this mystery to bed.

Here are the links to the video I took in what has to be the old club area.

Pin pointing the exact location may be impossible until someone sends in a photo showing the club in relationship to Chung Shan North Road.

Crank-up your audio level to full-blast if you want to hear my thoughts as I walk through these videos. Also if you have the download speed, open up the window all the way, it's a much better view of the areas.

Video 1 begins along the sidewalk on Chung Shan North Road walking south toward Taipei Air Station next to a Tatung University building.

Video 2 starts from the old club area, moves a block south to the probable location of the old gasoline station.

Video 3 picks up around the old gas station area across the street from Florida Bakery and proceeds to Min Quan West Road - My video card filled-up as I crossed Min Quan Road and the film abruptly stops.

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to solving this mystery. Not many of us frequented this club, in the early days it was kind of a hang-out for the ex-pats, mostly retired military living in Taipei, older guys for the most part. Then it changed to the R&R Club and those folks on R&R pretty much had the place to themselves.

I hope you will send in more photographs of the old clubs, I will update the blog as more information arrives.

Guide Book to Taipei from 1967

John Crum, who's contributed many photos and information to this site, sent these photos yesterday.

John said his wife was going through some drawers and found this guide in amongst some books.



I've been looking for something on the Riverside Mongolian BBQ since I started this blog. Most of you who were stationed in the Taipei area probably visited here at least once. I know it was a favorite of many. We're still missing a photo of this restaurant. Do you have one?


I don't recognize the International Art Gallery, but I do know the Caves Book Store. Don, who runs the USTDC Blog speaks of the Caves Book Store often.




Not real sure about this ad, which was the back cover of the booklet. Maybe it was for the general public.

As I recall, most of the military folks used the American Express Bank on the military compounds.




Nice ad. Most of us visited the Ambassador for one reason or another during our sojourn in Taipei.



I never visited this hotel. It looks new...

More to come.

1969 - The Taipei R&R Center

I'm back from a vacation which was in an area where posting or viewing this blog was not possible.

I won't detail my impressions now, but I must say, the BEST part was the fantastic food served in the north . My Doctor scolded me for gaining 4 kilos in 6 weeks, I smiled and told her it was the Kung Pao Chicken, Peking Duck and sliced beef with green onions, all of my favorites. She smiled at me and agreed, telling me to watch my diet. Who watches their diet while on vacation?.........

John Crum, sent photographs of the Sea Dragon Club as it looked in 1969 when he was stationed in Taipei. John said that there were 2 entrances to the club, one side for R&R business and another entrance on the opposite side of the building for normal club activities, food and beverages.


I remember visiting the club when it was the old Fleet Reserve Association Club, probably in early 1968. I was down there to see how the R&R Center operated.

I arrived as the latest plane load of GI's from Nam was being processed and sent out the door. I could not believe the number of taxi cabs parked along the street, local hotel representatives, and other assorted people standing around outside the fence. It was a regular "Mad House."

All in all, I suspect most of the GI's got what they wanted and had a good R&R in Taipei.



This photo shows two couples walking off down the street from the club. Were these two men R&R GI's?

Also, where is that far corner with what looks like a Hotel sign?

I'm guessing they are walking south and the corner is Min Quan West Road. Your guess?

Can anyone point out where the old Fleet Reserve Club/R&R Center/Sea Dragon Club was located? Do you remember the railroad track which would have been west of the club, how far I don't recall. The railroad track is gone, and the MRT now occupies that right of way as it rises from underground to street level just in the area of the old club, I believe.

I walked down these streets a couple of months ago and the best I could figure out, the old club may have been located in the area now housing the Tatung Museum and offices. I believe the Tatung sign is still visible today. Back in the Day, you could see that sign if you looked south on Chung Shan North Road as you came out the NEX and Commissary Gate.

Another possibility, was the old club on the same street that skirted the Florida Bakery. That corner on the West side of Chung Shan North Road could have led to the club, although Tatung was also located in this area, I'm just not sure.





Here is the area where the old club was located. Can someone pin your best guess of the club's location please. I'm sure the streets have changed a little in the past 40 years also.

MAAG Flight Section Taipei

Flight Section MAAG, circa 1955

This photograph confirms that MAAG at one time did have a central Flight Operations in Taipei.

The photo was most likely taken between August 1955 and July 1958 based on the type of Kodachrome slide casing it was found in. I picked up this slide from eBay, unfortunately no other Taiwan slides showed up when the set arrived from the seller.

There are a number of mysteries that remain to be discussed; MAAG assigned aircraft and their roll in Taiwan assistance is one of them.

The sign seen through the Jeep window announces that the space is reserved for the ATF 13 (Air Task Force 13) vehicle.

The sign on the opposite side of the building door says the space was reserved for MAJ Tillery, who must have been the OIC at the time.

Can anyone shed more light on MAAG Flight Operations in Taipei during the 1950's?

I know there were few folks assigned to ATF 13 when it began, and things were in constant change.

UPDATE

The following was gleaned from the "Air Force in Taiwan History "document, which will be posted to this blog at a later date:

July 1955: Two C-47 aircraft Nos. 5930 and 5867 were assigned to Air Task Force Thirteen (Prov) for proficient training of assigned flying personnel. Aircraft operated from Taipei International Airport.

The "shack" in the photo above may have had something to do with the C-47 aircraft assigned to AFT 13. The building reminds me of the structures we often see in WW II. films.

In addition to Air Force pilots, there were probably Navy and Marine Corps personnel who were on flight status, holding positions in MAAG, who needed to acquire flying hours in order to maintain their flying status and the compensation that goes with it.

A Visit to the Grounds of Chiang Kai-shek's Shihlin Residence

Many of you will remember passing the Chiang residence, some on a daily basis. You couldn't see much in my day, but we all were aware who's home it was.

Now that the area has been opened to the public, I decided to visit to see what was behind those walls.

My afternoon visit turned-out to be a pleasant surprise and heartening experience.

A sign announces the park.

No question, the main gate guard station was prepared for any contingency. The windows have three-quarter inch metal covers. Guards are no longer stationed on the grounds or at the gate during visiting hours.

Beautiful grounds.

Madam Chiang's favorite flower was the rose. This rose garden area covers close to an acre.

The drive leading to the residence.

Gated and fenced, the home is still off-limits to all.

The Chiang's western style home, said to have been build in 1950, sits in lush surroundings, close to the forested hills to it's back.

Flowers and beauty to feast on in every direction.

A large team of gardeners maintain the grounds. Spring flowers were being transplanted.

I left refreshed and happy late in the afternoon. I did not find any hint of waste by the Chiang's. Chiang Kai-shek was the President of the country and this was his home.

I found this article from the Taipei Times Newspaper which provides more detail on the home and the Chiang's. Please take a few minutes to read the article, it brings so much information to light about the Chiang's.... You will enjoy the read.

After my visit, I stopped in a small restaurant for pork dumplings and a bowl of hot and sour soup. A great meal to wrap-up and great afternoon.