A Taipei Air Station Alumni Checks-In

I recently received a large group of photographs from Jack Hornbeck,Taipei AS, 1966-1969.

Jack was assigned to Taipei Air Station, but his duty section was at Shihmen where he worked as a Communications Technician providing communications and teletype services to our US military personnel working on-board the CAF Radar Site on the north shore.

Jack's work schedule was usually 2 to 3 days at Shihmen, then he would return to Taipei Air Station for a couple of days of R&R, before returning to Shihmen.

 Jack remarked in correspondence with me concerning his feelings of his assignment in Taiwan,  "Needless to say, it was great duty."  

I believe just about everyone ever assigned to Taipei Air Station, or others who were assigned at outposts and facilities all over Taiwan,  would confess the same happiness and heart-felt feelings. 

Today, we'll begin our presentation of photographs from Jack Hornbeck, at Taipei Air Station.

The photos below were taken between 1966-1969 more than 45 years ago!

You may be aware of Taipei Air Station, but many who read this Blog have never visited the facility.

This photo gives you excellent view. Everything was condensed into a very small area.

Taipei Air Station was located just off Roosevelt Road in the south of Taipei.If you came out the gate at the Navy Exchange and turned left, you would drive about 4 miles or so until you came to the circle seen on the above photo.  Also on your left as you approached the circle, stood a tall hill with antenna.

On the left side of this photo is a turn-around circle.  The white and yellow bus is turning to go north, back north, to the Main Navy Exchange and the Grand Hotel.

 The street name was and is, still to this day, Roosevelt Road, honoring of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  

Toward the top of this photo you can see National Taiwan University, circa late 1960s.

The main gate (Entrance) to Taipei Air Station.  

The exit gate was just up the street along this same wall.

As you enter, the first building on the right is the NCO Open Mess, called Club 13 for many years, before it was renamed, in the late 1960s to the Falcon Club.

Here is the stone indentifying the "Falcon Club."  

I personally never cared for the new name.  To me, Club 13 is the name I will hold dear to my heard forever.

When I arrived at Taipei Air Station in 1965, the only place to eat was at Club 13.  I recall my first meal there.  It was lunch, and I felt right at home after having a few minutes to sit down and relax after flying up from Clark AB and being hauled to the base in a crew cab Dodge pickup truck, experiencing the odors of the drainage ditch most of the way from Sungshan AB to Taipei AS.  Sitting in the club, having lunch, refreshed me. This place was nice.  I can live here with no problems.

The first few hours I experienced in Taipei, probably ran true to just about everyone who arrived in Taipei during the daytime.  Everyone took the long ride from Sungshan AB and was quickly introduced to Club 13.  No matter who you are, or how many times you have moved to a new assignment, the first day is always the worst, never knowing what might happen.  Arriving at Taipei Air Station was smooth with everyone standing to greet and meet the new folks arriving. With this type of greeting, your heart was a peace.

The 2165th Communications Squadron building.

This was the unit Jack was assigned to, and where he checked-in after his ride from the airport.

Once you were checked-in, you headed to the barracks, which was about 50 yards down the street, where you got a room and learned about how things ran in the barracks.

Of course, most of us arriving had no idea the barracks was run by the "House Boys."

They took care of everything, you just slept there, showered and changed clothes. 

Does anyone remember what the House Boy fees were?

This photo was probably taken in 1968.  The "new" dining hall (mess hall) was constructed at the far end of the barracks, the 1 story building.

When the dining hall opened, Club 13 lost many of it's customers and it was not as crowded for meals.  

I remember when I first arrived, it was difficult to find a table at lunch time.

This is the "Main Street" of Taipei Air Station.

 At the far end of this street, you see Club 13, the main entrance door just behind the white block wall on the right, with the small tree.

  If you look closely, there are two aluminum display boards just to the right of the main entrance door. Probably upcoming entertainment.

Closer, on the right, the two story building, the 2165th Communications Squadron building.  You'll notice the sign in the front, seen in a photo above.

Take another look at the first photo, the Ariel view of Taipei Air Station, I think you can get an idea of where these photos were taken from.

The pool at Taipei Air Station.

This photo taken from the barracks end of the pool.

 This photo is from Richard Reesh, who was at Taipei Air Station 1966 to 1967.

Here is a photo taken from the barracks, showing the pool and the mountain to the south.

There are more photos of Taipei Air Station in previous stories, located inside the Blog.

Coming up soon, many many more photos from Jack Hornbeckl.