Visiting Taipei's HSA East Compound

Today, more photographs from Jack Hornbeck,Taipei Air Station, 1966-1969.

Jack's previous photos were featured - HERE. 

This aerial photo of the HSA East Compound, taken in the late 1950s or very early 1960s,  provides a nice clear view of the area.

 The Navy Exchange, the square building toward the center right of the photo, building 802 on the map below.
The Navy Commissary Store, the long rectangle building to the left center of the photo, building 808 on the map below.

This map was published many years after the aerial view photo above.

A lot of construction took place after the photo was taken.

Min Tse (East) Road, which is seen on the bottom of the map above, was not completed and opened until the late 1960s.

Photo courtesy of Tom Montelbano, circa 1968

 Let's cross the street (Chung Shan North Road) and walk into the compound.  

APO 96263, straight ahead, inside the gate.

Remember how the Taiwan Military Police would just wave you inside the gate.

I saw some remarks from an American civilian not employed by the US in any capicity, saying he would sneak into the West Compound and have a nice meal at the Navy Cafeteria (building 400) once or twice a month, He missed his American food.   He was never asked for an ID, always walked in along-side some American.

Looking for a traffic light, don't see one. Looks like there was a light, who remembers?

Notice the civilian airliner taking-off from Sung Shan International Airport.

He'll probably climb-up right over the Taiwan Government Military Hostel, (the gray building) seen in the left of this photo.  Many US Military stayed in this hostel one time or another during their tours.

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                    Navy Commissary Store Taipei under construction 1957.  
Photo courtesy Tom Jones, USASTRATCOM

Many parking stalls available today. Maybe the Commissary Store is closed for inventory or something.  Remember, years ago, the Commissary Store closed a couple of days each week for one reason or another.

The Taipei Navy Exchange.

You've heard the stories, supplier of goods to the US Military community, and foreign embassy communities, not counting the local community who purchased everything legally obtainable, including a host of items not authorized to be sold to the local economy.

This photo is probably one of the best color photos of the Taipei Navy Exchange that's ever been published.

A nice sunny day in Taipei.  Shopping over, heading for the car.

Can someone make out the sign on that shop straight ahead.

It was a pack and crate shop once, a small mini-mart at one time.  
What was it the day this photo was taken?

We're back outside the East Compound Gate, looking across the street toward the West Compound Gate.

Lot's of traffic blocking our view.

Here's a great photo the HSA West Compound Gate.
Where's the traffic light?

Nice blue Chevy across the street.

Photo courtesy of Donald Patrick, taken while in Taipei on R&R in 1967.

We're walking south on Chung Shan North Road.  Everyone remembers the shops on the east side of street which are seen here.

The Linkou Club and Hotel were across the street and down the walkway seen just behind the tree on the left side of this photo.

Photo courtesy Ben Hilmes 1962-1963

Nap time in the cool shade along Chung Shan North Road just down the street from the HSA Compounds.

Notice the CAT Airline Advertising signage along the far side of the road.

Ben returned to Chung Shan North Road after a typhoon blew through.

Looks like about half of the CAT sign was blown away.

We're on the west side of Chung Shan North Road, looking south.

Just a few feet in back, an alley way off to our right would take us the the Fleet Reserve Assn Club, used during the R&R period as the R&R Center for Taiwan.  In later years, the building was taken over by the Navy Exchange

On the next corner,  straight ahead, to the left is the Florida Bakery.

On the right ahead is the gas station.

Looking off into the haze ahead, on the corner on Min Quan is the King's Hotel, a well known establishment.

Here's the next cross street.  To the left, the Florida Bakery, AND, the American Bakery Company.

If you look closely, it appears that the American Bakery is closed and the windows have been removed.

How many readers remember the American Bakery?

I didn't remember it, can't say I even knew it existed.

Here is an interesting piece of history.  From the "History of the US Air Force in Taiwan."  the unofficial document describing much of what went on in the US Air Force throughout Taiwan, from 1950 until 1969. 
If you'd like to read the documents, they are in this blog.  Go to the search box on the right side of this blog and search for "history"  All of the posts should appear.  There are quite a few different posts and it will take some time to comb through them.

Here's the story about the Florida and American Bakery:

From:  History of the US Air Force in Taiwan 1956.

 21 May 1956.  The first bread prepared on Taiwan was delivered by the “American” bakery in Taipei.  This replaced bread shipments from Kadena AB, Okinawa.

Did anyone notice that blue Chevrolet in this photo.  Nice

 Photo courtesy Taipei Signal Army blog.

This photo was taken some time before the color photo above.

We've arrived on the corner of Chung Shan North Road and Min Quan road.

Everyone remembers the King's Hotel.

We'll stop here today.

In our next post we'll make our way up to Shihmen on the north coast and visit John's Hostel and duty station.

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