Taiwan Personnel Listing - 20 June 2020

Taipei Air Station Blog -  20 June 2020

Below, our current, updated, Taiwan Personnel Listing.

If you served in Taiwan, we encourage you to add your name and "Nickname.

Anyone who served in Taiwan is welcome, we cover all services and all Taiwan Duty Stations. 

If you find someone on the list that you would like to contact, please Email us with name.  We will forward you Email to that person.

 
 Want to add your name to the Taiwan Personnel Listing? 

Use the listing below as a guide to what information to include in your Email. 

  
Our Email address:  taipeiairstation@yahoo.com  

There was 1 addition to the Taiwan Listing this week.

To view the Taiwan Personnel Listing, click,  "Read more" on the left margin below.

Makung Island Veterans - Reunion - 13-15 May 2020

Calling all Veterans who were stationed or served on Temporary Duty on the Island of Makung, Taiwan.

 Courtesy Makung Facebook Page.

I received a note from George Hammett, a Veteran of Makung, passing information about a upcoming Reunion for those who served on Makung at any time.

George is heading-up the planning for the Reunion.

The Reunion will is being held in Dayton, Ohio - 13-15 May 2020.

George indicated this will be the 2nd Reunion of Makung Veterans.

You can check-in with George via email for additional information.

George's Email:  geoham3@gmail.com

Here's the Makung Facebook page:  Sad Poker ADOT Makung Island Taiwan.

Curious to what the Chinese says:

George translated the characters -

 "Why is God doing this to me?"


 

Taiwan Personnel Listing - 29 January 2018

Below, our current, updated, Taiwan Personnel Listing.

If you served in Taiwan, we encourage you to add your name and "Nickname."

Anyone who served in Taiwan is welcome, we cover all services and all Taiwan Duty Stations.

If you find someone on the list that you would like to contact, please Email us with name.

We will forward your Email to that person.

Want to add your name to the Taiwan Personnel Listing?  

Use the listing below as a guide to what information to include in your Email. 

 

  Our Email address:  taipeiairstation@yahoo.com

There were No additions to the Taiwan Listing this week.

To view the Taiwan Personnel Listing, click,  "Read more" on the left margin below.

Tainan Air Base Photographs December 1959 - February 1961

An Email arrived last week from William (Bill) Cree with a number of photographs.

Bill's photos depict the base as it was just after the building program was completed.  

Many of you will remember these buildings, although their use through the years changed considerably.

The one thing that guides our recollection of the buildings, as they looked during our time at Tainan, are the Japanese Pill Boxes scattered around the base.

Below, Bill's photographs and his commentary...

My name is William "Bill" Cree.  I served in the USAF from Oct 58 to Oct 62.  

During that time I was assigned to 868th TMS, Tainan AB from Dec 59 to Feb 61.

My group provided radio-telephone communications from Tainan AB to Makung. 

Makung is located in the Penghu Islands off the coast of Taiwan.  

The radio transmissions were relayed via Kaohsiung.  

Following are pictures of the base as it was in 1959/61.  

They were taken as slides with Ektachrome film.  

Unfortunately after 53 years some of the slides developed a red tint.  When I scanned the slides I converted them to black and white.

January 1960 - From the main  gate toward Tainan AB looking left. Our tower can be seen at the end of the road.  The dark  object below the tower is a Japanese pillbox left over from WW ll.  Also the top of another pillbox can be seen in the right hand  side near the water tower.  The water tower was built in 1958 along with the other buildings.

  

January 1960 - This was also taken from the main gate looking right.  The tip of the pillbox along with the water tower can be seen again.  The chapel steeple can also be seen.  

January 1960 -  The building on the left is the base theater.  I spent many hours there.  In the center is the base chapel and the building on the right is the chow hall.

January 1960 - This is the base chow hall.  The food wasn't too bad except for the powdered milk.  The Chinese took care of KP which was nice.  There's that pillbox again.  Also the top of our tower can be seen.

December 1959 - This was our post office.  If you ever sent anything to APO 140 San Francisco this is where it ended up.

January 1960 - looking west from our radio area.  In the foreground you can see the shadows of our antenna's.

January 1960 - This was the old Airmen's mess.  Later it was the Airmen's Club.

January 1960 -  This was our barracks "home sweet home" which we called the "barn".  It was divided into cubicles.  It was very noisy at times.  It was a very short walk to work though.

February 1960 - This is my bunk in my cubicle in the barn.

December 1959 - This is the communication building taken from our barracks.  Our section was located in the end of the building.  The rest of the building contained the communication experts.  We didn't have high enough security clearance to go there.  Our's was only at a secret level.

March 1960 - This is me taking a break outside our radio shack. 


More Photographs from Bill Cree can be seen HERE.

More Tainan Air Base Photographs from Bill Cree

Continuation of Bill Cree's photographs of Tainan Air Base 1959-1961

February 1960 - This is inside our radio shack.  I'm logging readings from the equipment. The equipment on the left are TRC-24 receivers transmitters and power supplies.  On the right is the TCC-7 carrier unit.  The equipment is all transportable and can be taken down quickly

January 1960 - We even had a parade one morning; too bad I had duty.  In fact the whole crew worked that morning.  It sounds a little fishy.  As you can tell from the pictures there weren't any trees around.  if you look at Google maps today there isn't anything left of the buildings and trees are everywhere.  The Japanese pillboxes and the water tower are still there. 

January 1960 - Here is a shot from our radio site toward our barracks on the left and the water tower.  As you can see it was a short walk to work.

December 1959 - This was the first of two Christmas's I spent in Taiwan.

January 1960 - This is the Maagambo  (Mogambo) club in Tainan.

January 1960 - Matador missiles ready to go.  They test fired one missile while I was at Tainan AB.  The base can be seen in the right hand side of the picture.

January 1960 - Crews ready for a launch.

January 1960 - Perfect launch except the chase plane was headed in the wrong direction and it never caught up.  The Missile ended up somewhere in  the south China sea. 

These are just some pictures of my brief stay at Tainan AB.  Later I spent 4 months at the Kaohsiung site and 4 months at Makung site. 

I will send some pictures of those two sites later. 


Many thanks Bill for sharing your old photos for everyone to enjoy.

Looking forward to seeing all of your photos from Taiwan.

I

Duane Peck's Makung Island Duty - Early 1970s

Duane Peck recently checked-in describing his assignment at the Makung Island Radar Site.

     I was assigned to the 327th Air Division in Taipei but my operating location was Makung Island.  Makung was in the straits approximately 60 miles west of Tainan. 

     Was taken to the Hotel Roma for my first night’s stay and would then in-process the next morning.  Hadn't been in the room but about 20 minutes when there was that famous knock on the door asking if "I wanted a good time".  Of course price came up and having just arrived I didn't have much cash.  Wow, this isn't Iowa is it?

     Was sent to Tainan and then a Chinese C-119 was to take me to the island.  Imagine my shock when the engine didn't start and the entire flight crew got out and worked on the engine.  Hmmm don't know if this was such a good idea, though I did make it to the island eventually.

     I was assigned as an intercept technician.  There were four of us and four officers.  The Army provided communications and there were a couple other Americans.  I think the total was approximately 10-13 Americans.  

     We were housed in a local hostel at the base of our two radar domes.  It was staffed by the Chinese who made an attempt at cooking our way.  We never failed to give the food inspectors from Tainan a heart attack when they came out and found rat turds in our rice bin and the kitchen areas.

     Some of the guys lived down town with girls from the big island.  No local girls would associate romantically/business wise with an American.  We had struck up a deal with the China Airlines office to teach some of their employees English and it was a great deal of fun.  

     One night before class I knocked on the door to the office and was met by the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.  In perfect English she addressed me.  What a treat!  After the class I asked her next door for tea.  We went next door and had the most fun conversation I had in a long time.  Her father was the station manger for the Airline and the next day I was called to the office and her father politely explained I was never to do that again.  My heart sank and apparently it showed.  He explained the big island was more liberal and to come to the big island and see his daughter on my breaks.  I did just that and we had a normal dating relationship but her friends felt it was a bad thing so we ended that experience.

     We worked a 6 on - 6 off rotation and of the 6 on days, we usually had 4-5 hour shifts.  A great amount of time was spent body surfing, swimming, running and playing the nightly volleyball game after supper.  

     On my days off I went to Tainan and spent a great amount of time in the Control Tower.  I wanted to cross train into ATC and it was the guys there who helped me make it possible.  I also enjoyed radios and became a volunteer MARS operator at the Tainan MARS station.  Many times I spent the night sleeping on the station couch.

     During my time at Makung, there were two major aircraft accidents.

     A China Airline Caravelle exploded in midair near the island and all that was found was some Coke cans and body parts. 

     During my last week on Makung,  a CCK C-130 crashed off the end of the local runway killing all on board. 

     It was a sad way to leave what had been a great year.

 

Date of Accident:  21 November 1971

Airline:  China Airlines   

Aircraft:  Sud Aviation SE210 Caravelle   

Location:  Penghu, Taiwan

Registration:B-1852

Fatalities:  25

MSN:  122

Accident Description: The aircraft crashed into the sea after the in-flight detonation of a bomb. 

Date of Accident:   June 5, 1972 

C-130E 62-1805, c/n 3759, of the 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron, loaned to the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing – crashed in sea near Makung, Pescadores Islands, after suffering landing gear explosion while in traffic pattern. Pilot retracted landing gear while brake assembly was overheated. Denied sufficient cooling air after retraction into well, the port aft wheel assembly exploded damaging wheel well bulkhead, rupturing several hydraulic lines, the fluid from which was then ignited by the hot components resulting in loss of control of the aircraft.

History of the US Air Force in Taiwan - 1969

1969

1 January.      The 314^th Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron at CCK AB was redesignated 314^th Avionics Maintenance Squadron per PACAF SO G-287, 29 November 1968.

1 January.      The 6213^th USAF Dispensary was activated at Taipei Air Station and assigned to 6213^th Air Base Squadron per PACAF SO G-290, 3 December 1968.

8 January.      Operating Location 1, Detachment 5, 61^st Military Airlift Wing at Sung Shan Air Base was redesignated as Operating Location 1, Detachment 17, 22^nd Air Force per Military Airlift Command Message MAPDSP DTG 222151Z.

9 January,      The 346^th Tactical Airlift Squadron (TAS) was alerted by Department of the Air Force Warning Order message for transfer from Dyess AFB, Texas to CCK AB.  Tactical Airlift Command (TAC) Movement Order No. 8, 14 February 1969, moved the unit overseas.

9 January.      The following 327^th Air Division units were charged with responsibility for USAF administrative and logistic support of Operating Locations at the following locations:

Unit Designation                               Location                          Support Unit

Operating Location A (OL-A)          Sung Shan Air Base       6213^th Air Base Squadron

Operating Location B (OL-B)          Makung Island                6214^th Air Base Group

Operating Location C (OL-C)         O Laun Pi                        6214^th Air Base Group

Operating Location D (OL-D)         Takangshan                    6214^th Air Base Group

Operating Location E (OL-E)          Waipu                             314^th Tactical Airlift Wing

 

10 January.    Detachment 1, 6217^th Supply Squadron, 1106 Remote Supply System became operational at Tainan Air Base.

3 February.    327^th Air Division was host to CULT Conference held at Taipei Air Station. (Editor: CULT could mean “common-user land transportation”?)

5 February.    Airman First Class Robert L. Stevenson, 6214^th Air Base Group, was selected as the Thirteenth Air Force Simi-Annual, Airman of the Year, for July – December 1968.

15 February.  CCK AB was connected to the Pacific Automatic Voice Secure Communications System with the installation of two terminals at this base.

20 February.  Operating Location E, 327^th Air Division, Radar site at Waipu was closed pending relocation.

24 February – 15 June.  327^th Air Division participated in Exercise FORWARD THRUST I on Taiwan.  314^th Tactical Airlift Wing provided 25 re-supply / personnel drop missions and approximately 10 routine missions for a total of 35 missions to support the exercise.

1 March.         2165^th Communications Squadron at Taipei Air Station was redesignated as 2165^th Communications Group by Air Force Communications Service (AFCS) SO G-5, 14 January 1969.  This same order discontinued Detachment 2 at Tainan AB and Detachment 3 at CCK AB.  The same order activated the following units:

            2128^th Communications Squadron              Tainan Air Base

            OL-A, 2128^th Communications Squadron    O Laun Pi

            OL-B, 2128^th Communications Squadron    Ta Kang Shan

            OL-D, 2128^th Communications Squadron    Ma Kung

            2129^th Communications Squadron               CCK AB

            OL-A   2129^th Communications Squadron    Waipu

7 March.         A Stromberg-Carlson X-Y telephone system installation was completed at Tainan Air Base by the 2876^th Ground Electronics Engineering Installation Agency (GEEIA) Squadron.

8 March.         The 314^th Organizational Maintenance Squadron, Provisional, was activated at CCK AB per PACAF SO G-29, 18 February 1969.

14 March.       Policy issued the 314^th Tactical Airlift Wing Commander prevented the conversion of Individually Sponsored Dependents to Command Sponsored Dependents status at CCK AB.

15 March.       The 346^th Tactical Airlift Squadron was reassigned from PACAF to the 314^th Tactical Airlift Wing per PACAF SO G-44, 3 March 1969.

29 March.       Seventy TDY maintenance personnel arrived at CCK AB from Tachikawa AB, Japan as a result of the assignment of the 346 TAS to the 314 TAW.  See 15 March remark above.

1 April.            A Merchandise Control Office (MCO) was established at CCK AB by direction of the Taichung Area Coordinating Instruction (USTDC 5840.00)

1 April.            Hostel 4 area at Taipei Air Station was returned to the Chinese Provisional Government.  (Editor:  Hostel 4 area colored Blue on map)

7 – 11 April.   327^th Air Division was host to USAF – PACAF Transportation – Property Seminar and PACAF Transportation Conference.

11 April.          A Letter of Agreement between 314^th Tactical Airlift Wing (TAW) at CCK AB and 463^rd Tactical Airlift Wing at Clark AB was signed to allow the 314^th TAW to use the Clark Air Base Drop Zone (DZ) for training. 

18 April.          Thirteenth Air Force authorized the transfer of the Tainan Supply funding account from Taipei Air Station to CCK AB.

20 April.          The Lo Shan Control and Reporting Center (CRC) became operational.

1 May. 327^th Air Division was host to the May, Monthly C-130 Maintenance Management Conference held in Taipei.

2 May. The 6214^th Air Base Group Security Police section at Tainan Air Base was presented the Thirteenth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 1968.  This was the second year in a row this unit won the award.

5 May. CCK AB assumed increased responsibilities for the, Area of Off-Base Accidents.  The response area on Taiwan included the area from 25˚North Latitude to 23˚40΄North Latitude.

7 May.       US Taiwan Defense Command (USTDC) granted limited Air Post Office (APO) privileges to contract schools in the Taipei area.  Limited to mailing and receiving of educational materials only.

17 May.     327^th Air Division, Brigadier General Levi R. Chase, presented the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for period 1 January 1966 to 31 December 1967 to the 6214^th Air Base Group.

29 May.     Detachment 1, 327^th Air Division, was commended by US Army Japan, USTDC, 13^th Air Force and 327^th Air Division for establishment of the Taiwan Grower’s Program on Taiwan, which delivered fresh fruit and vegetables to personnel in Southeast Asia (SEA.)

1 June.            The 314^th Organizational Maintenance Squadron was activated at CCK AB and assigned to the 314^th Tactical Airlift Wing per PACAF SO G-76, 23 April 1969.  This same order also inactivated the 314^th Organizational Maintenance Squadron (Provisional) at CCK AB.

3 June.            314^th Tactical Airlift Wing provided support for President Nixon’s visit to Midway Island.  Mission consisted of four C-130E aircraft and eight crews deployed to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. 

13 June.         327^th Air Division notified the 314^th Tactical Airlift Wing that the policy of only 50 Key Families sponsored at CCK AB would remain in effect.

20 June.         US Taiwan Defense Command (USTDC) assumed reconnaissance operations incident reporting from Taiwan to CINCPAC.

22 June.         CMSgt Paul W. Airey, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and PACAF Command Sergeant Major, CMSgt William N. Starnes, visited Air Force units on Taiwan for a period of three days.

23 June.         Due to problems resulting from centralization of supply funds, the supply funding account for Tainan AB and Taipei AS were transferred from OBAN 57 CCK AB to OBAN 40, Taipei Air Station.

23-27 June.    Thirteenth Air Force DCS/Material made staff assistance visit to CCK AB to assist in resolving known problems and to review management procedures and policies.

23 – 27 June. The Fourth Semi-Annual PACAF NCO Advisory Board met in Taipei for a second year in a row.  CMSgt Paul W. Airey, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, was a guest.

28 June.         Buildings K-614, K-715 and a portion of the CAF parking apron at CCK AB was transferred from CAF to USAF ownership.

1 July.             Administrative change was made in handling messages at Air Force units on Taiwan.  The Communications Center assumed the function of distributing messages at each base.

 

14 July.  Brigadier General Dewitt R. Searles, US Air Force,

assumed command of 327^th Air Division at Taipei Air Station,

per 327^th Air Division SO G-4, 14 July 1969.

 15 July.           The Air Base Advisory Team (ABOT), a MAAG unit, completed its move from Tainan AB to Taoyuan AB

15 July.           Constructed started on two 10,000 barrel POL tanks located at the CCK AB Booster Station.

15 – 29 July.  314^th Tactical Airlift Wing assigned Presidential Support Mission between Hawaii and Johnston Island.

17 July.           Mr. Pincus and Mr. Paul visited Taiwan as representatives of Senator Symington’s subcommittee on Security Agreements and Commitments.

22 July.           327^th Air Division AOC participated in Exercise LARK.

24 July.           314^th Tactical Airlift Wing signed a Letter of Agreement between CAF and USAF on Joint Operation of Air Traffic Control Facilities.

26 July.           Typhoon VIOLA hit Tainan Air Base and caused approximately US $7,000 damage.

4 August.        The Security Police Section at Tainan AB went on a Three Flight System due to lack of personnel.

16 August.      The T-33 aircraft which had been assigned to the 327^th Air Division for transportation of staff officers and the Commander to down island locations and off island conferences was returned to Clark Air Base.

19 August.      327^th Air Division AOC participated in Exercise LARK.

28 August – 9 September.  314^th Tactical Airlift Wing furnished five C-130E aircraft to airlift personnel and equipment of the 334^th US Marine Corps Fighter Attack Squadron from Chu Lai Marine Air Base, Republic of Vietnam to Iwakuni AB, Japan.  Operation Command Twist.

1 September.            Severance pay was authorized for all Local National Employees working for the US Military on Taiwan.  This was a result of a Taiwan Wage Survey performed in June 1969.

5 September.            USAF and CAF Commanders signed an Agreement for the Upgrade of the CAF Pipeline System.  The USAF was to give the CAF 18 electric pumps and other material in return for storage of 13,000,000 gallons of fuel.

9-10 September.       327^th Air Division conducted an Explosive Safety Survey at CCK AB.

11 September.          PACAF approved 327^th Air Division maintaining classified material in the Operations Area, Chinese Compound.

22 September.          Project PEACE BIRD began at Tainan Air Base (Rehabilitation of the Control Tower.)

23 September.          327^th Air Division AOC participated in Exercise LARK.

26 September.          Typhoon ELISE hit the island of Taiwan.  Aircraft of the 327^th Air Division at Taipei, Tainan and CCK AB were evacuated to Safe Haven.

27 September.          Thirteenth Air Force Inspector Team rated the 6214^th Air Base Group, Tainan Air Base as Satisfactory.

October – December.  Three aircraft of the 314^th Tactical Airlift Wing were selected for support of project HOLLY, transportation for the Bob Hope USO Show in Southeast Asia (SEA.)

1 October.      Project TOP HAT began operation between Taipei Air Station and CCK Air Base.  C-130 aircraft were utilized for transportation of personnel for in-out processing of all personnel through Taipei – Chinese customs.

3 October.      Typhoon storm FLOSSIE passed near Taiwan.

3 October.      A test-run was made from CCK AB to Bien Hoa, Vietnam, by C-130 aircraft airlifting fruit and vegetables from Taiwan to SEA.  Shipment was accomplished by Detachment 1, 327^th Air Division, Veterinarian.  A second run was made to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, from CCK AB.  All surface shipments of produce from Taiwan to Vietnam ceased on 18 October 1969.

5 October.      Taipei International Airport, which had been flooded due to Tropical Storm FLOSSIE was opened to normal traffic.

7 October.      314^th Tactical Airlift Wing made an airdrop of supplies to Lo Shan Radar Site when the road to the site had been destroyed by Typhoon ELSIE and Tropical Storm FLOSSIE.

29 October.    Detachment 1, 327^th Air Division, was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award per USAF SO G-780, 29 October 1969 for the period:  1 November 1967 to 30 June 1969.

7 November.  327^th Air Division performed a staff assistance visit to the 6217^th Combat Support Group Disaster Preparedness Section.

13 November.            The road to Lo Shan Radar Site which had been closed since Typhoon ELSIE in September 1969 was opened.

19 – 24 November.   Project College Eye Supply Points assets were inventoried and transferred to Korat Air Base, Thailand on 19 November 1969 and Itazuke Air Base, Japan on 24 November 1969.

21 November.            Exercise BLUE SKY was partially cancelled due to weather.

24 November.            Colonel Roy L. Tweedie, Vice Commander, 327^th Air Division, appeared before the Symington Subcommittee on Agreements and Commitments in Washington DC.

5 – 12 December.   327^th Air Division participated in Exercise EAGLE.

5 December. A C-130E aircraft from CCK AB crashed six miles south of Tainan Air Base.  Editor:  C-130E 62-1800, c/n 3754, of the 50th Tactical Airlift Squadron, crashed, Taiwan, propeller reversed in flight.

7 December.  The US Air Operations Center was relocated to the Director of Operations conference room from the tunnel complex.  This was a temporary relocation while the new Command Advisory Function, facility was being constructed.

8 – 13 December.     Thirteenth Air Force conducted its Annual General Inspection of CCK AB.

9 December, 327^th Air Division delegated to the 6214^th Air Base Group, 6213^th Air Base Squadron, 2165^th Communications Group and Detachment 1, APRFE ?the authority to approve unusual civilian work hours for their respective organizations.

9 December.  Construction started on a new CAF Motor Pool at Tainan Air Base under USAF Contract Project TAN 60-8.

12 December. 327^th Air Division attended a LARK Exercise Conference along with representatives from 5^th Air Force, 405^th Tactical Fighter Wing and US Taiwan Defense Command.  Purpose was to establish a safer and more useful exercise.

15 December.  Appropriated funds Civilian Hiring Freeze which had begun on 15 September 1969, was lifted.

16 December.  PACAF approved the removal and storage of external wing tanks on C-130E aircraft of the 314^th Tactical Airlift Wing.  Tanks were to be replaced before aircraft departed for IRAN.

16 December.  Thirteenth Air Force granted permission to CCK AB to hire additional laborers to perform emergency repair work to the causeway at CCK AB.

29 December.  The Bob Hope USO Show performed before approximately 5,000 personnel at CCK AB.

31 December.  Thirty-eight manpower authorizations were transferred from CCK AB to Udorn Air Base, Thailand for support of 7/ABCCC phase inspections.

That’s it Folks......

We've reached the end-of-the-line in my quest to publish the History of the US Air Force in Taiwan.

The documents I was given go no further than 1969.

I am in the process of attempting to find new materiel that covers the remaining years of our time in Taiwan.

Thank you taking the ride with us. If you read through this extensive history, you will find something you didn't know.  These last 4 years, 1966 - 1969, explains how CCK came from a dusty runway to a sprawling Air Base.  I hope you'll take some time to explore the experience.

Do you have a story,  or a thought on anything we have published?   Corrections?

Write and tell us or leave a Comment below.

Keep an eye out, we've got lots more good stuff in the basket, including beautiful color photographs of the "old days"