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.

More Chung Shan North Road

John Crum sent in more photographs of his walk north on Chung Shan North Road in 1969.

Who can forget K Shoe & Taylor Shop. You probably bought something from one of these shops yourself. I had a painting done from a photograph in one of these shops in 1967.

I don't recognize this shop. Can't see any landmarks that would identify it. Can someone help?

The APO. If you give it some thought, it was one of the best things on the island. Many good things came through it's doors..

The NEX Service Department. John Crum tells the story of a visit he had to this facility.

"The PX Annex was a semi-hardware store. In an effort to keep the roaches at bay, I went there once to buy caulk and a caulk gun. The locals there never heard of caulk and directed me to the MAAG Rod and Gun Club for a gun. Can't make this stuff up."

Looking across Chun Shan North Road into the HSA East Compound in 1969.

The gate area above, how it looked around 2006

And, how that old Gate Area looks today.

Chung Shan N. Road Looking North - 1969

This photograph takes in most of the immediate area many of us were familiar with. It was taken from the revolving restaurant just a few buildings south of Min Quan Road..

There is a photograph some where on the Linkou website that shows the restaurant building. The photo shows a couple of men crossing Chan Shan North Road. Can anyone provide a link to that photo?

Most of the shops and stores catered to the military folks and, if it was made in Taiwan, you could purchase it in one of these establishments.

These photographs, taken in 1969, were sent by John Crum, who worked at STRATCOM.

He and his wife spent a year in Taiwan. Their home was less that a mile from the facilities on Grass/Gold Mountain.

Is that blue car parked in the rear of the van a 1965 Mustang?

Here's a familiar shop.

I purchased pair of brass and green marble lamps here. I believe the lamps are still boxed up (in pieces) awaiting repair in my garage.

Sun Moon Lake Always Breathtaking

A cool March morning on Sun Moon Lake. The clouds have descended onto the lake slowly moving across the large expanse of water and onto the shore in the distance.

The boats of tourists enjoying the lake's beauty are being covered with drifting fog.

Wind currents draw moisture up the forested areas in and around the large hotels surrounding the lake.

Within an hour the sun has broken through and the new Sun Moon Lake Ropeway Ride across the mountains can be clearly seen.

On this shore area of the lake, beautiful floating flower beds are anchored awaiting transplanting in and around lake.

A stop for afternoon coffee at the Lalu Hotel offered this view of Sun Moon vessels awaiting their next group of anxious tourists.

Drive time from Taichung to Sun Moon lake today was about one and one half hours A new Freeway takes you to within 25 minutes of the lake.

Quite a change from my first trip up to the lake in 1967.

As I recall, that trip was 3 or more hours and the drive up the mountain to the lake was on narrow gravel roads.

Motorcycles in Taiwan - Inexpensive Transportation

Please meet Ted Baxter and his lovely bride Judy.

Ted and Judy reside in Oregon.

This mid 1960's photo was taken during an outing to Taoyuan Air Base.

Ted's first motorcycle in Taipei. A nice looking BSA 250cc. Ted said he purchased the bike from someone leaving the island.

You might find the history of BSA interesting.

Ted's next bike, a 500cc Triumph, which was also manufactured by BSA.


Ted found this bike sitting in the bicycle/motorcycle parking area in the west compound next to the HSA Snack Bar. It had been sitting for some time. Ted describes it as being dirty and abandoned. He was able to run down the owner through military vehicle records. The owner, a Shu Linkou GI, was happy to find a buyer. Ted describes the bike as needing some work before he got it back on the street.

A nice photograph of the FASD Hostel just outside the HSA East Compound gate on Chunshan North Road. Ted's Triumph seen at the corner.

I bet half or more of the guys who were single and stationed in Taipei resided in this or the Hostel just to the rear at one time during their time in Taiwan.

Of course, Ted was unaware of the "No Parking" sign at the side of his bike.

An interesting note, this is Hostel # 16 if you are to believe the sign on the fence.

I am told that there were a couple of motorcycle shops most of the military folks used a few blocks south of the compound.

Can anyone furnish additional information and/or photographs of any of the repair shops frequented by our bikers?

These were certainly interesting days in Taiwan..

More interesting photographs from Ted are forthcoming.

Chungshan North Road - 1965 and Now

Google Earth 2009 - Approximate area of the photo below, fewer automobiles, larger trees, but there's no question, it's the old HSA East Compound Gate area.

Chaos at the Main Gate of the East Compound, 1967.
Photos courtesy of Ted Baxter, Army MAAG, TDC Comm Center.

Looking north just past the Hostel which was on right side of this photograph.

Lots of traffic passed the compounds back in "the day."

Approximately same location as photograph below. Google Street View, 2009

Many forms of transportation made their way up and down Chungshan North Road.