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Entries from January 16, 2018 to present Date/Time of Posting: Jan 16 2018 / 23:51:47 name = Gary Wandrey where = Rohnert Park Ca Harmon_Memories = In April of 1961 I went PCS from Forbes AFB to Harmon. I was an A2c at the time attached to the 40th Bomb Wing in the Field Mtc Propellor Shop. At Harmon I had escaped SAC and joined the elite 1624 Support Sqd. Our Squadron staffed the MATS Terminal and Cargo Terminal and did maintenance and fueling on all MATS aircraft from McGuire, Dover, and some from Charleston and Norfolk. We were all housed in the sparkling white 3 story barracks across the street from the Modern looking Newfoundland Twin Towers you called Hiltons. Our shop was called a Specialists Shop. We had 4 flights, A,B,C and D. A TSgt would lead a crew of 4 usually. An Electrical, Instrument and Propellor guy. Mtc. Guys fueled turned wrenches wiped oil leaks and changed engines. What a blast it was. We got to handle C118, C124, C133 and on occasion C121 Acft. Being in the MATS hangar next to the fire station and MATS terminal building was choice. When not maintaining planes, or playing cards we hung out in that classy restaurant coffee shop in the terminal. The day that John Glenn did 3 orbits my roomate and another guy hiked back into a lake north of the runway where a C124 cashed in 1960. Highlights as follows. A top floor window facing the 2 Hiltons for a year. And one down the hall across the hall facing Stephenville, Main Gate, Church and the NCO Club. Also had a Year around trout stream under our window that babbled all night. Window open of course. Bud, Schlitz and Miller $2.75 a case. Import beer $3.25 a case. Not to mention the Airmans Club, Clover Club, Red Rose club and French Casino. Base Bowling League. Cool BX. One And a Half lb Lobster with trimmings. $1.25 in town. Medium Lobsters were .25 cents each in town and our Sqd had Lobster Boils frequently. Camp 33 was my favorite. A Boat with a 15 horse Merc and a 6 gallon gas can $6.00. A bed , Chow Hall.......wow. Found the hot spot at Grand Lake and hauled out loads of Rainbow trout Between 3-6 pounds. Went back to Chicago on leave in June 62 end got my 54 Ford off blocks and drove northeast to North Sydney N.S. Took the Wm Carson Car Ferry over to port Aux Basque Nfld. Scored big time in Stephenville with wheels. Back then lower 4 grade Airmen could register a car on base their last 3 months before stateside rotation. Drove back in late October taking the Wm Carson again with Six 6 pound trout frozen and packed in dry ice. 6 forty oz. bottles of Canadian Club for Mom and Dad as well. Drove to McGuire for separation and saw my girlfriend who was a WAF Flight Attendant I dated on layovers at Harmon. My DOS on my DD 214 is 25 Oct 62. That was the classic peak of the Cuban Missile crisis. My 6 Trout made it back to Evanston , Ill still frozen. Lots of great Harmon photos for anyone out there who is nostalgia buff as I am. gary.wandrey@gmail.com Date/Time of Posting: Feb 06 2018 / 09:24:13 name = Jean M. Cormier-House where = Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada Harmon_Memories = I was born and raised in Stephenville,Nl. Most of my family worked on Base. As a young girl I sang as part of a Female Trio on TV at EHAFB. I remember the three member Combo who accompanied us, I remember the Pianist, they called him Little John, the three were incredible musicians and I think they were part of the House Band at Harmon. I also conducted the Church Choir on Base - Chaplain, Capt. Christopher Ruggeri at the time. In the early 60's I sang in the MUN Extension Stephenville Glee Club conducted by an American lady Joan Sword, her husband was stationed at Harmon. The Accompanist was also an American from Harmon, Sharon Courey. I worked at Base Supply 1963 - 1966 as Private Secretary/Stenographer for Major Bailey, Major Podgorski, Major Evans who later was promoted to Lt. Colonel. Colonel Evans came to Stephenville summer 2016 and sang in my USO Floor Show. I found him after 43 years. It was an amazing reunion. The former Base Supply Bldg is still standing, the Mayor of the Town arranged for us to see Base Supply once more.I had several opportunities to see the States Side Bands and Singing Groups. Two which I shall never forget 'The Flamingos - performed at the NCO Club, B.G. Ramblers performed at the Officers Club.I have a very keen interest in the History of EHAFB and just recently becoming familiar with the History of Pinetree. Personnel I remember from my working days on Base - Major Bridgeford, Msgt Palmer, Sgt. Croyle, Sgt Seekings, Captain Truelove, Captain Dill, Sgt. Duguay, Airmen: Don Dykes, Jerry Ennis, Jerry Wallace, Don Satelle, Steve Stravinsky, Dick Odgen, Schultz, Bill Jacoby, Paul Welsh, Bense, Benson, Sgt. Febre, Cato, Flahive, Dangerfield. So happy to have the opportunity to share my Harmon Memories and continue to post many of those memories on FB. Date/Time of Posting: Feb 18 2018 / 09:34:48 name = stephen carson where = stockton,ca Harmon_Memories = My father was Edward H. Carson He was station at Harmon AFB from 56 to 58, He was a truck driver there, He would marry a Phyliss O'brein from Stephenville Date/Time of Posting: Feb 18 2018 / 19:49:13 name = Lin Walters (Butch) where = Botkins, Ohio Harmon_Memories = My Father, T/Sgt. William Walters was transferred to Harmon AFB in April of 1960. He was in the 1933AACS squadron as a air traffic controller. I attended Harmon High as a Junior. Joseph McCormack was the Principal. I dated a girl named Carolyn W. Massey. Her Father was Col. John T. Massey. He was the dental clinic commander. They were transferred to Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina in June, 1961. I lost track of Carolyn and would love to connect with her again. Since her Father was a "Bird" Col. and my Father was a T/Sgt. they had bigger ideas for her which didn't include me.. lol.. I know at one time she tried to contact me but, since my folks forgot to tell me all came to an end. We lived in a lower apartment up there that was owned by James Liswell. He ended up buying most of the items that were left when the base closed. I would like to hear from anyone up there, especially anyone that knows anything about Carolyn. linwalters@Hotmail.com Date/Time of Posting: May 31 2018 / 19:09:37 name = Gary M Swerdlow where = Bradenton FL Harmon_Memories = 1933 AACS SQ NEAC Dec 1954 thru Dec 1955. Nov of 55 wind was 60 MPH so strong the only time I went to the CHOW BLDG was behind 300 LB SGT or I would get Blown away. Almost got run over by a 1500LB Moose. Muddy Stephenville, I took a 3 day leave by TaxiCab a( death defying bumpy ride ) to Corner Brook NFLD , Got soused on one bottle of 24% Beer at the local PUB. Sat there Frozen stiff for three hrs before I could move. Don't remember coming back to Base. AP's patroled with DOGS around the KC 97's with Dogs ,also at the Base Gates. KC 97's SAC coming back on 3 engines lots of times. C 54's, and Air Evac Turbo-prop Electras?. Worked Radar, Teletype and Nav-aids. F89-D scorpions, Night and day. US Navy Neptune Recon planes overhead weekly patrols. B29 Air sea Rescue. What a thrill being part of all that. |
