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- Back row (L-R) LAC Levesque, AC1 Belanger, unknown and LAC Claude Bernier (in front) celebrating New Years Eve - 31 December 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- The Gros Tenquin Ditch Diggers - December 1953.
This photo was taken at a Christmas party in the "Little Theatre". (L-R) Bill Gaston (guitar), Doug ? (harmonica), Gord Foster (mandolin), Pierre Joviollet (guitar).
Courtesy Bill Gaston.
- The Station "Glee Club" - December 1953.
Courtesy Flo Kerr (now Brewer).
- Rejeanne Bernier arrives from Canada at Orly airport in Paris - 15 November 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- Cross Country Team in Luxembourg. (L-R) Dennis Law, unknown, unknown, Murray Smith - November 1953.
Courtesy Maurice Seymour.
- Celebrating our "Victory" (we finished last). F/O "Blackjack" Doyle front left - November 1953.
Courtesy Maurice Seymour.
- The celebrations continue - November 1953.
Courtesy Maurice Seymour.
- LAC Claude Bernier receiving a wedding gift - October 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- Unidentified personnel going to Saarbrucken for the weekend - October 1953.
Courtesy Gerry Cann.
- 1 Air Division Instrument Flight Course #1 - 14 September 1953.
Back row (L-R) Ralph Annis, Arch Debenham, Sherm Hannah, Howie Rowe, Gerry King and Gerry Gan\gne. Front row (L-R) Bill Peterson, WH "Scotty" MacKay, Ralph Heard, WAC Wilson, Bill Paisley and Ken Lett.
Courtesy Ralph Heard.
- A 2 Wing Honour Guard party - September 1953.
(L-R) Unknown, unknown, AC1 Pat Morrissey, AC1 Johnny Vigneault.
Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.
- A USAF B-26 visiting Grostenquin - September 1953.
Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.
- 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin France pennant - September 1953.
Courtesy Brian Milne.
- Top view of a Grostenquin souvenir ashtray - September 1953.
Courtesy Brian Milne.
- The Nadeaus wagon was broguht from Canada. Pierre is last and Jean-Guy is in front of him. This photo was taken on what was to be the first permanent mobile home park by the water tower - September 1953.
Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.
- 2 (F) Wing Eagles baseball team (with their new uniforms) - September 1953.
Back row (L-R) - Unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Front row (L-R) - Unknown, unknown, unknown, Alex Johnson, unknown, unknown, Bruce Fortune.
Courtesy Alex Johnson.
- 2 (F) Wing Eagles baseball team (before the uniforms arrived) - August 1953.
Back row (L-R) - Hank Tatarchuk, Jack Donald, LAC Johnson, Roger Neron. Middle row (L-R) - LAC Boston, Ken O'Brien, Bruce Fortune, LAC Kirby, Cpl Williams, Cpl Messier. Front row (L-R) - LAC Sorel, LAC La Branche, unknown.
Courtesy Hank Tatarchuck.
- The station sign as seen on the access road - August 1953.
Courtesy Paul Landry.
- Gordon Delaney standing by the station sign on the access road - August 1953.
Courtesy Gordon Delaney.
- The parking area during an open house - August 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Visitors taking in the exhibits on the ramp area - August 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Air display at the open house - August 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- If this picture were clear enough, you would see 15 RCAF Sabres taking off from Volkel - 19 July 1953.
Courtesy DND PL80349.
- Sabres from 2 and 3 Wings mix it up right over the airfield - July 1953.
Courtesy Bob Hallowell.
- Another photo of contrails over the station - July 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Twenty-four F-86 aircraft in formation flight over the station - July 1953.
Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.
- Sixteen 430 Squadron F-86 Sabres in formation flight over the station - July 1953.
Courtesy Roy Norman.
- Panoramic view of the airfield as seen from the control tower - July 1953.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- Panoramic view of the airfield as seen from the control tower. Fire Hall (with double bay doors) in foreground center - July 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- Slightly different angle of the previous photo - July 1953.
Courtesy Ray Walker.
- Panoramic view of the airfield as seen from the control tower. Back of Wing Operations building in foreground and assorted barrack blocks in remaining area - July 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- Slightly different angle of the previous photo - July 1953.
Courtesy Ray Walker.
- Assorted detail and photos of "Operation Coronet" - July 1953.
Courtesy Assorted Sources.
- Materiel being moved from a hangar - July 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Funeral of F/O JG Cloutier of 421 Squadron at Chambieres Military Cemetery in Metz - 11 June 1953.
Courtesy National Archives of Canada.
- Miss Canada visits 2 Wing - 8 June 1953.
Courtesy Assorted Sources.
- 2 Wing personnel presnted with the Queen's Coronation Medal. LAW FE Kerr, Med A (front row 1st left) - 2 June 1953.
The rest of the story.
Courtesy Flo Kerr (now Brewer).
- (L-R) Matron Bransager and Audrey Blackmer enjoying a day off at a local Bistro - June 1953.
Courtesy Flo Kerr (now Brewer).
- This was before we could purchase cars - June 1953.
Courtesy Larry Bodnar.
- Sabre contrails over Grostenquin - June 1953.
Courtesy Roy Norman.
- F-86 Sabre jets parked on the ramp in front of the Control Tower - June 1953.
Courtesy National Archives of Canada.
- By this time, some clean up had been done, wild grass was growing, and the grounds were "mud free" enough to play ball - June 1953.
Courtesy Jean-Guy Choquette.
- Time for a stroll in the sun - June 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- RCAF personnel gathering on the ramp - June 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- The hangar line at 2 Wing - June 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Formation flypast - June 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Formation flypast - June 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Formation flypast - June 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Formation flypast - June 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Formation flypast - June 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Gerry Couillard and Antoinette "Tony" Feldman - 1 May 1953.
Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.
- (L-R) Nina Nabunski-Zaitzeff (deceased) and Johnny Vigneault - 1 May 1953.
As 1 May is a French National holiday corresponding to Labour Day in Canada, it was felt that in view of the anti-NATO elements in the area, that the unit be CC'd from 0001 hours 1 May to 0800 hours 2 May. To provide suitable entertainment for the station personnel under this directive, a successful Station Dance was held in No. 4 Hangar for all personnel. Music was supplied by an orchestra from the 17th Entertainment Group, US Army, Verdun. This is where I met Nina, soon to become my companion for life.
Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.
- Wide angle view of some of the buildings on the station - May 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Closer image of the buildings on the station - May 1953.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- 430 Squadron F-86 Sabre in the Maintenance hangar - May 1953.
Courtesy Roy Norman.
- (L-R) Claude Bernier and LAC Bob Powell - May 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- Control tower in the background. Elevated pipes were everywhere - May 1953.
Courtesy Roy Norman.
- Chick Martin with a US 3rd Army helmet I found along the perimeter fence - May 1953.
Courtesy Gerry Cann.
- Beechcraft crash details - 7 April 1953.
Courtesy Assorted Sources.
- Travel by motorcycle (L-R) LAC Powell, LAC Vienot and LAC Bernier. Unknown standing in the rear - April 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- Work party volunteers cleaning up - April 1953.
Courtesy Gordon Delaney.
- Work party volunteers cleaning up - April 1953.
Courtesy Gordon Delaney.
- Johnny Vigneault at the controls of the manual DF Unit - April 1953.
You can see a black wheel at microphone height which was used to turn the antennas while reading azimuth angle indication on the upper cylindrical band marked with 360 degrees.
Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.
- A/V/M FR Miller visits the station - 7 March 1953.
Courtesy Assorted Sources.
- USAF aircraft on a low approach at 2 Wing - March 1953.
Courtesy Alex Johnson.
- (L-R) Claude Bernier, LAC Fink - March 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- An unidentified French janitor taking the "salute" - March 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- LAC Guillemette working with the Hydraulic Press - March 1953.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- The ultimate in landscaping - March 1953.
Courtesy Alan Richards.
- Quonset storage huts at 2 Wing - February 1953.
I am in the window of the hut on the left.
Courtesy Alan Richards.
- Fuel being pumped direct from the tank car to a transport tender to a refuelling tender. The French would let us carry only 1900 gallons at a time - February 1953.
Courtesy Gerry Cann.
- Gas dump #1 site - February 1953.
Courtesy Gerry Cann.
- Gas dump beind #1 building at Supply, Note the pumps - February 1953.
Courtesy Gerry Cann.
- Gas dump for JP4 fuel. Filling a tender was a slow process with this home made pumping station which I helped design and operated - February 1953.
Courtesy Gerry Cann.
- Resulting damage to a partially erected building was caused by a wind storm - February 1953.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- A "boxing match" at the Annual Smoker - January 1953.
Courtesy Tom Wylie.
- A "boxing match" at the Annual Smoker - January 1953.
Courtesy Tom Wylie.
- The station under a blanket of snow - January 1953.
Courtesy Hank Tatarchuck.
- The main road at the airfield after a heavy snowfall - January 1953.
The steam pipes provided heat to the buildings.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- Ray Johnston was the "Heat Chief" - January 1953.
He was put in charge of heating the station due to the failure of the Heating Plant which had a system of overhead heating pipes. Ray is shown here with a typical pick up truck in front of a row of barracks. Read Ray's story for extra detail.
Courtesy Jean-Guy Choquette.
- Ray Johnston's "Heat Crew" unloading a Herman Nelson - January 1953.
Courtesy Jean-Guy Choquette.
- Ray Johnston checking out a Herman Nelson at one of the barracks. Note the heat pipes through holes in the door - January 1953.
Courtesy Jean-Guy Choquette.
- Panoramic view of the hangar line as seen from the taxiway - January 1953.
We can see three hanagrs, the control tower attached to #2 hangar, an Expeditor and some Sabres on the tarmac.
Courtesy Jean-Guy Choquette.
- A view of the back of the hangars - January 1953.
Courtesy Jean-Guy Choquette.
- Hangars were still under construction - January 1953.
Courtesy Jean-Guy Choquette.
- Elevated hot water pipe system tentatively set up for the winter of 1952-1953 at Grostenquin - January 1953.
The system never worked and we had to revert to heating the barracks with Herman-Nelsons. You can see workers in the center of this photo installing the system.
Courtesy Jean-Guy Choquette.
- A larger view of the overhead pipe system - January 1953.
Courtesy Jean-Guy Choquette.
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