In the summer and fall of 1952 a group of ground crew service trade airmen were being formed as a contingent for # 2 Fighter Wing to be located at Grostenquin France. Many of these members were processed through Trenton Ontario, where I was stationed at the time. Those who had been selected for this venture were given 30 days special embarkation leave and ordered to report to Lachine Quebec on the 14th of October 1952. There were about 100 of us in all.
The ship that had been selected for travel was a Greek Liner, the SS Columbia. After weathering a two day storm on the Atlantic the ship arrived at Cherbourg France on October 28th. The contingent aboard arrived in Paris in the evening for a two to three day stopover.
We arrived at RCAF Station Grostenquin on November 2nd, 1952.
The station was in its initial stages of construction and the area was a sea of mud from the rain. The climate was wet and cold, but the hospitality of those there before us was warming and inviting. The buildings were being heated by Herman Nelson heaters - one at each end of the the building, blowing heat in through long hoses, as the central heating system had not yet been completed. Arab workers were erecting poles along the roadways. Crews of four on each side with long lines in tow having a most frustrating time getting coordinated and getting the poles in place. Needless to say, the contractors and the Air Force construction personnel were very busy people. The first three months continued to be damp and cold.
The Hospital unit, as pictured on the web site, was operational with S/L AM Beach as Senior Medical Officer, Nursing Sister F/L Bransager as Matron, and Sgt Peter Keller was in charge of the staff. Medical personnel (in part) included Les Dupont, Bill Kowaluk, Bob Smith, and WJ "Scotty" Magill. Forgive me for those whom I have missed.
One of the important jobs was to ensure that the drinking water was ready for consumption. Each barrack block, all of the offices and the main dining halls had large metal containers with a tap. The medics would attend to these containers by filling them and purifying the water with Chlorine tablets, sometimes getting the mixture a little strong. Basically, there were three options: drink the chlorinated water, drink bottled or soda water, or drink beer and/or wine. The chlorinated water held its own for when we returned to the Vats, they were usually empty. Even though conditions weren't exactly like home, the morale and spirits were high. The food was good and the comradarie was warm and friendly.
Another task in the initial stages was to stand by with the ambulance at the runway while aircraft were flying and landing. In the initial months, all went very smoothly. I do not recall any flying incidents where we were summoned. The only casulty we had was an Arab worker who was electrocuted.
The Hospital that did our X-Ray and Lab work was located a few miles from the station in a local town called Lelling. The Hospital was called Hotel Dieu and a small Air Force bus would run us there three times a week.
One of the changes I encountered, that we now take for granted, was the mileage being in kilometers.
By the spring of 1953 the Central Heating system became operational and the station was on its way. Some, like myself, were then transferred to 3 Wing to open the RCAF Station at Zweibrucken Germany. I did manage to return to Grostenquin in June 1953 on Temporary Duty, and somehow or other, the station looked different. They even had grass.
Yet another story from Bob Smith - As a young airman, like many I suppose, I never had too much direct contact with Senior Officers other than our Senior Medical Officers, except whenever I was to be corrected on something and then only occasionally. I was on duty at the Wing Hospital in 2 Wing on Christmas Eve of 1952.
About 9:00 pm, a senior officer came sauntering in down the hall. He introduced himself as G/C Diamond on tour of the station from Headquarters (I think Ottawa but I'm not sure.)
He asked, "Is it warm in here?" (That's when the Herman Nelson heaters were blasting forth.) I replied, "Reasonably Sir sometimes a little too much." "Would you mind of I sit down he asked?" "Sir, I would be delighted. Would you like a cup of coffee?" He said, "That would be great. I'm wanting to avoid the Officers Mess to-night."
We sat and we talked of home, life in the service, family etc. I couldn't get over how down to earth and personable he was. When he went to leave I thanked him for coming. In turn he thanked me for taking the time to talk with him. His visit made my Christmas that year.
The next day at the Airmen's Mess there he was, along with the other Officers, pitching in to serve Christmas Dinner. From time to time I would see our Commanding Officer of the day talking with airmen like myself, but I didn't think a whole lot about it.
Then one day I was walking from the Wing Hospital to the Airmen's Mess and I met the CO and I gave him a sharp salute. He asked me if I was reasonably comfortable on the base. I replied that I was. (I didn't mention sleeping with quilts and my great coat over me.) He explained that conditions continued to be improved everyday. I felt he was taking a genuine interest in the conditions and those under him right down to the AC's.