Grostenquin, France
Local Area Photographs



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  1. Bus stop with Sr NCOs en route to 4 Wing - October 1953.
    We were going to officially open the Sgts Mess at 4 Wing.
    Courtesy Alan Richards.

  2. The remains of a large bombed out building in Saarbrucken - October 1953.
    Courtesy Gerald Cann.

  3. The main street in Guessling - October 1953.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  4. Unidentified local village - October 1953.
    Courtesy Alex Johnson.

  5. Unidentified local village - October 1953.
    Courtesy Alex Johnson.

  6. Unidentified 430 Squadron personnel at a carnival in Faulquemont - September 1953.
    Courtesy Bill Gaston.

  7. Bill Gaston (in blazer) and other 430 Squadron personnel at the carnival in Faulquemont - September 1953.
    Courtesy Bill Gaston.

  8. (L-R) Jack Seguin, unidentified French soldier, John Funk - September 1953.
    Courtesy Bill Gaston.

  9. Truck approaching the station with Lelling in the distance - September 1953.
    Courtesy Gerald Cann.

  10. Jim Lockhart in a local wine cellar stall - September 1953.
    Courtesy Paul Landry.

  11. Postcard aerial view of St. Avold - 26 August 1953.
    Courtesy Brian Milne.

  12. An unusual "couple" close to Sarreguemines - 15 August 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  13. The main road and view as you pass through Guessling and Hemering heading towards the airfield - 10 August 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  14. A major intersection close to the airfield - 10 August 1953.
    Turn left heading towards Hemering, Guessling, Faulquemont and Metz, or turn right towards Lelling and St. Avold.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  15. Buying some fruit and vegetables in Faulquemont - 10 August 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  16. Postcard aerial view of Faulquemont - August 1953.
    Courtesy Brian Bilne.

  17. Entrance to the town of Lelling - August 1953.
    Courtesy Larry Bodnar.

  18. Another night, another party at Ma Hemerings - August 1953.
    Courtesy Roy Norman.

  19. Photos of the 430 Squadron maintenance personnel on the wall at Ma Hemerings - August 1953.
    Courtesy Roy Norman.

  20. Yet another party for 430 Squadron personnel at Ma Hemerings - August 1953.
    Courtesy Roy Norman.

  21. An outdoor "bowling alley" at Ma Hemerings - August 1953.
    Courtesy Roy Norman.

  22. This man was quite pleased that we would want to take a photo - 16 July 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  23. Typical scene in Saarlouis, about 25 miles from the airfield at Grostenquin - 12 July 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  24. A team of milk cows pulling a load of hay in Saarlouis - 12 July 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  25. Another little French village north of the airfield - 1 July 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  26. Johnny Vigneault pumping water into a pail - July 1953.
    We didn't restrict ourselves to "pub crawling" while at Grostenquin. Many RCAF personnel tried to help in the local communities whenever the need or the opportunity was there. Johnny Vigneault is shown in the combined villages of Guessling/Hemering doing some PR with the locals.
    Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.

  27. Johnny Vigneault sawing wood the old fashined way - July 1953.
    Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.

  28. Johnny Vigneault leading a team of horses pulling a wagon - July 1953.
    Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.

  29. This was the last house in Hemering as seen from the Cafe across the street - July 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  30. We used to joke that pumps such as this should not freeze up during the winter - 15 June 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  31. The main entrance to the village of Lelling - June 1953.
    Note the church which is quite prominent. The village of Lelling was just a few hundred metres from the end of our runway.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  32. AC1 Paquin at the "Rex" cinema in Faulquemount - June 1953.
    I got my first experience of a mixture of French tobacco and garlic in the air at the "Rex".
    Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.

  33. LAC Gallant (GCA) holding a little girl with French family in Fremestroff - June 1953.
    Courtesy Claude Bernier.

  34. Local children with (L-R) Murray Bond and Gerry Cann near Bertring - June 1953.
    Courtesy Gerald Cann.

  35. (L-R) Sgt Clay Keefe (Photo) and Sgt WM Roberts (Comm Op) out for a Sunday stroll near the outskirts of Hemering. The road to the right leads towards Lelling - June 1953.
    Courtesy Ron Rockey.

  36. A visit to the camp at Dachau - June 1953.
    (L-R) Sgts Joe Cox and Dave Gerrard.
    Courtesy Joe Cox.

  37. The main road through the village of Folschviller - 24 May 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  38. A French peasant woman with her goats on a road north of Folschviller - 24 May 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  39. Typical view driving through France - 15 May 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  40. The Armstrong's leaving the meat store in Faulquemont - 9 May 1953.
    Courtesy Grant Armstrong.

  41. French Armistice Day military parade in Metz - 8 May 1953.
    Courtesy As Indicated.

  42. Chateau de Mercy in Metz - 8 May 1953.
    Courtesy Alex Johnson.

  43. Chateau de Mercy in Metz - 8 May 1953.
    Courtesy Alex Johnson.

  44. The American military cemetery in St. Avold - May 1953.
    (L-R) Sgts Braine, Cox and Dupuis.
    Courtesy Joe Cox.

  45. Road sign for Grostenquin with in "apple blossom" time - May 1953.
    Courtesy Roy Norman.

  46. WO1 Leummis and Cpl Partaran riding bicycles in the local area - May 1953.
    Courtesy Roy Norman.

  47. 430 Squadron "boozers" at Ma Hemerings in Hemering - May 1953.
    Courtesy Larry Bodnar.

  48. The main street in the village of Grostenquin - May 1953.
    Courtesy Roger Chenier.

  49. Out for a bicycle ride and photo taking on Lelling - April 1953.
    Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).

  50. And always time for a quick beer along the way - April 1953.
    Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).

  51. Bicyles were a way of life in Hemering as were the manure piles - April 1953.
    Courtesy Flo Kerr (now Brewer).

  52. A view of 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin from the NE with the village of Lelling in the foreground - April 1953.
    The hangar line can be seen behond the church spire and the runway lies in between with the "button" of 15 in the center of the photo and running off to the left.
    Courtesy Lloyd Skaalen.

  53. The road to 2 Wing - April 1953.
    These narrow roads and boardering trees caused more late night crashes than did any of our air operations.
    Courtesy Lloyd Skaalen.

  54. Hemering in the days of cows and manure piles - April 1953.
    Courtesy Ray Walker.

  55. Temporary wooden bridge over the railway in Faulquemont. The original bridge was destroyed during the war - April 1953.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  56. Hemering in the days of cows and manure piles - April 1953.
    Courtesy Ray Walker.

  57. (L-R) Ray Walker with an unidentified barmaid in Faulquemont - April 1953.
    Courtesy Ray Walker.

  58. Gerry Cann standing at the intersection in Hemering - April 1953.
    Courtesy Gerald Cann.

  59. Intersection at Guessling. It was a 2 km walk to the station - April 1953.
    (L-R) Sgt Johnnie Johnson and Sgt Joe Cox.
    Courtesy Joe Cox.

  60. Exterior of the church in Lelling - April 1953.
    Sgt Buck Murray with some local children.
    Courtesy Joe Cox.

  61. The typical manure piles of Guessling - April 1953.
    (L-R) Sgts Buck Murray and Johnnie Johnson.
    Courtesy Joe Cox.

  62. Unidentified children in Hemering - April 1953.
    Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.

  63. Sgts Buck Murray and Johnnie Johnson in an unidentified Cafe - April 1953.
    Courtesy Joe Cox.

  64. The Cafe de Nancy was located in Faulquemont - March 1953.
    (L-R) Johnnie Johnson, Steve Bosch, Joe Cox.
    Courtesy Joe Cox.

  65. A full view of the house where the Nadeau family lived. Its owners had been good colaberators with the Germans during World War II - March 1953.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  66. The front entrance to the house - March 1953.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  67. This German helmet was found in a graveyard in Lelling - March 1953.
    Courtesy Joe Cox.

  68. Unidentified airman standing outside of "Ma Hemerings" - March 1953.
    Courtesy Gerald Cann.

  69. A group of personnel sitting outside of Ma Hemerings. (L-R) Don Dunn, Corrie Carefield (deceased), Spud ?, Murray Bond - March 1953.
    Courtesy Gerald Cann.

  70. Entering the village of Hemering - March 1953.
    Courtesy Ted Frost.

  71. A "road cross" somewhere between Guessling and Faulquemont - February 1953.
    Courtesy Johnn Vigneault.

  72. A small bridge over a creek connected to the Bischwald pond where a Sabre once crashed - February 1953.
    Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.

  73. Intersection for Guessling (left) and Lelling (right) at Hemering - February 1953.
    Courtesy Gerald Cann.



Photographic Credits

All photos are used with permission.


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Updated: February 18, 2005