Grostenquin, France
Support Photographs


The Rest of the Story - 4 April 2002 - I must give you some explanation about the circumstances which led me to visit Grostenquin in August 1998. Two Belgian friends and myself have been preparing a retrospective and a book which is about to be finished on the Canadian presence of 1 Wing RCAF at Marville from 1954 to 1967.

The remains of the station at Marville is no longer the property of the French National Defence and I have heard of some development plans linked to the business of aviation. The barracks at Marville have been taken up by many small firms, companies, or by private persons for several years. Unfortunately, all of the facilities at Marville which were built with Canadian funds have been destroyed. The only way to know how certain buildings looked like (such as the Ice Arena, the swimming pool and the Recretation Center) was to visit the station at Grostenquin where those buildings were still standing - in very poor condition.

So, after having explained the reasons of our request to the French Air Force in August 1998, we were allowed to access to the remains of the station at 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin with the presence of an officer who gave me the approval to take some pictures. The coloured photos which I have provided are the only pictures which I have in colour. These were at the end of a roll of film which was already in my camera at the time. I was able, however, to load and snap a complete roll of black and white photos - which, when looked at collectively, show the remains at Grostenquin during August of 1998.


Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. One of the many "watch towers" which was situated on the perimiter of the station - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  2. This tower was used to site assorted communications antennas - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  3. Water tower in the trailer court area - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  4. Interior view of the swimming pool - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  5. Interior view of the swimming pool - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  6. Interior view of the swimming pool - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  7. Interior photo of the remains of the "Ice Arena" - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  8. Remains of the seating area in the "Ice Arena" - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  9. Entrance area in the Rec Center. Doors lead to the swimming pool - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  10. Interior photo of the gymnasium as seen from the gym floor - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  11. Seating area in the gymnasium - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  12. Interior photo of the gymnasium - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  13. Interior photo of the gymnasium - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  14. The bowling alley was located under the Rec Hall - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  15. Another view of the remains of the bowling alley - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  16. Remains of the "south farm" - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  17. (L-R) #4, 3 and 2 hangar with the Control Tower on the ramp - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  18. (L-R) Control Tower, 2 and 1 hangars - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  19. Interior view of the remains of the Control Tower - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  20. Interior view of the remains of the Control Tower - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  21. View of the ramp as seen from the Control Tower - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  22. View as seen from the catwalk around the Control Tower - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  23. View as seen from the catwalk around the Control Tower - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  24. Empty room at the base of the Control Tower - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  25. Looking north down the remains of the runway - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  26. Ammunition storage bunker on the east side of the station - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  27. Unidentified building between 423 and 430 Squadron dispersal areas on the east side of the station - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  28. Remains of the 423 Squadron ORP at the north end of the station - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  29. Remains of the 423 Squadron ORP at the north end of the station - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  30. Remains of the 423 Squadron ORP at the north end of the station - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  31. Looking north down the main taxiway - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  32. Part of a brook passing under the taxiway - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  33. Looking north down the main taxiway - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  34. A typical "watch tower" on the west side of the station - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  35. Remains of the "boilers" - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  36. Bunker located by 4 hangar - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  37. Remains of steam pipes that were connected to the Airmen's barracks - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.

  38. Unidentified location and remains. Note the overhead steam pipes are still in position - August 1998.
    Courtesy Hugues Herr.


Photographic Credits

All photos are used with permission.


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Updated: July 20 2002