I was a 291 assigned to the 1950th
AACS Sq Wheelus AB, Libya from May of 56 until Oct of 57. I, along with several of my fellow trainees at Sampson AFB (Flight 4599) were sent to F.E. Warren AFB, Wy for Comm Center training. For some reason I was selected for the “short” course (12 weeks) and was informed I was to go on to Scott AFB for crypto ops training. That did not materialize though as I along with others were suddenly sent to Wheelus as 291s. Several of my former basic training buddies had the 16 week 291 course and were placed in a different squadron than me. Upon graduation they attended crypto ops school at Scott AFB. I met them later in the summer of 1956 when they passed through Wheelus on their way to Crete. I recall the names of Lambert and O’Neil as being in that group. Does anyone recall them at Crete in 1956 - 1957? My B.I. clearance came through while at Wheelus and I began working as a 292 as well as a 291. I rotated back to Havre AFS in MT where I separated from active duty and began a long and lengthy career with the federal government based on my background in the USAF. Incidentially Lambert and O’Neil were both from NY state.

I was stationed as an Intercept Radio Operator (USAFSS)
in Tripoli (Libya) from 10/54 to 3/55, then transferred to the 6938th RSM in Iraklion, Crete from 3/55 to 11/55.
From there back to March AFB until discharged as
S/Sgt. in September, 1957.

Would like to hear from anyone who was stationed
at any of those bases at the above-mentioned times….

F. Sano
San Clemente, CA

Hello Frank
We have talked previously, just saw
your name and thought I would say “hello” and Merry Christmas. Hope all
is well with you and yours. Crete was
a long time ago but still have good
memories as I am sure you do as well.

Regards

Roger

Yes, Roger, it was a long time ago. About 62 years, but
I remember it well. Great bunch of Airmen to work with and I sure would like to hear from any of them. The deserted base does not look like anything it was when I was there - very small indeed with spartan working and living areas.

The code has never left me…….!

Frank
San Clemente

USAF - 1953-1957. Intercept Radio Operator & Later
Cryptographic Operations. Stationed in Tripoli, Libya, then on to Iraklion, Crete in 1955 - Base only open
about one year - Very Small. Left Crete in fall of 1956.
Anybody out there serving at that time?

I was stationed at Wheelus from 1956 through 1957. TTY/Crypto operations. Had some friends who were at Crete at that time. Names Lambert and O’Neil familiar to you? They were crypto ops as well.

I was on the base in 1956-1957 and I ran the old power plant which was behind the mess haul.

Trying to find anyone who remembers my dad, Melvin Johns. He started out at Keesler AFB in Biloxi MS 1954. We then moved to March AFB in 1955, and Iraklion in 1957. He was a 6’5″ African American man, with a petite wife and two young daughters.

Hi Anita, by any chance did your family live near Boulder CO in the late ’60s? Regardless, my dad was James “Ray” Speegle, and we were at IAS in 1960-61.

Hi Cathy, in the 60’s we were at Ft. Meade.

Frank Sano. I wasn’t stationed at IAB but knew airmen who were. They would have worked in crypto ops during the 56-57 time frame. Their names are Lambert and O’Neil. I went thru basic with them at SAFB and on to F.E. Warren for Comm Ctr Ops training. Was selected to go on to Scott for crypto training but that didn’t happen. I, along with others, were sent to the 1950th AACS Sq at Wheelus instead as Comm Ctr Ops. I OJTed into crypto ops when my B.I. TS clearance caught up with me. The last time I saw O’Neil and Lambert was when they passed through Wheelus on their way to IAB. Do you recall those names while you were there. They would have been working in crypto ops at the time as I recall.

Jim Muse:

Jim - I left in 1956 - I believe early spring. I do not
remember the names Lambert or O’Neill, but I have
photos from that time with names on the back. I
will dig them up and see if I possibly knew them.
At the time, we were working out of a small quonset
hut structure divided into two parts - morse intercept and voice intercept….

I’ll get back to you…

S/Sgt F. Sano. (A/2c at the time in Crete)

Anita, We also lived at Ft. Meade, approx. 1962-1964. I was in 7th and 8th grades at what was then Ann Arundel Junior High. The AF community attached to NSA was pretty small, so our fathers might have worked together.

We got to Ft. Meade in Feb. of ’63. We lived on Dodd Ct. in the new townhouses. I was in the 2nd grade and attended Pershing Hill Elem. Then I went to third grade in old barracks while they built the new elem. school. I spent 1/2 of the fourth grade in the new school, and then dad (Melvin Johns) got out of the AF. We stayed in Virginia w/ my dad’s family for 1 1/2 yrs., and then moved back to MD where mom and dad went to work for NSA.

Anita, We went in a different direction, but perhaps another person who sees this thread can help you. You could also try this organization: http://www.usafssrollcall.org/index.html

Also there is an IAS group on Facebook-intended for military but dependents are allowed to join too.

My induction date was 18 Aug, 1958.. I don’t remember your dad in my flight, but that was a bumper year for the USAF. He could have been one week earlier or later.

All of us with the right AQE scores wound up at Keesler,AFB, marching across that scorching flight line from school back to the dorms; and thinking that we were paying our times in hell: Gawd, we had no clue..

My first assignment came thru in late ’59, and it was ‘Crete’.. Where the hell is that? Actually it was the most beautiful island in the Medit
erranean with the most American-friendly population in the world.

But there was a stopover in Tripoli. Honestly, I think that week at Whelus AFB was designed to prepare us for a different society. Okay, USAF; nobody messes with Greek girls; we got the message..LOL 18 months of celibacy.

My induction date was 18 Aug, 1958.. I don’t remember your dad in my flight, but that was a bumper year for the USAF. He could have been one week earlier or later.

All of us with the right AQE scores wound up at Keesler,AFB, marching across that scorching flight line from school back to the dorms; and thinking that we were paying our times in hell: Gawd, we had no clue..

My first assignment came thru in late ’59, and it was ‘Crete’.. Where the hell is that? Actually it was the most beautiful island in the Medit
erranean with the most American-friendly population in the world.

But there was a stopover in Tripoli. Honestly, I think that week at Whelus AFB was designed to prepare us for a different society. Okay, USAF; nobody messes with Greek girls; we got the message..LOL 18 months of celibacy.

Then you send us to Taipei, for a 15 month ‘remote,’ where anything is
possible, on any street. Ia there any question why I would have stayed for

As a 292X1 ditty-bop from the git-go,and maybe branching out; It was a rewarding path.

I knew airmen who were 292XXs at Crete. Went through basic with them in NY. I went to Wheelus fol tech school as a 291XX. My TS came thru while there. Rcvd training in the 292XX field. My friends (Lambert and O’Neil) passed thru Wheelus on way to Crete in late 57. They were 292XXs (Crypto Ops). AFSC 292XX was changed to radio later on?

I posted a previous comment which anyone can still read as it is still “up”…

I was stationed in Tripoli (USAFSS) about a year in 1954-1955, then was transferred to Iraklion, Crete from 1955 to 1956. Base was tiny, lived in Dallas Huts, etc.

However, the Greek population was wonderful to us
GI’s. They had only gotten rid of the Germans around
ten years before - and indeed we visited remnants of
German air bases and radio stations.

I remember going to dances where there were Greek
girls for us to dance with - chaperoned of course. Also had numerous dinners at Greek homes. Wasn’t crazy about the goat brains they served often. I am still very proud of my service time with the USAFSS…..

I posted a previous comment which anyone can still read.

However, the Greek population was wonderful to us
GI’s. They had only gotten rid of the Germans around
ten years before - and indeed we visited remnants of
German air bases and radio stations.

I remember going to dances where there were Greek
girls for us to dance with - chaperoned of course. Also had numerous dinners at Greek homes. Wasn’t crazy about the goat brains they served often. I am still very proud of my service time with the USAFSS…..

My father, Senior Master Sargent Ollie W. Clark, was stationed in Iraklion Crete from 67-69. He retired in 74 as CMSgt. My father coached little league baseball as my brother, Bruce, played. He also played softball as I remember watching him many a time. What I most remember is the fourth of July celebrations on the beach on base where my father would fill milk bottles with sand and have a booth where all the kids [and adults] could take a turn at trying to knock the bottles down. When we first arrived we lived in the town of Iraklion before moving into the temporary base housing which were trailers with lean-tools. I have fond memories of those years on the island also though I was 7 when we arrived and 9 when we went back to Germany. I don’t know if anyone here knew my father. He died in 1985 in a car accident and I just returned from Washington DC with my 82 year old mother where we visited his place of internment in Arlington National cemetery. Those in the USAF Security Services did a great service during the cold war. My father was in the Army at the time of the USAFSS inception and was one of the first men recruited to join this new branch of service. It was high stress and very secretive as it was necessary for the times. Even toward the end of his life, he would not speak of what he had done as a member of this branch of service. I wish I could know more about what his specific role, though I know, in general, what the USAFSS did as a whole.
Connie Clark

Sorry for your loss. Didn’t know your father,I was there 71-74, but you should be proud of him and his service. .The reason he never spoke of what he did,he took an oath that never expired. Harold Siverd

Thanks Harold for your response. I do know he took an oath that never expired. I just wish he could have spoken of some of what he experienced but even then was aware that was not possible. I am proud of my father’s service. And feel lucky that he was able to serve in the European Theatre for almost all of his career except for two years from 60-62 in San Antonio TX. Not only was I born in Germany, My childhood is also full of many rich memories of Europe and Crete. Connie Clark

Hi Connie

I might have known your father. Do you remember what flight he was on? I was assigned to Able Flight.

I was stationed on Crete from Aug 1968 to November, 1971. I loved it so much I extended my assignment there for my entire active duty hitch.

My memories of my time on Crete are strong to this day and all positive. I returned to visit in August, 1991. Much had changed. Crete had become a trendy tourist destination for all of Europe aided by relatively inexpensive airfare and the expansion of airfield to land 727s and 737s safely.

I hope to get back again some day.

Hi Edward,
I don’t know what flight my father was on when stationed in Crete. Is there some way I can find out? I’m not sure I have any of his orders from that time though I had previously found some from when he was in the Army in 1947-49 before being recruited to the newly formed USAFSS. Suggestions on where I should search or inquire will be much appreciated. Connie

Connie,go to the site papoumac.shutterfly.com. Have Gary macPherson add you if you want to comment. You don’t have to be a member to browse,just to comment or post. There are albums posted from various “eras” with photos.Who knows you might even see a photo of your Dad or someone you recognize…It’s worth a shot. Harold

I was stationed at IAS 1969-1972 at the Dental Clinic where I was the Hygenist for the Base. Eloy Becerra was the NCOIC with Bob Dunn the Dental Lab guy. The Dentist I remeber was Dr Miller and the Dental Assistants were Nelso Jollissant and Cameron Webster. If any of you are on the web site I can be reached at [email protected]

Hi Anita,
I remember you in crete when we were little. Your mom Pat and my mom barbara were grest friends. Your dad and my dad were the tallest on the base basketball taem. What fun days. Guess who lives in myhome town and was stationed with us. Sgt brown and wife Minnie . Their son married my momsclassmate duaghter. They were in Saudi Arabia for quite some time working for an oil company. I live in San Antonio. How is your lil sis Beryl