Grostenquin France

The Tale of the Sign - Assorted Sources

The RCAF arrived at Grostenquin in October of 1952 and effectively departed by July 1964. As was the case with all military installations, elaborate signs were constructed bearing the identification of the location - and strategically placed for all to see when approaching the station.

2 Wing at Grostenquin was no different than any other RCAF station. What appears to be the first sign appears in the 1953 photos offered below and simply read "RCAF Grostenquin". This sign appears to have been located on the left hand side of the approach road - about half way between the intersection of highway D79 (the road that ran between Hemering and the village of Grostenquin) and the main gate to the airfield. This sign was rather basic in design.

It was time for a change - a major change. The second sign was much larger, and it was moved back closer to the intersection of D79 and the approach road to the airfield. You will note (in the May 1954 photo) that the sign referred to "N2 Fighter Wing Headquarters" while this same sign (by April 1957) read "2 Fighter Wing Grostenquin".

The next noticeable change in signs appears with the arrival of an Accident Statistic Board in August 1960. This sign was located on the right hand side of the road as you departed the station.

It was time for yet another change, and by April 1961 the large station sign was moved from the intersection of highway D79 and the approach road to the station - to a location very close to the main gate - on the right hand side of the road as you approached the airfield. If you look very carefully at the April 1961 photo, you will notice that they also moved the Accident Statistics Board to a position 90 degrees from the main station sign. In other words - as you drove into the station you would be able to read the station sign, and as you departed the station, you would be able to read the Accident Statistics Board.


Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. "The Old 2 (F) Wing Sign" - September 1989.
    Courtesy Christine Fripp.

  2. Remains of the station sign well hidden behind growing brush - April 1989.
    Courtesy Al Hampshire.

  3. Closer view of the station sign - April 1989.
    Courtesy Al Hampshire.

  4. Closer yet with evidence of fading paint - April 1989.
    Courtesy Al Hampshire.

  5. One of the Roundels on the station sign - April 1989.
    Courtesy Al Hampshire.

  6. Remains of the sign at the main gate - September 1975.
    Courtesy Sharon McQuarrie (Nielsen).

  7. The sign by the main gate at 2 Wing - October 1974.
    Courtesy Peter LaMontagne.

  8. The sign by the main gate at 2 Wing - March 1964.
    Courtesy RJ Montpetit.

  9. A night view of the station sign decorated for Christmas - December 1963.
    Courtesy Leon Tretjakewitsch.

  10. The sign at the main gate - May 1963.
    Courtesy Michael Roy.

  11. Larger image of the sign - May 1963.
    Courtesy Michael Roy.

  12. Accident Statistic sign (see on departure from the station) - May 1963.
    Courtesy Michael Roy.

  13. Larger image of the Accident Statistic sign - May 1963.
    Courtesy Michael Roy.

  14. The Accident Statistics Board as seen when departing the station - June 1962.
    Courtesy Lucien St-Hilaire and Michel "Mike" Fleury.

  15. The 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin sign showing its location in relation to the main gate - January 1962.
    Courtesy Gerry Morrison.

  16. The 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin sign showing its location in relation to the main gate - July 1961.
    Courtesy Al Hampshire.

  17. The 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin sign is moved to a location close to the main gate with the Accident Statistics Board moved to the same position - April 1961.
    Courtesy Lucien St-Hilaire.

  18. The 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin sign located at the junction of the approach road to the station - March 1961.
    Courtesy Hal Hicks.

  19. The 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin sign located at the junction of the approach road to the station - December 1960.
    Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.

  20. The Accident Statistics Board seen when departing the station - August 1960.
    Courtesy Don Hodgson.

  21. The 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin sign on approach to the station - July 1960.
    Courtesy Hans VanLeeuwen.

  22. The Accident Statistics Board seen when departing the station - June 1960.
    Courtesy Lucien St-Hilaire.

  23. The 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin sign on approach to the station - June 1960.
    Courtesy Don Hodgson.

  24. The 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin sign on approach to the station - May 1959.
    Courtesy Frank Joudrey.

  25. The 2 (F) Wing Grostenquin sign on approach to the station - April 1959.
    Courtesy Ted Hackett.

  26. (L-R) Pat Pond and Rosemary Billard standing by the 2 Fighter Wing Grostenquin sign - April 1957.
    Courtesy Fred Pond.

  27. The N2 Fighter Wing Headquarters sign as seen approaching the station - April 1955.
    The rest of the story.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  28. The N2 Fighter Wing Headquarters sign as seen approaching the station - June 1954.
    Courtesy Roy Norman.

  29. The N2 Fighter Wing Headquarters sign as seen approaching the station - May 1954.
    Courtesy Richard Frampton.

  30. Bill Gaston on a motorcycle by the RCAF Grostenquin sign on the approach road - September 1953.
    Courtesy Bill Gaston.

  31. Jack Seguin on his Vincent HRD motorcycle by the RCAF Grostenquin sign on the approach road - September 1953.
    Courtesy Bill Gaston.

  32. The RCAF Grostenquin sign as seen on the approach road - August 1953.
    Courtesy Paul Landry.

  33. Gordon Delaney standing by the RCAF Grostenquin sign on the approach road - August 1953.
    Courtesy Gordon Delaney.

  34. Bill Steed standing by the RCAF Grostenquin sign - May 1953.
    Courtesy Alex Johnson.

  35. RCAF personnel standing by the RCAF Grostenquin sign - April 1953.
    (L-R) - unknown, Alex Johnson.
    Courtesy Alex Johnson.

  36. Hal Eckhart and Tom Wallace standing by the RCAF Grostenquin sign - March 1953.
    Courtesy Alan Richards.

  37. Unidentified airman standing by the sign - February 1953.
    Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).

  38. Gerry Palmer standing by the RCAF Grostenquin sign on the approach road - January 1953.
    Courtesy Tom Wylie.

  39. Leo Tremblay standing by the RCAF Grostenquin sign on the approach road - January 1953.
    Courtesy Tom Wylie.

  40. The RCAF Station Grostenquin sign by the original Arab Shack - November 1952.
    Courtesy Alan Richards.

  41. Unidentified personnel standing by the RCAF Station Grostenquin sign - 19 October 1952.
    Courtesy Roy Norman.


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Updated: February 17, 2005