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- Father Gallagher conducting Mass on Christmas Eve - 24 December 1952.
Note that this room served as our dining room - as can be seen by the shutters behind the make shift alter where the dirty dishes were returned. The NCOs were eating with the airmen while our Mess was being completed. Father Gallagher later became a Bishop in civilian life.
Courtesy Joe Cox.
- This photo was taken a few minutes before Mass. - 24 December 1952.
Note the organ at the left rear of the photo.
Courtesy Joe Cox.
- Official hand-over of the station from the French to the Canadian government - 13 December 1952.
The rest of the story.
Courtesy Brian Milne.
- Wind damage to buildings on the station - 12 December 1952.
Courtesy Assorted Sources.
- (L-R) Unknown, Ramrod Mathews, Jack Louden, Dick Kerr, Dave Johnson - December 1952.
Courtesy Bob Cooper.
- MSE section Christmas party in the Social Center - December 1952.
Courtesy Alan Richards.
- Larger image of the MSE section Christmas party photo - December 1952.
Courtesy Alan Richards.
- Air Force Police Christmas party - December 1952.
The rest of the story.
Courtesy Gordon Delaney.
- The water situation at 2 Wing - December 1952.
Courtesy Tom Wylie.
- (L-R) LAC Frank Turner and Cpl Gerry Cann - December 1952.
Courtesy Gerry Cann.
- Sgt Ron Rockey contemplating the future - December 1952.
The rest of the story.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- USAF Dakotas on the ramp at Grostenquin - December 1952.
USAF personnel arrived for various "opening functions".
Courtesy Roger Chenier.
- Station theater under construction - December 1952.
Courtesy Hank Tatarchuck.
- Nothing but mud as far as the eye can see - December 1952.
Courtesy Hank Tatarchuck.
- Steam Plant not yet in operation - December 1952.
Courtesy Ted Frost.
- Candy Kane floor show - December 1952.
Courtesy Ted Frost.
- Candy Kane floor show - December 1952.
Courtesy Ted Frost.
- Candy Kane floor show - December 1952.
Courtesy Ted Frost.
- A beautiful sunset at Grostenquin - November 1952.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- Ray Walker on "Crash Duty" by the Control Tower - November 1952.
Courtesy Ray Walker.
- Unidentified French national with Gerry O'Keefe by the Fire Truck - November 1952.
Courtesy Ray Walker.
- The hangar line - November 1952.
Courtesy Norm Avery.
- Convoy of 14 fuel bowsers en route to Grostenquin - November 1952.
The rest of the story.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- Convoy of 14 fuel bowsers en route to Grostenquin - November 1952.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- Convoy of 14 fuel bowsers arrive at Grostenquin - November 1952.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- These 16 personnel were selected to drive the Refuelling tenders from Le Havre to Grostenquin - November 1952.
The rest of the story.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- 2 Wing has its first trace of snow - November 1952.
Courtesy Bob Smith.
- Ongoing construction at 2 Wing - November 1952.
Courtesy Bob Smith.
- We had been told that the station was ready for occupancy - November 1952.
Courtesy Kenneth "KD" Macdonald
- Algerian labourers working in a ditch - November 1952.
Courtesy Kenneth "KD" Macdonald
- Construction of the station "heating system" - November 1952.
Courtesy Kenneth "KD" Macdonald
- RCAF personnel having to deal with early winter conditions - November 1952.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- One of the many hangars still under construction - November 1952.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Ongoing construction at 2 Wing - November 1952.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Ongoing construction at 2 Wing - November 1952.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- One of the many Algerians heading for work - November 1952.
Note the crane in front of the barracks.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Military personnel heading for work - November 1952.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Early work in progress at the POL area - November 1952.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Installation of a Direction Finder at 2 Wing - November 1952.
AC1 Johnny Vigneault and AC1 Patrick Morrissey install a Direction Finding unit used to facilitate the return to the airfield of lost pilots or pilots in difficulty.
Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.
- A small WWII memorial close to the station - November 1952.
Courtesy Bob Smith.
- A photo of the original "Arab Canteen" - November 1952.
The rest of the story.
Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.
- Early PBX installation at 2 Wing Grostenquin - November 1952.
Courtesy Kenneth "KD" Macdonald
- Algerian labourers working by the Airman's barracks - November 1952.
Courtesy Kenneth "KD" Macdonald
- Materiel stored in a partially completed hangar - November 1952.
Courtesy Leslie Raymond Taylor (deceased).
- Travel Orders to France, Page 1 of 2 - 25 October 1952.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- Travel Orders to France, Page 2 of 2 - 25 October 1952.
Courtesy Claude Bernier.
- Unidentified personnel standing by the RCAF Station Grostenquin sign - 19 October 1952.
Courtesy Roy Norman.
- The fleet of British made "Shop Mules" - 15 October 1952.
Courtesy Roy Norman.
- 430 Squadron Sabres have just arrived at 2 Wing - 11 October 1952.
We have heard many stories about the condition of 2 Wing when the Sabres arrived in Grostenquin. This photo clearly shows Hangars with frames and roofs - but no sides. You can also see a number of airmen sitting on Supply Crates which were in the open because of insufficient storage facilities.
Courtesy Larry Milberry.
- Two squadrons on the ground, awaiting the arrival of the third - 11 October 1952.
Courtesy Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre PL-62570.
- Larger image of the previous photo - 11 October 1952.
This photo clearly shows Hangars with frames and roofs - but no sides. You can also see a number of airmen sitting on Supply Crates which were in the open because of insufficient storage facilities. This file is 741K to allow the best possible viewing of the condition of the hangars at the time.
Courtesy Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre PL-62570.
- Another view of the ramp area at 2 Wing after the arrival of the Sabres - 11 October 1952.
430 Squadron Sabres in the foreground with 421 and 416 Squadron Sabres at the back.
Courtesy Fabrice Loubette.
- This is the kind of rig that was used to heat the buildings in the early days - October 1952.
Courtesy Bob Morgan.
- This is what the "Officer's Mess" looked like when we arrived at 2 Wing - October 1952.
Courtesy Tom Wylie.
- This barrack block at 2 Wing served as our "Home Sweet Home" - October 1952.
There was no hot water or electricity and the rooms werepopulated with six men in three double bunks. Oh yes - did I tell you about the "mud"?.
Courtesy Tom Wylie.
- Sgt Joe Cox standing at the entrance to his barrack block - October 1952.
Note the walkway which consisted of a wooden sidewalk placed on wooden boxes.
Courtesy Joe Cox.
- 421 Squadron ground crew sampling the mud at Grostenquin - October 1952.
You had to walk a narrow path, wearing rubber boots, to get to the original Mess Hall.
Courtesy Johnny Vigneault.
- Armed Forces Movement Order - 24 September 1952.
Courtesy Gerald Cann.
- Movement Eastbound memorandum - 10 September 1952.
Courtesy Bob Smith.
- This partially completed aircraft hangar served temporarily as a storage area for material that arrived in crates from Canada - September 1952.
These crates contained mattresses. Note a small number of Supply Techs in the foreground.
The rest of the story.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- Unidentified RCAF personnel checking things out around the perimeter fence - September 1952.
Courtesy Roger Chenier.
- Visiting RAF Meteor jet - August 1952.
Courtesy Roger Chenier.
- RCAF Dakota on the ramp at Grostenquin - August 1952.
Courtesy Roger Chenier.
- Buildings in various stages of construction - August 1952.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
- Construction continues in an attempt to meet existing commitments and deadlines - August 1952.
Courtesy Norm Avery.
- The Hotel Dore, in Paris, served as my residence for some three weeks prior to my departure for 2 Wing - August 1952.
Courtesy Ron Rockey.
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