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Chas memoriam
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Welcome
to the
7322nd Materiel Sqdn Sqdn Page
of the
Châteauroux Air Station
Website!
Men at Work
Photos from Ralph "T-Bird" Tompkins
BACK, Dave - Unlocated
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert)
@ Chas: 1963-65
Buddy of Ralph "T-Bird" Tompkins who provided the photos(See
T-Bird's Page for
more photos)
Dave - F-86 - 1963 |
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BEDNAR, Ron
[Where is your email address, Ron?]
@ Chas: 1962-1964
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert)
New Jersey
10/8/2004
I worked in Transient Alert
from 1962-1964. My PAFSC was 43151C. Names I remember are, Ralph Tompkins,
Leland Bundy, Robert Roe, Chris Boyle, Jim Ledbetter, Mike Bush, Smooch,
Sergeants Hoyt or Hyatt, Spurrier, Breedlove, Jack Lavespere, and Ralph Flowers? The civilians that worked with us were Mr. Pages. Bertrand and Lecour.
My roommate's first name was Dave; he worked in POL. I remember parking an F-104
on the "T." The general, piloting the aircraft gave us a nice departure,
straight up.
Ron's
Souvenirs & Memories
Does anyone remember the
slot machines in the bowling alley/snack bar? Jackie and Yvette who
worked at the Frog Pond? How heavy the chocks were that we used on the
transports? Who doesn't remember
Radio
Luxembourg and
Radio Caroline the pirate broadcast station?
 A/2C John Doyle on the right. Merci, Herve'
for sending this clipping.
My most memorable event was
the news of John Fitzgerald Kennedy's
assassination; I was in the OD’s office when I heard the radio
announcement of his death on November 22, 1963.
One
of the highlights of my tour of duty in France was TDY in Paris; ground
support for the 1963 International Air Show at Le Bourget.
Another airman and I signed out two pickup trucks from Motor Pool, a book of gas
ration coupons and away we went, as I remember approximately 150 miles to
Paris. Imagine; being at the airport Charles Lindbergh landed at. What an
adventure it was, especially driving around the Arc De Triumph.
We were billeted at the Hotel Littre. I was impressed with the METRO and the
air show was fantastic; the Air Force Thunderbirds were flying the F-100D at
the time. I saw a lot of firsts, the Rocket Belt and the crash of a VTOL
aircraft; no injury but the craft was totaled and is now on display in a
museum. I also remember going TDY to Bitburg AFB Germany with Chris Boyle to
learn how to service F-105’s as they often visited Châteauroux.
We had taken the wrong train and were on our way to Frankfurt. I also had some
nice R&R in Torrejon, Spain having signed on as a crew member on a base C-47.
I was transferred to
the 81st TFW, 81st OMS RAF Base Bentwaters/Woodbridge England where I
performed duties as a crew chief on the F-101C; I had TDY in Wheelus AFB Libya
where our aircraft went for bombing and gunnery practice. I completed my tour
of active duty in England before returning to McGuire AFB for separation. By
coincidence, Mike Bush was discharged on the same day, July 14,1965. Mike and
I hooked up at McGuire and he stayed with me at my parents’ home in New Jersey
until we completed separation at which time he returned home to Minnesota.
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BLEDSOE, Phillip
 @ Chas:
1956-59 & 1963-64
7322nd Materiel Sqdn
Bandera, TX
See Blade article shown below on this page.
Phil and his wife, Nola, returned from a visit to
France the day before they attended the
San Antonio Dinner Get-together - Nov 2004
/Chateaurox-ACC006.jpg) Phil's
wife (smiling at camera) was sitting on the side of the table (outdoors at the
Bar-b-que place) when the bench collapsed. Thank goodness, no one was
hurt. That's Phil across from her in the blue shirt and justa side note -
that's JP's husband, Charles, in the red shirt.
Gerry Busald (Chad Student) sent these photos.
/Chateaurox-ACC007.jpg) |
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BREEDLOVE, Sgt.
Probably
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert) |
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BUNDY, Leland
@ Chas: 1962-64
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert)
Pittsburgh, PA
These photos are from Ralph "T-Bird" Tompkins'
personal photos.
Below: Ralph
"T-Bird "Tompkins (sweater) and Leland Bundy at the restaurant next to Hotel
Littre in Paris - 1964
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CALHOUN,
A/1C Richard
 @ Chas: 1965 - 1966
7322nd Materiel Sqdn
Pensacola, FL
01/11/2003
I
was assigned to the vehicle maintenance dept. of the 7322 Materiel Sqdn. Aug.20,
1965-Dec. 31,1966. Enjoyed my tour in Châteauroux and the many weekend
visits to Paris.
4-4-09 Chateauroux was the best tour of duty I had while in the USAF.
Enjoyed many hamburgers at Joes from Maine bar and gril l. |
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CIBORSKI, Tom
 7322nd Materiel Sqdn
(Finance)
@ Chas: 9/65-3/67
Monsey, NY
03/03/2001 Was at CHAS Sept 1965-Mar 1967...one of the last out.
Worked in Finance Office for Sgt. Briscoe
who
coached the famous football team. Lots of hours at Joe from Maine &
any other place that had beer. love to hear from anyone ....great memories |
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COUNTERMAN, M/Sgt Andrew (wife, Ruth)
@ CHAS
1965 - 1966
MSGT. Andrew M. and Ruth I. Counterman
Children: Colleen, Donna, Rhonda, Rebeccah, John, Matthew
7233 Materiel Squadron
05-06-07 Info
from daughter, Rhonda Huber - brother Matthew
Born @ Chas
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KATZ, Marshall
Pennsylvania
 08/06/2000 I took a chance putting my
info on the Military Connections page on the chance of getting mail from
someone. So, needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to receive your
(Jenelle's) email. Thanks for writing. Guess our paths crossed as I didn't arrive
at Châteauroux until 1965. I was assigned to the 7322d Matron Sqdn. and
worked in BEMO (warehouse functions) although we didn't have a warehouse.
BEMO was located on the La Martinerie administrative side (Déols was the
operational side). I'll send you some scans of interesting items
and scenes from around town to add to the website.
Thanks for the Memories!
Best regards,
Marshall Katz
CMS, USAF Ret.
Marshall's Photos
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KRAFT, Robert "Bob"
5-20-08 I was stationed at Chateauroux 1962-66. I thought
it would be neat to find a website for Chateauroux and found yours. I was
assigned to the radar shop which, I believe was under the 7322 Materiel
Sqdn.
.... I have a friend who was in the base photo lab that I may be able to get
some pictures from and send to you.
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LAW, Bill - 1963
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert)
(friend of Ralph "T-Bird" Tompkins)
7-13-07
My name is Bill Law, age 71. I
was stationed at CHAS from Jan 62 until Jan 66. My daughter Teresa was
born @ CHAS August 27,
1964. My son went to grammar school there also. I would like to go
to the CHAS 2007 Reunion. Thank you very much and you also have a very
nice site.
[jpnote:
Thanks,
T-Bird, for the photos.]
 Bill
& unnamed buddy - in the Barracks.
 Bill
& Ralph "T-Bird" Tompkins.
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PELTOLA, Wallace A. (Not found yet)
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert)
@ CHAS 1965 -66
See
Sabre Blade Article 4-8-66 (shown
below) about Wallace - "The Whittling Mechanic"
The article is shared by Chad Alumnus - Philippe
LeBourveau
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PETTEYS, Dave
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert)
Williamsburg, VA
03/09/2001 Comments: I was stationed Chas (7322nd Material Sqdn).
from 1961 to 1963. Was A1C at the time and worked on all of the AC including
Silk Purse C-118's |
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REAVES, Russell
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert)
 Buddy
of Ralph "T-Bird" Tompkins - Photo taken 1961 - T-Bird sent the
photo. |
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ROE, Bob
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert)
@ Chas: 1963-65 (probably)
 Bob
is a buddy of Ralph "T-Bird" Tompkins. Thanks, T-Bird for the photo. |
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ROEBER, Robert R. - 7322nd Air
Materiel (Finance Office)
@ Chas:
May 1964 thru Aug 1966
Lannon, WI
10-16-06 Great times at Joe from Maine, Wine shack, Royan, LeMans,
Paris, Working with the team at the finance office, Airmans club with the
great bands and drink specials, Hi-Fi Latin club in Paris, and best friends a
person could ever have, Driving around in my 1965 VW. I do have
pics to share. |
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ROHR, Bill -
7322 MATS (silk purse)
@ Chas: 1963-1965
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert)
Burkeville, VA
I lived at 302 Georgia Place in Brassioux for
the years listed. |
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RUSSELL, Charles
@ Chas: 1962-1966
7322 Materiel Sqdn
San Antonio, Texas
Searching for: Anyone in Aircraft Maintenance C-118 and specifically the electric shop
My best memories was winning the base fast pitch
softball championship with Ray Lejuene pitching.
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SPUNG, T/Sgt James
@ Chas: 1961-1963
@ Chas: 1965-1966
7322 Materiel Sqdn
2-9-09 Email from daughter,
Nathalie,
Born
at Chas
Hi, ran across this website looking up
something about my Dad.
He was in the 7322nd Material Sqdn. His name is James Spung he was a T Sgt. He was stationed there twice Feb. 1961 to
July 1963 and again Sept. 1965 to 1966. I was born there in the base hospital in 1961. Just seeing if anyone remembers him.
Thank you Nathalie Spung
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STARNES, Garland R. See
Garland's Photo
Page
3130th Air Base Group &
7322nd Air Police Sqdn &
7322nd Materiel Control Sqdn (BEMO)
Mount Olive, NC
 7-3-00
I
was just surfing and ran across this page and bookmarked it as a favorite.
I was stationed @ Chad from 1961 thru 1963. I was assigned to the Air
Police Sqdndn. In 1961 for "Operation Silk Purse." Later, I was reclassified &
assigned to BEMO in the Supply Sqdndn. At one time, I knew some of the Chad
students, but time has erased the memory of their names. I think it is greate
that you guys have a forum such as this to stay in touch with each other. This
is one of the best such sites I have found. The pics of Joe Gagne bring back
memories of a lot of good times in the Ville. Thanks Mike! I would like to hear
from any friends of mine "American or French" that may run across this site.
 Art & Cathy Dunn with
Evelyn & Garland Starnes - taken 9/23/04 in Smithfield, NC.
This was a 41-year
reunion. We had not seen each other in that long.
We have have been in contact by email for
several years. It was good to hash over old times & to see him & meet his
wife Cathy.
Hello everyone: I was
stationed at Châteauroux AS from Feb 1962 thru Sept 1963. I was originally assigned to the 3130th Air Base Group as a part of Operation "SILK PURSE."
First assignment at Châteauroux was in the Air Police. I was assigned to the
7322nd Air Police Sqdndn. as air policeman and security guard in July of 1962.
I was reclassified Dec 1962 and assigned to the 7322nd Materiel Sqdndn.
(Worked in the tool crib) BEMO = Base Equipment Materiel Office as a clerk.
I would hope that everyone that visits this site will sign in. Let everyone
know if you have a connection to Châteauroux. I would like to hear from you
guys and so would the other guys. It makes no difference what outfit you
were in. I hope if you have material or pictures that would add value to
this site, you will share with the administrator of the site. Let's make
this forum a success. (My nickname at Chad was "Horse). To any of our French
friends that may come to this site, Welcome!!!!!!!! Everybody sign in and
drop me a line. Let's stay in touch. Special thanks to John Doyle. Let us
hear from you.
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SULLIVAN, Paul R.
@ Chas: 64-67
7322nd Materiel Sqdn
Middleboro, MA
10/22/2002 - Recently had a reunion with two other Chas vets. Terrence Marcantonio
and Stanley Nixon.
05/01/2003 - C,mon, lemmee hear from
someone. Went back to CHAS in 2000. Place still the same.
12-7-03 Lemme hear
from somebody. Went back for a visit in 2000. Joe from Maine still there. A
Tex-Mex restaurant, believe it or not.
12-31-06
[jpnote: Paul is
thinking about going to Chas 2007 Reunion
but,
he was not able to attend.]
12-27-09 Guestbook hello |
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TOMPKINS,
Ralph E. "T-bird"] Passed Away - June 5, 2005
@ Chas: 1962-1965
7322nd Materiel Sqdn (Transient Alert) From Tennessee
T-Bird - 1963 - Taken at the Chas Bus Station in one
of those photo boxes
08/18/2002 Comments: bon jur: Im still alive, amazing isn't.
How's big daddy [fat daddy] do you remember?
[jpnote 6-8-05: I debated leaving Ralph's opening comment he made
when he first found the website. Obviously, I decided to leave it.
I had phone conversations with T-Bird many times and learned the meaning
behind his cursive comment. T-Bird lived most of his adult life
disabled and in pain. For the most part, so he said, T-Bird
enjoyed his tour of duty at Châteauroux and shared many reminders and
memories of his buddies and their activities. Though we never met
in person, I felt a kinship with T-Bird especially after meeting his
daughter, Lisa, and grandchildren at Gatlinburg, TN a couple of years
ago. T-Bird's photos are scattered throughout the website and for
his thoughtfulness his memory will be kept alive. T-Bird, you are
missed.]
 [jpnote:
Ralph & I talked a few times on the phone. He was very proud of his
daughter, Lisa, and her children, Todd & Nicole. This photo was taken when
a few Chad friends met in Gatlinburg, TN. Lisa works a few miles up the
road in Sieverville. Ralph couldn't come to the gathering; he was up north
on the east coast at the time.]
jpnote: I just noticed the resemblence between T-Bird and his grandson!
 
T-Bird's Photos
T-Bird at Déols beside a C-130 & an
F86 - 1963 |
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Dallas, TX
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