Eric H.  
Carson City, NV

2-20-06  Seeking information about a Major NOBLE who apparently served in Silk Purse EC-118 aircraft sometime between 1961 and 1965. I am a USAF vet but did not serve at Châteauroux. I am doing some historical research and am simply trying to identify Major NOBLE whose first name began DA-----. Thanks!

 [jpnote:  excerpt from Eric's email to Jerry Parker (7322nd CAMS) with whom I connected: 

2-24-06I enlisted in the Air Force after grad school and was discharged in 1967. My active duty was entirely in the Air Training Command at Lackland and at the Medina annex. I have been a gun collector since I was a teenager. For seven years I have been collecting USAF firearms, holsters and accessories, AF pubs about firearms, and photos of Air Force personnel with small arms, especially pistols and revolvers. I did not know about Chateauroux Air Station until September 2005 when I won an Aircrewman revolver holster in an eBay auction. Attached to the holster I found a fragment of an address label. Only this text remained: Major Da P.O. Box Silk Purse ContAPO 10, New Later I found NOBLE neatly marked in blue ink inside the holster flap. I quickly learned that APO 10 New York was established in 1951 to serve Chateauroux Air Station and related units. I also soon learned that Silk Purse Control Group was the name of a mysterious Airborne Command Post operation, based first at Chateauroux, then at RAF Mildenhall, and finally at Lajes AB. Major Noble likely flew in one of the EC-118 aircraft assigned to the 7120th ACCS at Chateauroux between 1961 and 1965.

7-31-07Just a note to say that I recently visited Chateauroux with Claude and Bob Portelle. Claude is a native of Chateauroux
and Bob is a Massachusetts native who served at Chateauroux. They now own an apartment in town and have been there for 2 months this summer. I stayed in a Chambre d'Hote in Coings/Cere with a view of the airbase. The Chambre d'Hote is called:
Altelier Welter in Coings/Cere. We had dinner one night at Joe's which is now Tex-Mex. It was fun to learn about the base and the American community in town. This was all new to me. I lived in France for two years (with a Raytheon contract) that's when I met the Portelles.  We all live now in the Greater Lowell, MA area. I didn't see the new "airbus" but I was told that pilots practice landing and take-off at the base.  We visited the Cathedral at Bourges and other medieval churches in the area. Something we are all interested in. I practiced my French and I think I did pretty well. It was harvest time, lots of wheat and a plant called Calzo. There had been a lot of rain in early July. But by the middle of the month things had improved. I enjoyed it very much. I especially enjoyed my last day in Paris, my favorite place.  

12-7-05 My name is Damien, i live in Déols, and i'm very happy to see your internet site. I'm so sorry for my english is very bad. We've got 1 point in common, we love déols. If you want, one day, it's possible for me to take some photos and i send us by the net. For the moment I live in Bourgogne, but i'm coming frequently in Déols, my family live in châteauroux.  Best regards... Damien Boutillet

Baseball Pitcher -Milano, Italy
1962-63

Sallie Wren '52 photo

Hello, my name is Nathalie, I'm 23 years old,I leave in france, in Châteauroux, near to "Touvent" my grandmother often tell me about the american base because she used to work for americans people, she was doing housework for them and she keeps lots of good remerbers.  My father used to play with american children, he also keeps very good remembers. Americans offered him a teddy bear wich he gave me and I always keep it. I think my father and my grandparents would be so happy to find someone they have known during this period. So if someone recognize them, please write me..my grandparents are named Marie Louise and Fernand Lavergne and my father, Patrick (moreover he was liked for his name because of the st patrick)

02/01/2003   I was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Châteauroux. Would love to hear from former members of this Southern Baptist Church. The church closed in 1966 when the base closed.

ZABUN, Halit - Turkish Air Force 
@ Chas:  1955-1956 - Supply Inspection Course
Resides in Luxembourg
1-1-06  I was stationed in La Martinerie attending Supply Inspection course. I remember there were officers and NCOs from other nations like Yugoslavians.  We had several instructor I don't remember them all except one Miss Jump. She was not only a very knowledged Instructor but has been a mother for us, five young NCOs from Turkish Air force.In the short period I was in Châteauroux I managed to meet a young french girl, got married in Ankara and have been marfied since. It is going to be 50 years next November. I was in Châteauroux for Christmas period, Most of the buildings in Déols and La Martinerie are still as same as when we left them in 1966 - 1967 . Countryside is still beatiful and peaceful. I wish to all of you and your families a Happy, Healthy 2006 and God Bless you.