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US Air Force in Libya, 1953

JohnPaul

JohnPaul

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I was stationed with the US Air Force near Tripoli in Libya in 1953. Is there anyone here who remembers Libya back then? Is there anyone here who remembers 1953?

I was a Radio Operator on the crew of a C-119 cargo plane with the 580th ARC Wing, stationed at Wheelus Field near Tripoli. The entire Wing moved from Idaho to our new base at Wheelus in Sep, 1952. There wasn't room for us all at Wheelus, so a couple of thousand of us lived in a "tent city" of 8-man tents for 14 months. It was fun and the best time of my life. I made frequent flights to many countries in Europe and North Africa. I liked the Libyans, distrusted the Egyptians and despised the Saudis. And of course Germany was our favorite. The German Frauleins were wonderful.

I remember a small Italian tavern near the gate of our tent-city compound, called "Al Oasi di Tagiura." Tagiura was a small Arab village near Tripoli. There was also a small Arab/Italian restaurant on the beach nearby where some of us often ate breakfast. A big plate of poached eggs and thinly sliced steak, with coffee and juice, cost about 70 cents. I wish I could go back to see it now, but of course it is all gone.
 
JohnPaul said:
I was stationed with the US Air Force near Tripoli in Libya in 1953. Is there anyone here who remembers Libya back then? Is there anyone here who remembers 1953?

I was a Radio Operator on the crew of a C-119 cargo plane with the 580th ARC Wing, stationed at Wheelus Field near Tripoli. The entire Wing moved from Idaho to our new base at Wheelus in Sep, 1952. There wasn't room for us all at Wheelus, so a couple of thousand of us lived in a "tent city" of 8-man tents for 14 months. It was fun and the best time of my life. I made frequent flights to many countries in Europe and North Africa. I liked the Libyans, distrusted the Egyptians and despised the Saudis. And of course Germany was our favorite. The German Frauleins were wonderful.

I remember a small Italian tavern near the gate of our tent-city compound, called "Al Oasi di Tagiura." Tagiura was a small Arab village near Tripoli. There was also a small Arab/Italian restaurant on the beach nearby where some of us often ate breakfast. A big plate of poached eggs and thinly sliced steak, with coffee and juice, cost about 70 cents. I wish I could go back to see it now, but of course it is all gone.
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We had some friends that were AF and stationed in Tripoli at the time. Leo Maher was his name. My father was stationed with Leo in Germany in 63. His wife's name was Bonnie. Bonnie called me a couple of months ago. Leo has passed on.
 
NonoBadDog said:
We had some friends that were AF and stationed in Tripoli at the time. Leo Maher was his name. My father was stationed with Leo in Germany in 63. His wife's name was Bonnie. Bonnie called me a couple of months ago. Leo has passed on.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I don't know the name, but I mostly knew only those in my own squadron, and most of them have passed away now.

Libya was a very different place back then, still ruled by old King Idris and not hostile to Americans. Libya had been an Italian colony before the war and many of the businesses in Tripoli were Italian or British. I had very little personal contact with the Libyan people. I remember a young Libyan soldier who shared guard duty outside the gate of our compound. It was a hot day and I offered him a drink of water from my canteen. He thanked me in very broken English, but explained it was the season of Ramadan and he could not eat or drink before sundown. I knew about Ramadan, but had forgotten. We chatted for a few minutes. He told me he was learning English in school and hoped to get a job with the Libyan government. I hope he was OK when Colonel Khadaffi took over in Libya 15 years later.
 
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