Comiso NATO Airbase - Abandoned Military Area

[Januacaeli]

What a sadness! good old cold war times gone forever! ;)

[veterankozmicrocker]

WOW! Was there in 85-86 missle maintenance. Doesn't look at all like it did when I was there. Hated to have to leave eventhough is was a remote tour. I loved there. Had a blast traveling all through Europe that is when we weren't haveing some type of exercise or NATO inspection. Brings back a lot of good memories. Thanks for posting.

[Sub0wins1]

I remember the Enta Cafe, Marina D beach, shopping at the local Comiso, Vittoria and Ragusa markets, the outdoor clubs, Paulinos food stand outside the front gate,and downtown had Uncle Sam's rotisserie chicken. If we were bored we'd drive up to Sigonella NAS I & NAS II (just past the "strip")....... those were the days.

[CrIp1391]

Theres no one there right?? isnt it creepy going inside??

[fender200]

So sad to see this when you consider the dedication that went in to the mission here. I live near Greenham Common which was another GLCM site. I wish though that Greenham had been left more like Comiso.

[ridewave444]

I was there from mid 1987 - mid 1988. Wow, when they desert it they really desert it. Also, it's amazing how nature takes over. Kind of strange and a little sad looking at this but it's a good video. I may have been in those dorms.

[champ0195]

I was stationed there around 87-89 and had awesome times. Was in Supply Section. Actually ran a small fuels station. Been tryin to locate old friends from then. Misty Kanyak? Jim Fleming? Art Ochoa? It was a unique place to be for sure! Lots of history on the island too.

[champ0195]

I was stationed there around 87-89 and had awesome times. Was in Supply Section. Actually ran a small fuels station. Been tryin to locate old friends from then. Misty Kanyak? Jim Fleming? Art Ochoa? It was a unique place to be for sure!

[usafangelo]

great pics, stationed at Comiso 1989-1990 worked in Supply out at the GAMMA

[fcmullins]

I was never stationed at Comiso I was however TDY to NAS Sigonella in 83 when they were bringing the cruise missles in. I believe when I went back in 84 they were

taking them out.

[ajmsta]

I was stationed there 84-85. Worked Civil Engineering Exterior Electric. Brings back a lot of memories. Thanks!!

[herbigp]

I was stationed there from June 1989 to June 1990. Maintenance squadron, corrosion control

[Gilmore2325]

Wow, pretty sad to see the state it is in now. I was trying to find some friends from when i was stationed there and came across this. I was there in 1986-87. Thanks for posting this!

[PS2djX]

fottuti pacifisti succhia merda ignoranti

possano essere trucidati da osama, kim gong il , amadiejihad

così capiscano perché molte persone invece sono a favore delle armi

cojones!!

[cornishrob123]

a eco town commune.

[mbctr2004]

I was station there starting in October 87. I was a cook fresh out of Tech School at Lowry only to get there and find out there was no dining faciliyt for me to cook at... so I was sent TDY to Upper Heyford, England and to Florennes, Belgium.

[MrWWoperator]

The opening fram was from the CES parking area. I was there when they were paving the streets and have stood on topof the water tower. We watched Randy Travis when he was part of a USO tour.

[starb10]

I was there as a carpenter in the civil engineering squadron in 1984 - 1985

wow what fun i had there , sight seeing, sampling food, bargaining, partying

i was young and dumb lol

[castilletti1990]

vidio fantastico ...

[loghouse605]

This is super. Brings back a ton of memories but I don't recognize any of the buildings because I was stationed there in 83/84. We lived in town in apartments. During my tour the WWII German Officers Club was torn down and fields were cleared of old ordnance for the soccer and ball fields. I'll look for pictures I took of the base.

[ArizonaAdventures]

very interesting! Love to see/find abandoned military area's etc.

Take care!

[61Kalo]

ANNO 1983\1989 sono stato il primo carabiniere del plotone sicurezza comiso servizio all'interno dell'area Gama.Bennici

[wcook3]

Wow, we were an E&I Team that came and installed the tower in the middle of a field full of nothing with a flight line and a couple of trailers. Our team went back 2 years later to see a good amount of base standing but unused and Ken welcomed us into the Comm XP office. A bunch of us would be knocked down to see this. Some of us went back to help with the demo to both here and Florenze Belgium.

[stevenl7w]

Wow... what memories. I was stationed there from April '87 to April '88, just before the Russian inspectors came in to inspect the Gamma -- where I worked as a Ground Radio technician, maintaining the Comms for the Launch Control Centers (LCC) and mobile radio relay vehicles. What memories, what interesting people that worked there!

Aim High! Keep the faith, America!

[ClosedMindedBastage]

I was stationed there from Sept 83 to Oct 84, the base had just opened and most people I worked with lived in the Gela Hotel or in the portable trailers on the north side of the runway. I later moved into the 'Green Roof' apartments near downtown Comiso. The first barracks hadn't even been completed yet. Probably the best assignment ever! Go 2189 Comm Sq!

[ERKTURK1000]

I was in the 2189 CS from 1983 - 1991. I was also at the Green Roof apartments. I remember Gela also. That is where I first lived. Incredible times.

[sincitydiva1]

I was there 86-88. We were the 4th or 5th family to move into base housing.  It's sad to see this video. I have many good memories from there and miss the food! Yes, Giovanni the chicken man. Who could forget him???And who could forget having to drive to Sigonella to the commissary. I did this many times when we first got there because all there was at Comiso was the shoppette. What fun we had on Friday's going to Comiso's market! Want to visit again someday. Guess it's an airport now.

[greatmuta99]

I lived there from summer 89 until Jan.91 and went to the high school.

[byonush]

Thank you very much for this. My dad was stationed there from 89-91. I was in 3rd grade and used to skateboard all over that place. They had such beautiful base housing. I remember the small eatery on base they had the best pizza with the herbs on the bottom. I remember the little place just outside of base to get the tortellini I believe they made wine there as well. Again thank you for this video brought back a great time in my life.

[RubberFool87]

I can't believe my eyes! Man how time flies... I was slingin' hash in the chow hall in 87 when the last meal was served. Got passed around USAFE like a cheap hooker(cooking@ other bases) until my tour was up. Still don't understand how so much money could be put into building the place, then just abandon it. Uncle Sam needs to mend the hole in his pocket!

C.Duke

Carl Brown, Wayne Walker...tunk?

[phreespirit74]

great video. My dad was stationed there 89 to 91 and I was in high school. Many memories in the rec center and at the beach! Such a shame to see the base go to waste, at least you'd think the housing could be used. The new housing was only used for two years! The school for three. Thanks for posting this.

[krakahnigh]

My dad was stationed there also. Does anybody remember the name of that resturaunt off base that had the lemon tree growing inside. I have scowered the states to find pizza that had artichokes and boiled eggs on it,lol. Great times at the rec center watching Critters, Moonwalker and plaing duckhunt.

[MrWWoperator]

Villa Orcda not sure of the spelling

[dominicteretto]

@MrWWoperator you mean Villa Orchidea :) you will find it in the other video that i posted a few months ago

[starb10]

It was good to see the ol place again. I was stationed there in the 487th CES as a Airmen. I have family there in which I never met (young and dumb) I went all over the island.

Sad it is abandoned!

[BrynMawrYamBag]

you know shit for brains..if it wasn't for us you'd still be under the control of the fascist government Mussolini ran your country into the ground with.

[dean11081988]

dont you meen if it wasnt for the alies brynmawryambag

[dominicteretto]

you wouldnt tell this if you would really know what they have done for us!

[dominicteretto]

Hey, my original Song added to that video was another. but because of copyrights it got blocked and i choosed one from the youtube audioSwap. Somehow i cannot find out anymore which song it is. Sorry

[dominicteretto]

I found the title

I was just checking all the songs from youtube and i found it!!!

The Title is: "A Moment in the Life..."

The Artist is: Dax Johnson

The Album: The Random and the Purpose

[dogepatch]

my dad likes did video its cool thx 5 stars

[lero65xx]

I was there in 86 to 87 in the carpentry shop, great memories, too bad the locals didn't keep it up, must be politics. My wife worked in the library and I flipped burgers on the side right beside the bowling alley. Drank many tuborg beers too!! Cool video, thanks, LeRoy.

[pbdye]

Even abandoned Comiso looks better than parts of NAS Sigonella did in 91-92.  We'd have killed for a deli in our Commissary. :D

You guys had it better than us.

[2ndfloorlakewood]

I was at Comiso Sept.84 to Sept. 85, 1 year remote. When I got there so many of us had to stay off base in local town hotels, transported back & forth by bus every gd day.

When I got there, hardly nothing. A few main buildings had just opened, but alot of things were still operating out of trailers. Man, what a waste of tax payer's dollars to see this video now. To think they took me away from my 4 year old baby for a year for this shit!

[im2scary]

Wow, that's a waste. Best times of my younger life. I've created a Comiso AS, Sicily group on FaceBook, so everybody go join. I'll have to get out my old pics and scan them. No digital cameras back then; technology is expanding exponentially or I'm just getting old (or both). LOL

[fabiopdeejay]

LOOKING FOR THIS VIDEO:

Inaugurazione Aeroporto di Comiso

[Noze8tr]

My first six months at Comiso we stayed off base as the dorms were not open. I worked supply with Sgt Kern.. I was there in 86-87... Like other I counted the days until I left...Was so happy to become a single digit miget...But now looking back it was the time of my life. Thanks for posting.

[thomasbhunter007]

Turn the sound off and it's 5/5. The music makes it 2/5.

[dsfhank]

Do you remember when they put a water ride in Wally World?

[bigdabby]

this was good vid sad to see base like that wasn't like that when i was there 86-87 ces heat shop i had some great times there

[woodsay7]

Wow. I was stationed at Comiso from about June of 87 till June of 88. Some good memories some bad, but it was part of my life. Amazing how a year seemed so much longer then than it does now. Thanks for posting.

[diebonthond]

money,money,money, What a waste of it!! Sad to see things like this

[Moor4u]

I had a really good time in Comiso (until the nukes came). When I went there in '85 we worked 2 days a week, guarding the Man tractors that had nothing in them. The closer we got to having nukes the more assinine exercises we started having with gas masks and chem suits on all day. I remember having the Marine Recon troops at Sigonella trying to penetrate our perimeter, and being so sleepy that I saw little green men on my LP.

[buxheim]

We were stationed at Comiso from '88 -90. It was supposed to be remote tour for my husband first but they wanted to keep them there for two years, so it got changed to an accompanied tour.(He was in CE) I shopped in that commissary! Great memories. Thanks for posting this video.

[mac11th]

Worked GAMA all of 86', and didn't recognize anything but the front gate and water tower. Comiso was a funny tour as you counted the days to get out of there (it was a remote tour back then), but at the same time we had a blast. I will never forget renting bungalos on the beach in Taeromina. I think the restaurant a previous post was trying to remember was the Villa Orchidea. Also remember the kind of love/hate relationship working with the Carbs in the GAMA.

[dominicteretto]

Villa Orchidea still exist. its now mainly used for weddings and partys

[Moor4u]

The Carbs were funny. I had my favorites and then there were some that I didn't like working with. Marcello Collu and Peitro Micele were my favorites, Luca Brasi was my least. He wouldn't shower for days and always had something bad to say about America. You're right about the restaraunt, but that was the fancier one. The one I had in mind was very basic, one waiter and had a cook. Mother/son I believe.

[miticachey]

there is an university now and a civil airport will be opened at the end of the year we hope so. i worked for eurpcar car rental in 1989 best time of my life...thanks for this video

[miticachey]

there is an university now and they try to open a civil airport. i worked for europcar car rental best time of my life!!!! thanks

[jbgood75]

I lived on Comiso Airbase 1987-1989. I was surprised to see that the base was overgrown with grass and trees. There were no trees to be seen when I was there, and there was certainly no grass. Was the Burger Bar still there after I left? I loved that place.

[RangerDaveD]

Wow - so that's what became of Comiso. Sad. I was an NCO/LE there 1983/1984. Some great times. The majority of the bldgs like the comissary, etc. were not there then. We had to make our own entertainment too - use to show movies on the side of one of the trailers, partying w/the Caribinieri, the USO came to town once or twice, flag football games, going to the beach :) - some great road trips to Agrigento, Siracusa, Ragusa, etc. - I'd love to go back. I'll be sending a bunch of pics soon.

[pigncs]

Hey RangerDaveD,

I was there at the same time, Civil Engineering.

You're right, a great time.

[JCalcagno1]

1988 - 1990 I was there. Best assignment ever! The absolute best year that I could have spent as a youth. This video and the music were very touching and brought back many great memories. Sad to see that it was not turned into a university, as was planned when I departed. Thank you for putting this on you tube!

[dominicteretto]

I think there was a university but just a few years.

[radragtop]

I was stationed at Comiso 1985 to 1986. I was NCOIC of the base telephone switchboard. The telephone operators were all local nationals. Daniella, Roberta, and the other ladies will always be in my memories. Parts of the base were still under construction,i.e., the commissary. Our squadron's "Hail and Farewell" dinners each month at the local restaurants caused me to gain at least 20 pounds! I owned a 1972 Fiat while I was there. I drove it to the beach many times.--L. Ragans (USAF Ret.)

[beyondthesidewalks]

I was there from '86 to '87. Stayed on the beach in the Kaukana hotel for the first month. Moved into a dorm for awhile and then the Hotel Mediteraneo(sp?) in Ragusa. Made some great friends. Drank some horrible wine and Anicia(sp?) That was horrible stuff. I remember Giovanni the chicken man. Gave him many a smoke. He had the best wine. I was in the comm sqdrn and the hail and farewells were the best. Remember Mabel the stuffed sheep? Memories...

[sayter90]

i live near..

[Moor4u]

This brings back memories (sort of). I was there from 85-86 as an SP (Gama area), but it being overgrown with weeds and the buildings being gutted it doesn't look like it did then. I remember the Italian Army guys at the front gate, used to be able to drink wine. The Caribinieri that we worked with got upset because they couldn't do it working in a nuclear area. Anyone remember the name of the restaraunt downtown Comiso? Ristorante Americano?

[potus2018]

This is great! I was there with my with my Wife 1986-1987. When we left we did not even have base housing or much of anything. What is the website for Comiso?

[theoneandonlyjosh803]

I was stationed there Aug 86- Aug 87, was a remote still then but going accompined. I was a Firefighter, heck missed my son being born while over there. I still enjoyed the tour, great food. Anybody remember the Chicken Man downtown, he cooked those little hens on a roastisere all day, yummmmmmmmmm.

[Moor4u]

Yep, I remember the chicken man. There was another rotisserie on the road to Catania. A little brick shack with a chicken farm behind it. Man, I used to hurt myself in there. I have never been able to reproduce that taste.

[sincitydiva1]

My ex was a fireman during the time you were there. I came over and joined him in Dec. 86. Now I have to wonder who you are and if I know you. LOL

[seagullSP]

I was at Comiso Feb 88 to Aug 89. When I left they had decomisioned several flights and were moving people from the dorms into the just completed housing. When I heard the USAFE had closed the base I was always curious about Comiso's fate. I know the Navy used it for a while, but just being abandoned and not used for something is a suprise. I'll dig out my pics from my time there and get them scaned and send them (though I have no idea how long that will take). Anyone have links to more sites?

[shag4fun]

I left Comiso July 1989. Man it sure has changed. I would have liked to see the Gama too. Bravo flight all the way! Remember the multipurpose building?

[tomahawk1983]

Does anyone of you have any pics of the GAMA of Comiso? Never seen them, but I visited the Wueschheim AS 1 year ago!

[my67falcon]

Wow, I left there in Oct '87. Man what a difference. It's sad.

[comiso90]

I'll be sending some too. Base supply 1990-1991.

Frank

[vwkaferman]

Thanks so much for posting this, as well as posting the link on the Comiso site. I've got photos at home, if I can find some time I'll scan them and post them up on my photobucket account. I've been meaning to do this for years. Thanks again, James

[dominicteretto]

Hey. Thanks for your respond!...WoW I would be very happy to receive some old pics. Please inform me as soon as you have published some of them.

Thank you again.

[dominicteretto]

If you have some old photos of Comiso Air Station, please mail them to me.

The emailadress you will find at the end of the movie.

Thank you! :)