Wheelus Air base, Tripoli, Libya

[TheArcticpuffin]

I was stationed at Wheelus air base from Sept. 1965 thru Dec. 26., 1967. i was attached to the 7272 group. I was an airman first class in charge of refueling maint. Two of the fellows that I worked with where Pete Brewer and Tom Clapp. Also one Libya by the name of Freg..

[daddyrickcr]

My last name is wheelus

[LonghornPeterson]

Does anyone have a pic of the Hospital? I was born there in 1964. My dad was in Communications/Radio. We were there for 3 years.

[LonghornPeterson]

@LonghornPeterson

There was 4 of children, my dad is Joe Brickey

[garytackett11]

@LonghornPeterson - hi - i was at wheelus from 63 thru 65 - i was in the army outfit - i have a picture of the base hospital - you didnt really get to know what a nice place wheelus was - thanks gary tackett

[TheSanityInspector]

Very interesting, thanks. 

[RLM522]

Thank you for posting this video -- I can see from my father's own movies from 1954 when he was at Wheelus that Tripoli was a very beautiful city. I have posted some of his video of an air base ("Is this Wheelus AFB?") in case any of you might recognize the air base. I don't know if it is Wheelus or Sidi Slimane -- he was at both.

[ElRapeo88]

My father's name was james colfer. He was married to doris. With 4 kids.

[oscarashes]

Great video. I was stationed at Wheelus from 1969 to 1970 when they closed it down. Great memories.

[VEEVEE1954]

My dad was station at Wheelus from 1962to 1965.We got to go places that other kids have not been and seen things also.I remember the "Lady Be Good"across from the headquarters on the flag pole.The camel grass was always thick.The mountains with the POW camp for the americans up there.Thanks for the link.

[jmkmt54]

@VEEVEE1954 I was stationed at Wheelus Air Base from 1964 until 1966, Was your father's name VV Gibson , Married to Elaine with two children, John Mark and Cindy? If so please let me know.  John Matthews

[jnichols3]

I have some 1957 8mm taken at Wheelus that I bought at an Estate Sale. It includes a performance by the Thunderbirds flying F-100's and A visit by then VP Richard Nixon. It also has lots of footage of a drive down Tripoli Streets including a mud brick Shell Station. It may be a while but I will post it when I get it converded to a digital format.

[TAR3K]

Please do, I am looking forward to that

[LowBombBurst]

If your video is indeed from 1957, then it is not a performance by the Thunderbirds, but rather the USAFE Skyblazers. The original Thunderbird team had two former Skyblazer pilots on it, and their paint schemes have always looked a lot like Skyblazer paints. If you could post that video, it would be fantastic. There is almost no remaining footage of the Skyblazers in their F-100s, which they flew from 1956-61.

[jnichols3]

Thanks for the tip. I will have to pull the reel back out this weekend and look closer at the aircraft. I also have a reel that was taken at the 1963 gratuation at the Air Force Academy. It has some great footage of JFK in "the car" from just a few yards away.

[dancersdad]

I was stationed there (in weather) from 68-70 when "Chappie" James was Base Commander. I still have my "zippo" lighter with the stamp "Wheelus AB Libya". We helped to close it down when Khadafi told the Americans to get out. There were some anxious moments for a while. Thanks for a great trip down memory lane.

[YouthfulHarlot]

Thanks! I was born at the base hospital in 1956. My parents still have some of the brochures shown here. Fascinating!

[nowhine]

Thanks for a great video. I was stationed at Wheelus from April 1953 till September 1954. I was in the 34th RSM north east of the runway towards the beach. I found all of the squadron buildings on Google Earth. They are still standing.

[TAR3K]

Many thanks for your comment and the building are still there and I hope you will be able to visit Libya again and soon

[snowdragon222]

@nowhine, I was born at Wheelus AFB in sept 1954. Small world.

[shawfor]

I was born at the AF hospital in 1954. I would love to see a photo of that hospital.

[SuZenDu]

My dad was stationed at Wheelus 1955-1958. I still have some of the same brochures you show in this video! I was pretty young, but still, this really brought back memories. Thank you!

[ElRapeo88]

This was a great video. It brought back lots of good memories of libya.

My Dad was stationed at Wheelus from 1965 to 1968.

My brothers and I would ride the bus to the stadium theater a couple times a day.

Then to the snack bar. Those were the days! And the beaches were beautiful.

Doris

[TAR3K]

I am glad I have done something you've liked and brought good memories

[JackOfAllTradesRuss]

Thank you for this great video. I was stationed at Wheelus Air Base, as a Airman 3rd. Classat the young age of 19, from July1962 to Jan.1964. Worked in munitions/weapons,mostly at the bomb dump about 7 miles off base, sometimes I would work 90 miles off base at the firing range for 30 days at a time. My tour in Libya, at Wheelus was a real life experience. Thanks Again, Russ

[MAMKCM1956]

I loved the show..Thanks so much. My Dad and family were there from 1963-1966. We lived in GerogiaPopuli the first year, last two years on base, across from the Medeteriian Snack Bar. I loved Libya...despite the smell..Beautiful country....Wish I could go back just for kicks.

Thanks AGAIN for a great SHOW!

[standingfirminChrist]

My twin sister and I were born at WAFB September of 1959. We moved to the States after dad was killed in a scuba accident in the Mediterranean Sea on Christmas Day, 1960.

[TAR3K]

Sorry to hear about your dad

[grifwil]

I was born at WAFB in 1959. Thank you so very much for the photos. I was two when we left so I don't remember a thing.

[james45m]

thanks for video, Was there In 1965 . loved the history of the city and the Roman ruins. Is there any way to get a copy of a couple of the pictures?

[circuitmouse]

I was born @ WAFB but left when I was two; I appreciate being able to see it

[KernelThread]

It is all taken from an American website yoo

[TAR3K]

No sorry, mate, we are Libyans and we have our own stuff too.

[KernelThread]

I know it is Libyan stuff, but most of the collection of the pictures were posted by an on American guy used to work there back in the 1960's.. He is from N.A. (his name like douggie Mccuine lol.. or stuff like that) somehow his website is vanished now lol...

[katdenmark]

Hello, I found this video and sended the link to a journalist who visited the base many years ago. He wrote back: "Hello!

Thanks a lot, young man, for an nostalgian reunion with Wheelus and the different types, F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-102 Delta Dagger a.s.o.. Fantastisk, hvad man kan finde på nettet. Well done! Hr. Tess."

[TAR3K]

You are welcome and thank you for your interest in my video

[tonyragi]

Interesting, I was in the 1615SS 1961-1963. Broght back memories.

Tony Gilligan

[mykallb]

Thanks for sharing this. I was in 1st and 2nd grade at Wheelus from 68-70. Memories of the base are like an oasis in my memory. I can't believe I was part of that incl. the closing when we stayed in the B.O.Q's.

Can anyone identify the buildings @ 4:50 and 5:22?

Thanks again

[TAR3K]

I glad that you were part of that. I am not sure about the buildings but I think they were inside the base.

[hoganmlhogan91]

my mother was italian and i was born in tripoli 1969. thanks for the video

[DimitriosMoore]

Our family was stationed there for two years. We were transferred six months before the base was turned over to Libya. Mrs Pinkerton was my first "crush". We enjoyed the beach and the watermelons. This was an important time in my life in that I made a decision then to be an American first and Greek second. We used to laugh about the lack of freedoms in the Soviet Union and thought it could never happen in the United States.

[TAR3K]

I think you for your comment, I am happy to hear you enjoyment of the country and your FIRST crush!!!

[diaster]

My time frame is 66 to the base closure including one evac. We lived off base the first time and in the trailers back from spain (evac) My dad was a flight engineer on C130 air sea rescue. His name was roberston and i rememebr a frined of his Hall. We actually had horse and rode on the beach, thanks for the memory lane trip, coupled with sat views in google earth

[rednikM]

I lived in Tripoli from 63-66 with my Air Force family. We did not take many pictures- so this video really brings back alot of good memories. Thank you!!!

Mark Kinder, son of Edward

[TAR3K]

I am glad that you liked my video

[granskare]

My first leg of an assignment to Turkey, 1957

this is my vid - I stayed at Tripoli for 3 weeks awaiting a flight to Turkey. I have pics of a guy who was at Wheelus who followed his colonel to Turkey. The colonel actually drove his car to southern Turkey - 1957 or 58 I think I will find them and get them online.

Thanks for a nice vid. The rendition of the national anthem was the best!

[argo490]

Hey, granskare, your time in Lybia parallels my own (56-59) with a year in Izmir, Turkey (57, I think - I was just a kid) My Dad was a civilian contractor with AFEX.