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Posted - July 29, 2008

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I have been away from this work station for a long time.  I have been very busy this summer doing a lot of things that really weren't fun.  I have also procrastinated in this work for  a number of reasons.  I have hundreds of emails to answer from you all and from many others.  I maintain a number of Web Sites as well as work pretty much full time as a Consultant.  Although those are good reasons for my lack of  gusto in getting this job done, the main reason is that I have finally come to the point where this Site has grown to hold so much data, graphics, text, and pictures that it is overloaded and almost non-maintainable.  I now have a number of new systems.  I have just spent $6000.00 on computer systems and about $2000.00 on software that I really needed to go to the next level with my Web Sites, including this Site.  The format and function of the old 'Pages' had become obsolete as had all of my Web Development Tools.  I really couldn't patch the old thing many more times.  I now have good fast hardware running the latest of everything at the highest speeds available.  I have up to date Frontpage and and Expressions Web II.  I now have the greatest of tools for converting from format to format.  I started yesterday on a month or two treck to update the Site to a completely rebuilt Web Site.  I am going to be using the latest and greatest CSS technology and compression tools so that I can make all of it fit on a server that doesn't cost a fortune.  I expect to publish the new site in about a month or two.  I should have all new stuff embedded in the new site.  I am a Viet Nam Veteran.  I am a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America local Chapter 1004.  They are having a tough time getting up and running.  I used the basic stuff that I am retiring to put up a Web Site for the chapter.  Give it a look.

The next time I communicate via the 'Net'  will be to 'Publish' and 'Debug' the new site.

Have a nice day, keep in touch,

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Air Station Veteran - 1962/1963.

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Posted - June 19, 2008

Please checkout the Photos I 'Posted ' earlier today.

This is my second 'New Posting' for today.

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I am in the process of getting back on track in my maintenance of this Web Site.  I have received something over 100 emails in my 6 month absence.  I have spent the day today finding emails on each of 5 computers.  Two of the computers are not completely recoverable but I did manage to find a few emails and get them to hard copy so that I can respond.  I will be responding in whatever manner that I can in the next few weeks.  I have lost a few emails that I really need, mainly for the email addresses.  I have probably lost a few others that fell through the cracks in crashed hard drives.  I am going to list those whom I will be communicating with in the near future.  I will be contacting some for information.  I will be adding others to the 'Duty Roster'.  I will be adding 'Narrative', 'Stories', and 'Photos' from others.  If you have emailed me in the passed 8 months and you are not on the following list, please shoot me an email with whatever has been dropped.  If you are on the list and want to email with 'Content' or just to communicate, please do so ASAP.  List to follow:

This list is chronological with the oldest email first:

Don Erickson

Dan Greenwald

Dick Beach

Jerry White

Frank Hannaford

Alan Drescher

Dick Eldner

Greg Kilgore

Philip Kennison

John Jablonski

Jim Morey

Rich Pointer

Tom Bock

Some of you who are listed have emailed more than once.  I will be responding to all emails.  I am working projects with Greg Kilgore and Rich Pointer.  I hope to hear from both of you ASAP.  I have an old email for Tom Bock and Jim Morey.  Tom, I sent an email to you for interpretation today.  I will try to find another email for you but in the meantime, if you received my email, let me know.  Jim Morey advised some time ago that his email would be changing in June.  Jim, please advise of your new email.

I want to thank you all for bearing with me until I can get back to my TrabzonAirStation.Com workstation.

Thanks again,

Bill 'Smokey' Stover - Trabzon Air Station Veteran - 1962/1963

Received some time ago:

Posted - June 19, 2008

Hi Bill:

I traveled to Trabzon for a week visit during holidays as I had mentioned.

Trabzon has grown last 10-15 years, especially in both east and west directions. The most noticeable change is the opening of a new avenue called, Tanjant (Tangent) crossing the old town in east and west directions (in parallel to Uzun Sokak and Maras Caddesi, if remember two main streets from old days) to relieve for the increasing city traffic. A highway connecting Trabzon to the neighboring town has been built right on the sea filled by dirt and soil.

New high rise apartment buildings are being built around the air base.  

I am sending you a few of the photographs I took during my visit. If you send me you mail address, I can mail you a CD with the photographs in high resolution. 

Please keep up the good work with your web site and the book.

Regards,

Galip Boran

 A view from Boztepe Mountain

 Another view from Boztepe Mountain

 Another view from Boztepe Mountain

The cannon ball is still there under a newly build canopy

An old house on the way to Boztepe Mountain

High rise apartments are built around the Air Base at Boztepe

High rise apartments are built around the Air Base at Boztepe

A newly built highway connecting Trabzon to neighboring cities

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Posted : May 24, 2008

Our Story - Our Day

Forty-Three years ago today, Paulette and I were married in the Los Angeles County court house by Judge Jerry Pacht who later became a Federal Circuit Judge.  The judges secretary signed our 'License' as the only witness.  I met Paulette four months before while on leave and visiting my grandfather in Central California.  I was a Petty Officer 3rd Class (E4) stationed aboard USS Brinkley Bass DD-887 (Long Beach Naval Station) and Paulette was a 2nd year Nursing Student at Bakersfield Community College.  My only transportation at the time was a 'Harley Hog', so we eloped on the last Grey Hound out of Delano, CA, Sunday night on the 23rd of May 1965.  We bused to Long Beach and taxied on out to the Naval Station.  We found the Bass at Pier 15, I signed out on leave, we took the cab back to Long Beach and took the early Grey Hound to Los Angeles.  From the Los Angeles Greyhound Station, we taxied to the Los Angeles County Court House, arriving a little after 8 o'clock on May 24, 1965.  There were already four couples ahead of us so we were the fifth couple married that day at 11 o'clock in the morning.  Paulette was 20 years old and had never been out of the state of California.  We honeymooned for a few days in Phoenix, AZ and then a week in Mexico before returning to Southern CA.  Paulette returned to finish another semester at college.  I returned to the Bass and on September 27, 1965, the Bass set sail for the South China Sea and the Viet Nam War Zone.  Paulette finished the program but never became a nurse.  I finished two cruises to the Far East aboard Brinkley Bass and then gave the military nine years when I received my Honorable Discharge in February of 1968.  Paulette and I have two great sons.  After they grew into their teens, Paulette returned to college to get a Degree in Fine Art and a California Teaching Credential in Fine Art.  She has now taught at the High School and Elementary School levels for 22 years.  I was Discharged on a Friday and went to work as a Computer Field Engineer the next Monday in Los Angeles working on computers that took up more floor space than the largest home that I have ever owned and I have never looked back.  Our life together has been great.  We have been fortunate to live all over the world.  We now live in the greenest place in the world just across the fence from a state park in 'Middle Tennessee'.  Our oldest son lives just down the road.  Paulette and I have 5 grand children, two here and now 3 in Portland, Oregon.  Our younger son's wife just gave birth to our 5th grand child yesterday, May 23, 2008.  Jacob Neal Stover, our fourth grandson of the five grand children was born just one day before our 43rd wedding anniversary.

What a day.  This is only one day out of our life together.

This is only one day out of 'Our Story' but it is truly 'Our Day'.

We are now off to buy a gift for Paulette, dinner at a nice restaurant, and then a late movie, if we don't get bored and tired and flake out early.

I just wanted to share this great story with as many friends as would read it.  Thanks for listening.

 Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : May 23, 2008

My apologies to Jerry Mangas.  While 'Posting' to his 'Photos Page', I found that the link to his photos was a bad link which was in reality linking to another (erroneous) page.

Thanks, Jerry, for your many contributions to the 'Content' of this site.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : May 23, 2008

A 'Blast from the FAR PAST'.  This is a picture of a napkin which was used as a drink placement in the 'CLUB'.  I've seen it before but I don't remember where or when.  If memory serves, these were drawn by a Trabzon Vet and printed by a local printer.  I'm not at all sure.  This copy was sent in by Jerry Mangas - 1962/63.  Jerry, if you know the history of this 'Relic', let us know.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : May 23, 2008

Where were you and what were you doing on November 22, 1963?  I arrived late on November 21, 1963 at my mother's home in Phoenix, Arizona.  I left Trabzon on THY on October 28, 1963 and arrived at McGuire, AFB, Trenton, NJ about a week later.  After two weeks at McGuire, I was 'Separated' from the USAF.  I drove a new Volkswagen to Colorado Springs, Colorado for a young officer who had too many cars to transport.  I flew on a 'Standby' flight to Phoenix, arriving late on the 21st.  My mother woke me in the early afternoon of November 22, 1963 to tell me that JFK had just been assassinated in Dallas.

I have just run across the following article written a number of years ago.  I have 'Posted' it before but I can't remember where or when.  Although my memory is fading, I will never forget this day.

Does anyone out there know John Lovejoy?

I was stationed in Trabzon, Turkey with the US Air Force's Turkish-US Logistics Command (Tuslog, Detachment 3-1).

On the night of November 22, 1963, we were just sitting down to "midnight chow" in preparation for working the graveyard shift in operations.

For the first time, a radio speaker was on in chow hall, so we could hear our base radio station.

The announcer was saying something that I could not hear from my chair over the babble in the chow hall.

Someone yelled "Shut UP!" "Quiet!"

The announcer repeated what he had just said. "President Kennedy has been killed in San Antonio, Texas (the announcer had the city wrong). He was shot in the head."

I had my first fork full of food halfway to my mouth. I put it on the plate. "Oh, no!" someone said.

We rose as one, leaving our meal behind, and walked silently to the operations center, where we monitored Russian communications.

A sergeant whom I hated was waiting there, smiling, as he held the door open for us. I wanted to punch him in the face.

We were told to listen for any odd communications coming from Russia, because it was possible the Soviet Union had been behind the assassination.

It was the longest, saddest night I ever spent at work. There were no strange communications having to do with JFK's assassination.

The next morning, the sunrise was the most beautiful I have ever seen. Somehow, though, it made me even sadder. The world would never be the same.

John Lovejoy, USA

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : May 22, 2008

I have been side tracked for another month or so.  I really hope to get back to my Trabzon Air Station Work Station soon.  I am in the process of building a number of Web Sites to support my new LLC.  I am not advertising my company on this Web Site.  I will be using the tools provided by my company to keep this Web Site current.  I am uploading a few items and links to this site just for test.  Check it out, and help me test, just by clicking the following buttons.  The first is a link to my new site which is under construction.  It is accessed by way of your 'Browser'.  The second is a link to an Acrobat File in PDF Format which I have planted on this Site.  If you have and use the Acrobat Reader, your system will invoke the reader and present a 'Slide Show'.  The third is a 'Power Point Presentation' with sound.  If you have and use 'Power Point' or have and use the 'Power Point Viewer', your system should invoke 'Power Point' and 'Present' a beautiful 'Demo' for you.  This one is exceptionally long so be patient while it loads.  I just stumbled across this 'Presentation'.  I could not find a 'Copyright' anywhere, so I think I am OK in sharing it with you all.

This is a test !!!!  If you access any of these items and you have any kind of a problem, please email me.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : April 7, 2008

Another Update - I have begun the very 'Slow and Tedious' process of converting formats, moving items, and planting them on the 'Chronology' pages.  As you check in and find 'Order' or 'Sequencing' errors, do not fear, after many months of 'Collaborating' and 'Re-Ordering', the 'Chronology' will be filtered into a recognizable log.  As you see your items appear, please email me to assist in the correct 'Ordering' of your 'Content'.  If the date(s) is/are unreadable or missing, give me an approximate date and 'Order' for proper placement.

Send me all that you have.  Thanks again for the excellent 'Content'.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : April 7, 2008

Update - During my absence, my entire process for publishing to the Web Site Domain had been trashed.  Linkages and Synchronization were shot.  We have experienced hundreds of power failures with all of the storms and I am sure that the old 'Power Glitch' is the culprit.  It took about 4 hours to recover to a point of 'Publishing' updates and changes.

I have survived to 'Hit' and actually accomplished some work today.  I have prepared and published a few pages that will serve as the 'Depository' for the proposed 'History and Chronology'.  I found some of my 'Orders', scanned them, sized them, and planted them in the proper place to start the 'Chronology'.

Navigation is simple.  On the 'Homepage', click any 'BUTTON' labeled 'Chronology' or 'History'.  That click will take you to the 'Chronology Home Page'.  I believe that these 'Chronology Pages' will grow (within 6 months) to a size such that they will become hard to manage, so I am starting them of on three pages.  After navigating to the 'Chronology Homepage', click the '1953 to 1959' 'Button' or the '1960 to 1965' 'Button' or the '1966 into 1970' to 'Pull Up' the 'Segment' of 'Chronology' desired.  If you want to view all of the 'Chronology', just click back and forth and up an down.

If you want to jump from here on your first look, just click on either 'Button' below.

Send me everything you have so that we can provide a good 'Chronology' for everyone to share.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : April 7, 2008

Today is April 7, 2008.  I will be 66 years old this Thursday, April 10, 2008.  I have been AWOL from my TrabzonAirStation.Com workstation since the beginning of this year.  I have learned a number of things in my absence.  True wisdom comes from age, experience, successes, and failures.  I have always felt young for my age regardless of the years.  Although I can't shoot hoops, run scrimmage, throw the ball 100 MPH or party all night with them, I can still run circles around any three 30 year olds when it comes to real work or the application of knowledge and understanding.  I will share with all of you just a few of the things I have learned since New Years.  1.  Age discrimination is definitely alive and well in the USA.  2.  The old saying, 'It's not what you know but who you nose', is still true.  3.  If you know how much money you have in your pocket, you are not rich.  4.  If you work for someone else, you will probably never like the 'boss' or the 'company' and you will never be completely happy with your income.  5.  If you work for yourself, you will have the toughest 'boss' in the world.  Because I work for myself, I work longer hours than ever before and because I work alone, I have no one to share my successes and can only blame myself for my failures.  6.  It costs money to make 'REAL MONEY'.  7.  While running my own company and as long as I provide a good product for the right price, I will probably earn a good income and all of those who gladly use the products that I deliver will not really care that I am much older, wiser, smarter, more intelligent, and have more stamina and greater will than they will ever possess.  8.  What is really crazy about all of this is the fact that I will be building 'Computer Systems', 'Networks', and 'Infrastructures',  selling and delivering finished products to 'Companies' that will not 'Hire Me', and then coming to their places of business (at great expense to them) to teach their ignorant and somewhat inexperienced employees to 'operate' and 'maintain' these 'systems'.

Rich Pointer (Trabzon 1962/1963) visited me again a few weeks ago.  Rich has at least 250 photos and a number of stories that need to be processed onto our Web Site.  We have collaborated in such a way that Rich is now involved in that process.  I hope to get together with Rich soon to workout the finishing of this very big 'job'.

I have received first time emails from 8 to 10 Trabzon Vets.  I have to find the time to get them added to the 'Duty Roster'.  I am receiving new 'Content' weekly from those already 'on board' as well as from 'yinnies'.

I have been communicating and collaborating with Greg Kilgore.  Even though Greg has not been added to the 'Duty Roster', he has already contributed a CD full of 'Content' to be added to the Web Site.  Greg has given me some ideas as to better organization of 'History and Chronology' such that 'navigation' can be more 'intuitive'.  Greg will be helping in the finding of information while giving feedback as to the improvements as we reformat some pages.

I hope to start the process of reorganizing and reformatting in the near future.  Navigation will be easy.  I will simply add a 'BUTTON' to the 'Home Page' through which you will 'Access' the 'History' and 'Chronology' Pages.  I will start the 'Flow' by placing my orders to Trabzon into the proper space and then adding back to 1953 and forward to 1970.

After reading this 'blurb', check in every few days to watch the 'History and Chronology' come together.  I hope to be caught up in a few months.

Please 'Scan' and 'Send' anything dated so that we can get this 'Chronology' 'Documented' ASAP.

Thanks for all of the great memories that you have shared.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover    

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Posted : January 1, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!! to You all....  I received a first time email from a Trabzon Veteran (1958/1960) this morning.  He advised that he could not get to me with one of the email addresses I once used (trabzon@bellsouth.net).  wstover@bellsouth.net is the only good address now other than the trabzonairstation.com addresses.  The best second address is wstover@trabzonairstation.com.  Keep sending anything you have.  I will get back to my TrabzonAirStation.Com workstation after my new 'Company' is afloat and after I have my 'Taxes' finished.

As we enter another great year, I want to thank each and all of you for the fantastic memories we have shared over the two years just completed.  I believe that this may be a 'Watershed Year'.  I look forward to the work ahead.

Thanks again for your interest and input, keep in touch,

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : December 18, 2007

Thanksgiving came and went.  The drought lasted far too long and then just as predicted, the rains came.  Fall came with wind and rain.  I have a number of shingles to replace on each of my three properties and rain gutters that are overwhelmed with leaves from the big oak and maple trees.  One rain gutter on the old farm house is sagging under the weight of the decaying leaves and stagnant water that can not flow through the leaves and debris.  Winter came with vengeance.  The temperature has dropped into the 20s and old Jack Frost has looked like snow upon the grass the last two mornings.

Of all people in the history of the world and of mankind, we are surely the most blessed of all.  My wife has just come through two pretty serious operations.  She has at least one more procedure to endure, but she is doing well.  She is an Art Teacher (Elementary Level).  She loves teaching and was anxious to get back to her kids.  She was extremely tired for a few days but now that she is off for Christmas, there will be time for rest and more recuperation.

I woke up one day a few months back to find myself in need of 'Cash Flow'.  I set upon a course to remedy the shortfall.  I have spent the last three months reorganizing my life, my assets, and my resources.  I have jumped through the legal hoops and ran the administrative gauntlet and have launched myself into a new phase of organized confusion.  On January 1, 2008, my new Limited Liability Company will spring to life.  I have secured enough contracts to fund the day to day operation of the new 'Company'.  Now I will have to work 8 to 10 hours a day for about two years.  The good part is that I can probably funnel enough income into a 401k plan and be able to re-retire in about two years.  Nine years in Military Electronics and Computers, education funded by the GI Bill, and 30 plus years of experience on 'Industrial' and 'Business' 'Systems' in 'Industry' and 'Government' has prepared me to do whatever it takes to survive another few years in the 'Nasty' world of 'Computers'.  Everything is in place.  Web Age Interactive Design Technologies, LLC, will be fully functional and very busy the day following 'New Years Day'.  I am working hard to have a supporting Web Site launched on or about the same day.

I apologize for my lack of response to some of the 'work' required in maintaining TrabzonAirStation.Com.  I hope to have the time to get back into that project by February 1st.

Due to almost total lack of response to the idea of a second Trabzon Air Station CD, that project was temporarily lost to the immediacy of other things which demanded my response, time and concentration.  I owe at least three CDs to the most devoted participants and contributors.  I hope to get back to that project by February.  At that time those promised CDs will be delivered.  All others who did not respond, will have an opportunity, somewhere down the road, to retrieve this great piece of their history.  The CD production is far too time consuming for me to be brushed aside by so many who should have it to show to all of those who need to see it.  In a few days I will be emailing those who will be receiving the CDs.  If anyone has a need to email me, my address is still ; wstover@bellsouth.net or wstover@trabzonairstation.com.

I will put out a 'Blurb' when my new Web Site is launched.  Eventually, I will be marketing at least two named brand PCs, Servers, and Software through my Web Site.  I will be building and marketing a few 'Home Brew' systems along the way.  Although I have not decided yet, I may have one or two store fronts by the end of this coming year.  CompUSA is going out of business.  All of their stores will be closed within 90 days.  Best Buy is definitely the best place to buy computer equipment today.  I have about a dozen older systems which I have rebuilt.  They will work as cheap servers and print servers.  I have just purchased three power house HPs and three Slimline HPs to function as administrative systems for my new LLC.  They will also be used for demos as my 'Enterprise' goes more public.

I want to wish everyone who reads this 'Blurb' a 'Merry Christmas' and a very 'Happy and Prosperous New Year.  As I have said before, I am 'Blessed Beyond Measure'.  I know that I am 'Blessed' and I am 'Thankful' every day of my life for the 'Blessings'.  I am also 'Thankful' for the many years that I was afforded free travel around the world by the Military.  I am now thankful that I have had the opportunity to share my past with so many who have shared the same space in time with me, especially at Trabzon Air Station.  I thank each and all of you who have filled the 'Memory Jar' with 'Photos' and 'Narrative.  Our Story is one that should be told and has now been told through our collaboration and sharing at TrabzonAirStation.Com.  Thanks for the 'Memories'.

Thanks again for your great interest and input.  Keep in touch.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : October 26, 2007

Halloween is just a few days away.  I don't know why Halloween is such a big deal here where we live.  It may be just because there isn't very much of anything else to do here.  We have just come through the longest drought that can be remembered.  It has rained now for the last three days and we have received enough rain to officially start to break the drought.  The chill of this morning reminds me that fall is here and winter is just around the corner.

California is burning again.  I have spent most of my life in California and the last eight years there was spent in 'Canyon Country'.  Every year we prayed that the fires would not be blown into 'our canyon' by those 50 mile per hour Santa Ana Winds.  I have lived at one time or another in at least four of the counties that are now experiencing these 'Wild Fires'.  On many occasions we could see and smell the smoke from fires in 'Canyon Country'.  Although the ashes floated down on our homes a number of times, the flames never invaded our properties.  Although earthquakes damaged two of our homes in different decades and in different parts of California, we survived and prospered all of those years and managed to leave with great memories of a beautiful place.

Although we are now fortunate to live in a great neighborhood and beautiful park, we do pray occasionally that the tornadoes do not find their way to our very peaceful hideaway in the greenest cedar and hardwood covered park in this great part of the USA.

I apologize for a six week absence from my 'Station' here at TrabzonAirStation.Com.  Again, I am thankful that I can now return to this 'Project' that I have learned to enjoy so much.  This is truly a 'labor of love' and although it does become too much work at times, I can't find anything that I had rather be doing with about 20 hours a week of my time.

My wife of 42 years, Paulette, went under the knife for a major surgery six weeks ago.  She has gone through a number of surgeries through the years.  She is feeling well and has recovered to the degree that she has now returned to work.  Paulette is an Artist and Art Teacher.  She taught High School Art for 16 years in CA and now, as the 'Art Specialist', teaches elementary art at an elementary school about 20 miles from our home.  She always misses 'her kids' and is very happy to be back at her desk, where she belongs.  Paulette is normally so confident and independent that I have time to do whatever I want with my days.  Because she depended upon me for most of here needs for the passed six weeks, I have not been able to accomplish the daily chores which had become routine.

I am at least 20 emails behind.  I apologize for my slow responses.  I have received a number of photos and narratives that need to be processed onto the Web Site pages.  I have at least 250 photos from Rich Pointer that I will be processing onto the Site and for the new CD.  I have new photos from Ted Guasconi of the RB57 that dropped onto the Trabzon Air Port runway for a visit back in '63.  I have a number of first time visitors to TrabzonAirStation.Com who need to be added to the 'Duty Roster'.  I will be spending 4 to 6 hours a day for the next month or so getting caught up on this work which I really do enjoy.  The biggest, most time consuming of all projects, is the processing and production of the 'Second Annual Trabzon Air Station CD.  I hope to have it prepared for a Thanksgiving delivery date.

Please send anything that you want to be on the CD.  Now that I am back at my 'Station', I should be able to 'make it play' and 'make it available' for all Trabzon Veterans to see by Christmas.

Thanks for your patience.  Thanks for your response.  Thanks for your great interest and input.  Keep in touch.

  Bill 'Smokey' Stover 

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Posted : September 22, 2007

Rich Pointer – Trabzon – 1962/1963 stopped by for a visit yesterday.  He lives in Missouri.  Rich traveled to Nashville by way of Arkansas.  He is visiting his children in those places.  Rich spent some time in ‘Processing’ about 250 color slides.  He scanned them and digitized them into ‘JPG’ Format and then saved them to DVD.  He has now presented them to me on DVD.  This is a great collection of color slides now photos from 1962/1963.  I will now ‘Process’ his collection onto the internet and onto the 2^nd Annual Trabzon Air Station CD which I plan to distribute by Thanksgiving.  Rich and I met for lunch and then shopped at a Best Buy for computer components and then tripped to my home which is about 25 miles from Nashville.  We visited for about an hour at the restaurant and then for about 2 hours at my place.  We viewed the photos quickly together and then I looked at them in length later in the evening.  Rich will produce an index with descriptions so that when I publish the slide show, it will be with detailed descriptions and accurate names. We had a great visit.  It is great to remember those days especially when you can share your memories with another Trabzon Veteran.

Rich was a volunteer driver as was I.  We worked a number of details together when we were at Trabzon.  I was a day worker and a driver so I met every C130 that dropped in at Trabzon.  Rich was on Charlie Trick but he drove to the airport on his days off and when he was free for day work away from Ops.  We were just two of the pickup and delivery crew.  We delivered anything that was going out to the C130s and then picked up and delivered anything material to the base that came off of the C130s.

We remember working one detail that is documented on our Web Site.  The RB57 from England which was on a photo recon mission made an emergency landing at Trabzon Airport.  I was issued a 45 and M1 and rotated guard duty with others selected around the aircraft while it was temporarily at the airport.  I spent two nights on guard duty during the week that the British Airmen were our guests.  We spent a couple of days extricating the aircraft from the muddy hillside at the other end of the runway.  The Brits flew in a team of maintenance people with necessary parts and a few days later the RAF Colonel Pilot flew that bird off of the runway.  Rich was the one selected to pull the RB57 from its muddy rest on the hill back to the runway.  He told me that he almost burned out the clutch of that old Ford Crew Cab as he was pulling the aircraft back to the runway.  I remember that we had many tons of ‘Pure Steel Planking’ on the base that we normally used for laying down temporary footing for outside storage and anything else that came along.  I fork lifted 6 truckloads of ‘PSP’ on to those old Ford Trucks at the base, then drove the 15 ton fork lift, over cobbles and potholes, to the airport and then fork lifted the 6 loads off onto the end of the runway.  The transportation Tech Sergeant then placed them with the wrecker where they were needed.  We hired about 100 Turks to carry and place the ‘PSP’ in order to build a temporary extension to the runway.  Rich pulled the aircraft from the mud onto the ‘PSP’ and then onto the runway and onto the tarmac where the Brits repaired the failing aircraft.

Some time ago Ted Guasconi provided the photos of the RB57 which are a great memory jar and reminder of this detail.  I’m not sure of any other way that Ted was involved in that recovery.  If anyone else out there was involved in that detail, let me know so we can all have a better memory of that week.

Rich and I had a great visit as we each helped the other to vividly remember this incident which took place so many years ago in such a far away place.  I hope to meet others of you some day so that we can also share these memories.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover

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Posted : September 20, 2007

I have started working, in earnest, on the production of the 2nd Annual Trabzon Air Station CD.  As of today, we have about 650 photos and many stories and narratives.  Rich Pointer (1962/1963) is in the process of converting a few hundred color slides.  I should be able to process his collection onto the internet and into the CD by my target distribution date of Thanksgiving.  I am providing an 'Order Form' in both 'JPG(Picture)' and 'PDF' Formats.  Please print off an Order Form and enclose with check in the proper amount.  Please be sure that a good return address is on the envelope, check, or order form.  Mail to the address found on the bottom of many of these Web Site pages.  I will burn enough copies of the 'Final CD' to cover all orders received by mid-November.  I hope to get distribution finished by Thanksgiving.  I will go on vacation the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and be away from my 'Station' for a month or two.  Please order the CD ASAP so you will have your copy before Christmas.  Click on the 'Button' below to bring up the 'Order Form'.

This will probably be the last Annual CD that I will produce.  Because of a lack of financial participation, positive response and feedback, it has become much more work than it is worth.  A number have supported this project above and beyond the call, but by in large, many are just using the Web Site without providing 'Content' and/or support.  For those who have continued in their support, I am thankful.  Those who have participated to the required levels will receive their CD without question.  If you are not sure of your status, just order a CD.

Thanks again to all of you who have 'Participated' and/or 'Contributed to this 'Project'.  Every one who orders a CD will be happy with the return on their 'Investment'.  If you hope to have a very complete 'Slide Show/Presentation' to show to your family and friends in the future, order this CD, now.

Bill 'Smokey' Stover