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From 1966 until 1969, Truckman was stationed in West Germany (twice) with the USAF at Spangdahlem AB...The photos seen here were taken in 1968 when I took a 20 day leave to see a little of Europe with some friends who were stationed there with me...Four of us packed clothes and camping gear into two 1956 Volkswagen Beetles, and hit the road...South through Bavaria and the Black Forest into Austria where we crossed into Switzerland through Lichtenstein...Usually we pitched a tent in campgrounds, but occasionally we opted for a hotel...I remember staying at a hotel in Zurich with the softest feather beds anywhere...
We crossed the Alps from there into Italy through Milan, Venice and Bologna to the principality of San Marino...From there over to Florence and down to Rome where we stayed a couple of nights in a campground where we met a lot of Australian tourists...We saw the usual sights in Rome plus a visit to Vatican City...We continued south to Naples and on to the excavation of Pompei which had only recently been opened for observation...
We then drove north up the coast through Pisa and Genoa, and on to Monte Carlo to see the Gran Prix of Monaco, a really exciting race for us guys!...This necessitated a detour through a corner of France both coming and going...The ungrateful and despicable French had ordered American forces to vacate all nuclear capable bases in France only a year before and tensions were a little edgy...As always the French were willing to defend their country to the last drop of American and British blood, but once that was done they wanted us out...The next time they are invaded I'm sure they'll be willing to let us back in to save their worthless lives, then they'll go back to swilling wine with their unshaven women...
But I digress...The entire trip was fun, and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything...I hope my viewers can gain a little insight from these pictures...I started with the first 17 in this batch of 98 and will add more shortly...As more surface when I get time to go through the duffel bag I packed when I was discharged, I'll add more if found...My thanks go to Humble Camera Center whose skilled staff digitized these fragile old slides...
From 1966 until 1969, Truckman was stationed in West Germany (twice) with the USAF at Spangdahlem AB...The photos seen here were taken in 1968 when I took a 20 day leave to see a little of Europe with some friends who were stationed there with me...Four of us packed clothes and camping gear into two 1956 Volkswagen Beetles, and hit the road...South through Bavaria and the Black Forest into Austria where we crossed into Switzerland through Lichtenstein...Usually we pitched a tent in campgrounds, but occasionally we opted for a hotel...I remember staying at a hotel in Zurich with the softest feather beds anywhere...
We crossed the Alps from there into Italy through Milan, Venice and Bologna to the principality of San Marino...From there over to Florence and down to Rome where we stayed a couple of nights in a campground where we met a lot of Australian tourists...We saw the usual sights in Rome plus a visit to Vatican City...We continued south to Naples and on to the excavation of Pompei which had only recently been opened for observation...
We then drove north up the coast through Pisa and Genoa, and on to Monte Carlo to see the Gran Prix of Monaco, a really exciting race for us guys!...This necessitated a detour through a corner of France both coming and going...The ungrateful and despicable French had ordered American forces to vacate all nuclear capable bases in France only a year before and tensions were a little edgy...As always the French were willing to defend their country to the last drop of American and British blood, but once that was done they wanted us out...The next time they are invaded I'm sure they'll be willing to let us back in to save their worthless lives, then they'll go back to swilling wine with their unshaven women...
But I digress...The entire trip was fun, and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything...I hope my viewers can gain a little insight from these pictures...I started with the first 17 in this batch of 98 and will add more shortly...As more surface when I get time to go through the duffel bag I packed when I was discharged, I'll add more if found...My thanks go to Humble Camera Center whose skilled staff digitized these fragile old slides...
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| This was taken after we got back to base, but before we reported for duty, which explains the un-military chin whiskers on the scruffy looking dude... |
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| If memory serves (always a crapshoot with me) this is part of the Monte Carlo casino complex... |
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| There were all kinds of high-dollar transportation available to see... |
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| Somewhere in the Alps... |
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| I built this cabinet to house my stereo equipment in the barracks...It's all long gone now, but pictured is my Sansui 50 watt receiver, Sony 350 tape deck and Garrard Lab 80 turntable...I still have the reel-to-reel tapes...The tapestry came from Wheelus AB in Libya which still existed at that time...I still have it also, although the colors are nowhere near as bright... |
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| I believe I took this coming down out of the Alps into Italy... |
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| I was one tired GI after that trip and needed some sleep before going back to work... |
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| If my information is correct, this is Jack Brabham in his Brabham-Repco who qualified second but retired with suspension problems at lap 7... |
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| The ham in the background is my barracks roomie Doug Kaczmarek who was on hand to greet the zombified Truckman after the grueling journey... |
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| A scenic spot somewhere in the Alps...I could never fit into those pants again, but I still wear those same sunglasses (issued by Base Supply), and that same Omega Speedmaster watch... |
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| I don't know what vantage point this was in Monte Carlo, but it may have been as close as we could get... |
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| Another good vantage point, but the car is unidentifiable... |
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| I feel certain This was taken somewhere on the French or Italian Riviera, but the exact point is unknown...My old '56 VW was one of the most reliable cats I ever owned...The seats were trash when I bought it, but what is seen here are the red leather Porsche Speedster bucket seats I filched out of a wrecking yard on base...Very comfy... |
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| The Monte Carlo marina... |
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| I would not want to have been part of the crew who cut those tunnels through the Alps... |
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| I'm not sure when nor where this was taken, but we may just needed a brief rest stop... |
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| Through the windshield of my '56 Bug... |
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| The Alps were a truly magnificent sight... |
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| The Cathedral of Florence (I couldn't remember but Prof. Google helped me)... |
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| Proof that Truckman actually was in Pisa... |
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| The Coliseum in Rome... |
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| A Roman triumphal arch... |
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| Marcus Agrippa's contribution to Roman architecture - the Pantheon... |
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| More of the Coliseum... |
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| I have no idea why I took this photo...If anyone can help identify it, please comment... |
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| Judging from the camera angle, this is probably as high as I could get in the Coliseum... |
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| Trevi Fountain...One of 1,352 from 4th Century Rome... |
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| If memory serves me correctly, this was originally part of the Roman Appian Way... |
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| Somewhere in Venice from a bridge... |
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| Truckman enjoying a freshly brewed cup of coffee in a campground on the outskirts of Rome... |
Wowie-wow-wow-wow! If I loan you a scooter, Ben, would you be my tour guide? When do we leave! I can't get enough of these photos! More people should comment. These are amazing.
ReplyDeletePuffy.
I need four wheels under me, Puffy, preferably six since I'm more steady with my training wheels...
DeleteI still can’t get enough of your photos! What a stud! Maybe if we both save our Whataburger coupons and avoid dining on too much wagyu steak, we can pool our recourses and take another trip to the Alps! I’ll provide the bikes and give you all the lessons you need… I have a large selection of scooters, and can I assure you — you can do it! And if we make a wrong turn and wind up in France, I can wing it…
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I seem to waste all my Whataburger coupons on food in a futile attempt to stay alive until the right woman rescues me from my dire fate...
Delete