Chateauroux Air Station - Moulins Air Depot

Updated: January 03, 2011

Moulins Air Depot

Châteauroux Air Station
Châteauroux, France

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Welcome to the Moulins Air Depot Page of the Châteauroux Air Station Website!

In addition to the main facility at Châteauroux, the 73rd Air Depot Wing operated several Sub-Depot facilities for supplies and equpment. These were located at Bordeaux for clothing and medical supplies; Niort for aircraft ammunition; Metz for vehicles and construction supplies; St. Mihiel for conventional ammunition storage; Moulins for vehicle storage and maintenance, and Villefranche for parts storage. [excerpt from McAuliffe, Jerome J: U.S. Air Force in France 1950-1967 (2005), Chapter 8, Châteauroux-Déols Air Base]

Moulins Air Depot had a website of its own until 2003 when its founder and designer passed away. One of the g.i.'s sent me a cd of the website and I have incorporated it into the Châteauroux Air Station website. The listing of airmen stationed at Moulins Air Depot is the result of over 4 years of effort by Pat Martin. Pat put many long hours in searching the internet, making many many telephone calls, visiting many people in his travels very often going long distances out of his way to do so, culling information from many people that were stationed there before he was. More importantly was the number of people that re-connected after almost a half century due to the effort of this exceptional individual. He will be greatly missed by all.

In memoriam
Patrick L. Martin
March 29, 1936 - August 29, 2003

The listing of airmen stationed at Moulins Air Depot is the result of over 4 years of effort by Pat Martin. Pat put many long hours searching the internet, making many many telephone calls, visiting many people in his travels very often going long distances out of his way to do so, culling information from many people that were stationed there before he was, with this result. More important was the number of people that re-connected after almost a half century due to the effort of this exceptional individual. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

ADDISON, A/1C Anthony T.
Arroyo Grande, CA
See Chas Memoriam

ALBERSON, James W. "Tennessee"
@ Chas: 1954-1955
Moulins Air Depot & 3130th Air Installation / AIO
Byhalia, MS

11/06/2002 I was shipped to Erding Germany 1952, Frising Germany 1953, Châteauroux 1954-1955, Moulins 1955-1956. In Châteauroux I remember the tents, mud, and beer, I also can still remember 7,000 men in tents in the night hearing all night long (I HATE THIS PLACE). If you were there you'll know what I mean !!! I was known as Tennessee in the Air Force, If anyone remembers me "HOLLER"!

9-4-09 James is planning to attend the Chatx 2010 Presentation in Chateauroux.

BAUER, William "Bill"
@ Chas 1952 - 54

12-21-08 It was wonderful to find this website! I arrived in Chateauroux in February of 1952. It was a beautiful warm day and we did not think that we needed a stove in our tent. We found out the first night that , that decision was a big mistake. I'll never forget the chow lines that lasted for two hours or more. Thanks for the memory!

1-21-09 Actually I stayed in tent city for a couple weeks, then transferred to Moulins and joined the 7373rd Vehicle Repair Squadron. I'll have to get my discharge out and check that for accuracy. I landed in Moulins in February of 1952 after landing by boat in Bremerhaven, Germany, and then by train that traveled through Belgium and Luxemberg, and left Moulins in October of 1954 to return to the states. Eventually we were assigned to the 75th at Moulins if my memory serves me right. I miss the French food and especially the bread. There was also a 12th Communications Squadron there and Joe Bauer (no relation) and Pete Carollo played on our base softball team. They had a playoff game in Chateroux and lost by a disputed call, otherwise would have gone to Germany for an all Europe game. I think maybe e those guys are listed in ton the CD. Pete also lived in Michigan and we saw each other once in awhile for a few years.

PS: I just happened to remember (that ain't easy now-a-days) that Red Garlick and Bill ??? were our star pitchers. A couple months before I arrived there the French made a movie in Paris and included a bunch of guys from the Moulins base. They had a ball doing that and Red married a French girl who was in the movie. She was cuter than a bugs ear and everybody loved her. My wife came over in the summer of 1952 and my daughter was born at a clinic in Moulins where I witnessed her birth.

DURAN, James D.
Years @ Chas: 1958-59
Moulins & 3130th ABWG, Comm Div
Johnson City, NY

I'm still doing Civil War. This year we are finishing up the 140th anniversary events which are the battles of 1865 to the surrender at Appomattox.. Next year the scenarios begin anew with the 141st Manassas or Bull Run...I am Section One leader and the Company Clerk

07/28/2002 arrived in Moulins fall of 1955...mustered out of AF Jan 1959 @ McGuire AFB

Moving From Moulins to Châteauroux - 1957 - left to right Jim Duran, Del Stillwell, Don Shrout, Richard (Pas Bon) Malone

4-10-05 I have just been contacted by Bud Hankins from Binghamton, NY...Living in my home town all these years and never knew. I have been in some contact also with "Jenelle Peterson". Forgive me Jenelle for not writing more. I spent most of my tour in Moulins where I worked in the comm center in Cryptography and Teletype Communications. I began in Biloxi Mississippi first as airborne radio operator, then ground and finally Cryptography at Scott AFB, Illinois before shipping out to Moulins, in Allier France via Bremmerhaven Germany in late 55. We did have a very good web site for our MAD GROUP, maintained by Jim Reilly, but it has been closed down for some time. I do however have a copy of that site on CD and will attempt to send a copy to your site in near future.

[jpnote: 2-17-07 I had asked Jim to clarify his Sqdn. He wrote: my orders dated 27 January 1958 read; HEADQUARTERS 3130TH AIR BASE WING (AMC)

The FNA, Hq 3130th ABWG, this sta, are rel from asg dy as indc, and asg dy as indc, eff 27 Jan 58, Changes reflect reorganization of 3130th ABWG.]

I came up from 3130th ABW, APO 290, Moulins Air Base, Moulins Alliers where I served from September 1955 until January 58. I transferred to the Teletype, Crypto Center @ Chad.

DRAPER, Richard - Not Located
1961 Sabres Football Team

HENDERSON, Kenneth L.
@ Chas: April 1962 - Nov 1965
Moulins & 12th Air Postal
Fort Lauderdale, FL

1-4-06 [jpnote: I emailed Gerald Perry with a copy to Kenneth to see if Kenneth was the A/1C Henderson that Gerald was trying to locate. Haven't heard if he was or not.]

[jpnote: 3-14-07 - Kenneth signed in the guestbook.]

JEFFERY, Bob
@ Chas: 57-58
Moulins & 7322nd Air Police
Paris, France

6-22-06 When Moulins was closed in '57 most of us were transferred to CHAS which very few cared for. As a result I simply "put in my time" and returned to New Jersey where I delivered mail for 30+ years in beautiful Newark. Now fully "retired" I live in Paris which was a life long goal. It ain't cheap but worth it in my opinion. Anyone visiting or simply passing thru drop me a note and possibly we can meet for a drink.

PARKER, Carlos W.
@ Chas: 1953-1955
Moulins - 12th Comm Const.
Boone, IA

6-12-09 I arrived in Moulins late in 53. At that time the Sq. was 610 Comm. Const. Sq., a national guard unit from the state of Washington. My team did TDY tours in Germany and three tures (9) months in Triopli, Libya. Met a girl at "Joe From Maine". Really went head-over-heels for her. Really blonde,beutiful. When I arrived home all the letters were gone. My Dad thought, since I was so young, it best to throw them out. I was never able to contact her again. It was a great time in my young life. I never forgot Jenning Alphandary I have spoken with Peter Grives, he didn't remember me. Also to Howard Spencer's wife, he was my squad sgt. "Spence" went on to become a lawyer. At the time He was very ill.

Searching: Any of the guys in 12th Comm. I was in Sgt. Foy's team.

RANKIN, Robert P.
@ Chas: 1957
Moulins
Also - 3130th Air Installation Sqdn
Houma, LA

07/28/2002 & 5-12-03 Transferred from Moulins Air Depot when it closed. Took an early release in October 1957

REILLY, Jim

Stationed at Moulins and at Chas - 1957.

SHAPPELL, Maj Dwight M. USAF (Ret) -12^th Communications Construction Sqdn - 1953

4-11-07 I hope you can help. My father, Maj Dwight M. Shappell, USAF (Ret) was stationed in Moulins, France near Châteauroux in 1953. He met and married my mother while stationed there; she was from a small village – Vaas-Sarthe – and was working in a family hotel/restaurant in Moulin. My father recalls many trips to the Air Base at Châteauroux for various issues. I’m trying to locate information on his unit in Moulins – the 12^th Communications Construction Sqdn, in advance of a presentation I’ll give to the 6 remaining members. Since they were administratively assigned to Châteauroux, I thought you might have information on this particular field unit.

Many thanks for your help!

ANDRÉ G. SHAPPELL, Col (S), USAF
Chief, Assured Access Operations Division
HQ AFSPC/A3R

4-07 jpnote: I spoke with Col Shappell on the phone.

SHELTON, T/sgt Grady
1952 - 1955
Middleburg, FL

6-17-09 Entry from son, Tony - I am the oldest son of TSgt Grady Shelton. He retired from the AF in 1964 and passed away in 1983. Our family has maintained contact with the Goza family, the Blacks, the Siscos, and the Hickersons. My mother, Vera Shelton, is still alive and living in Columbus, MS.

SPAULDING, Ralph P.
@ Chas: 1953 Waiting for assign. to Moulins
Norwood, Ohio
07/31/2002

STANLEY, Melvin R.
@ Moulins - Oct. of 1955 until April of 1957
@ Chas: April 1957 until Nov. of 1958

10-29-07 I was stationed at Moulins from Oct. of 1955 until April of 1957 and then at Chateauroux from April 1957 until Nov. of 1958. APO 290: 10-55 7374 Air Depot Group, 7374 Mtrveh Repron 3-56 3136 Air Depot Group, 3136 Mtrveh Ripron 1-57 3130 Air Base Wing APO 10 4-57 3131 Maint Group 11-57 3131 Acftrepron Discharged in Dec. of 1958

10-29-07 I am looking for some photos of the base at Moulins. I have more French friends in Moulins than at Chateauroux. I plan to visit Moulins and Chateauroux within the year. I have been contacted by a reporter in Moulins, and an article will be placed in the local newspaper there. The reporter is very interested in writing the article on my experiences there because most local French people are unaware that there was an American base in Moulins from 1952 until 1957. Any help will be appreciated.

STILLWELL, Del
Moulins
@ Chas: 1958 and 1959
Also: 3130th ABW Comm Div

Moving From Moulins to Châteauroux - 1957 - left to right Jim Duran, Del Stillwell, Don Shrout, Richard (Pas Bon) Malone