3973rd Combat Defense Squadron

26 Comments

1. We lived in Sevilla 1970. I walked through bario Santa Clara every school day, to and from bario Santa Cruz. Pops had retired USAF 5 years before, so this was well into his civil service career. Younger sister & brother attended the school Stephanie mentions, literally down the street. While I knew much of this history I have learned much today. Good reading. Thank you for your service & fond memories.

2. I was in the 2186th Communications Squadron (AFCS) from Jul 1961 until Jul 1965. Was the COMSEC Accountant and also did a lot of courier services runs between San Pablo, Moron, and Rota. Dated a Spanish Flamingo dancer from – I believe it was the Christina Hotel – across the street as I recall from the Alphonso 13 hotel. Wonderful memories of San Pablo, Seville, and people, the Feria, the Holy Week processions and the people I worked with. Has been many year ago, would love to hear from anyone who may still remember the 2186th Comm Sq. For about 2 years, I had a Sunday afternoon AFRS program at Moron called “Music for a Sunday Afternoon….”….worked out well became many of the Armed Forces Courier Service Deliveries were brought into Moron on Sunday PM.

3. Lived in Sevilla from ’55 to ’61. The El Cano & Exportadora were my favorite for school but graduated in San Pablo in ’59. Have returned to Sevilla a few times; last time was October 2016 to celebrate my birthday. Stayed 5 weeks….drank it all in: El Prado, Triana, Heliopolis, Los Remedios…..but most of all Santa Cruz and everything it has to offer.

4. Steve eichorn. Don hartmann here you were in ces weren’t you. I remember you. I was in the electric shop. Went on to retire in 1985.

5. Great page. Thank you.

   Myself::
   Seville: 1955 – 1960
   Ferrol Spain: 1960 – 1961
   Rota Naval Station: 1961 – 1966

   Dad (Sheridan) was with the Fire Department. Had stations at San Pablo, Exportadora, and Moron AB.

   I would love to hear from Fred Madden who posted pictures of the Fire Department on this page.

   circa 1956: First USAF fire “station” was at San Pablo airport. Commercial side. The fire “station” consisted of a trailer and one or two trucks at San Pablo commercial airport. There were a bunch of qusoent huts there. C124s, C119s and C47s were coming and going every day. This was the start of the American military presence in Seville area.

   San Pablo (commercial side), Exportadora, Fatima Clinic and the El Cano building (in Seville) were the hub of things when Moron AB, Santa Clara, and San Pablo AB were being constructed.

   We lived in Los Remedios (Seville) from 1955 to 1957. Then moved to Santa Clara. Lived in two story duplex. Believe number was G6 or G8? Was at the end of a culdesac. There was a electrical transformer building in the middle of the culdesac. (No longer there.) A Spanish worker died in that building. Electrocuted.

   We moved to the US Navy base Ferrol Spain in 1960. Then down to Rota Naval Station Spain in 1961. My dad was the assistant fire chief, then later base fire chief, at Rota Naval Station for many years. I graduated from high school (DGF) at Rota Naval Station in 1966.

   The picture on this page asking if the building is barracks or hospital, was the school for dependents. The right wing of the building was elementary school. The wing to the left was the high school. This building was across the street from the NCO Club.

   Later new school house was built next door to the gym. Close to the water tank. The first dependent school was located in the Exportadora area. There is one picture of the Exchange in the Exportadora area on this page.

   Now being retired military I space a into/out of Spain (Rota Naval Station) every year. Santa Clara is still there. So many changes to the quarters it is hard to recognize places. I went to our quarters. The Spanish family was nice enough to let me see the inside side. The wooden stair rail was exactly the same!

   The USAF dependent school in Santa Clara is now a Spanish school. Amazingly when looking around I came across a metal trash can from the 1950s! Repainted many times. Still can see “PUSH” on the drop door.

   As many know, San Pablo is gone. There is a Spanish airplane factory there now. Some parts of the old USAF area are still there. i.e. the hospital, pool, mess hall, etc.

   I took photos of many of the buildings at former San Pablo AB.

   Google earth shows a “NO ENTER” sign and a fence leading into the former USAF area. I was at that exact location this May (2018). The fence is gone. The area is ran down. Per my Spanish friend, it is NOT advised to be in that area after dark!!

   Due to the condition of the buildings, I did not go inside the buildings.

   I found it interesting the painted signs of “LEAVE YOUR VALUABLES” “SHOWER BEFORE ENTERING POOL” signs on the pool building are still there after all these years.

   The microwave relay dishes are long gone. Only the foundations and adjacent buildings are remaining.

   Seville is a wonderful city. Many changes. Love it.

   Should anyone desire photos or for me to contact someone in Seville, please leave a message or e mail me.

   Few years ago I was down town Seville with Spanish friends. Having a good Cruz Campo and tapas…a Spanish woman came over to our table. She was the Commander’s secretary at San Pablo AB. We had a interesting conversation. I may still have her e mail address if anyone is interested.

   • Hello! I enjoyed reading your post about San Pablo. We lived there from 1960-64. Our Dad worked on & supervised men who maintained the propellers. His name was Arthur Bohannon. We hope to visit Seville this year!

6. Though I didn’t realize it then, Moron was probably the best assignment of my 30 year USAF career. Good flying, good friends, good times!

7. No!

8. My dad ( Kenneth Sharp )was stationed there. I was born 12/30/64 on San Pablo we lost my birth certificate from both the base ans Spain in hurricane do any of you know how I can replace them I only have been giving a record of birth . Thank you in advance
   Melanie sharp Tracey

   • Visit your County Clerk; they should be able help you (if they will?). That “record of birth” may help also.

   • Melanie, I would start by doing a search at the National Archives.
     All military records, paper work, etc is filed away in one of the Archives.

     Or, contact the US State Department;

     Or, contact the HQ for USAF medical services at Kelly AFB, Tx. Explain what you are searching for. They may be able to direct you where to go.

     From https://blog.vitalchek.com/birth-certificates/order-u-s-birth-certificate-country/

     “””…. Your parent(s) should have registered your birth with the US Embassy in the country where you were born. Your parent(s) would have received a document called “Consular Report of Birth Abroad” which is a report that works similarly to an official birth certificate in many cases. It is possible to get a copy of this directly from the U.S. Department of State, or you may be able to order it online through a trusted ordering service that handles online ordering for vital record agencies in the U.S. Additionally, some countries will list your birth in their records.

     If your parents failed to register your birth with the U.S. Embassy, it may be more difficult to obtain an official birth record. However, if you contact the hospital or someone in the public affairs office (for military births), you may be able to talk with an expert who can help you work through the process….”””

   • In 1964 when you were born the US Consulate was located along the river in Seville.
     On Paseo de las Delicias By Parque de Maria Luisa.

     It is no longer located there.

     The US Embassy was located in Madrid then (and still is). Seville was a US Consulate.

     Your best hope may be to contact the US State Department in a written letter.

     In your letter list place, date of birth, any names on the birth certificate etc. Your parents status and names then. Ask if there is a Consular Report listing your birth.

     Request they do a file search for this Report or copy of your certificate.

     Knowing how slow things move, don’t expect a fast reply.

9. I just sent my comment to Robert

10. Robert:
    I flew the L-20 regularly on “pipeline surveillance”. In fact I did the “test” flight to bring the damaged one back into service after the eng failure and forced landing. I also remember “gumdrop” very well. I would often slow to just above stall-speed at near ground level, and we’d drop goodies to the kids. They loved it!

11. I was stationed at Moron from Jan.1960 to June 1963. My duties were maintaining the 2 L-20 aircraft that were used to survey the petro. pipeline from Cadiz to Barcelona.,Also used to do operation Gumdrop at Christmas time.I loved Spain, went sightseeing every Sunday, had a 21 month honeymoon with my N.J. wife who presented me with a son. Born at San Pablo.

    • Robert, Fred Madden, a firefighter stationed at San Pablo says: “Hopefully, our paths crossed…Moron, ’62-’64, San Pablo, ’64-’65…share your feelings. (: “

    • Robert, the pipe line is still there and still in operation. Starts at Rota Naval Station. Now ran and owned by a Spanish company. The pump station at Arahal is still there. I stopped in there few years ago. The manager showed me around. I told him the place looks like it did in the 1950s. He was interested to learn of the years the USAF was there.

      When I went out to San Pablo I saw the hospital at San Pablo. Still there..but in bad shape.

      The first hospital used by the USAF was Fatima located by the El Cano building in Seville. Then the hospital at San Pablo opened.

      For those of you who remember, the El Cano building looks the same. I went inside of it a few years ago. Met a Spanish man who showed me around. The Americans had a clinic, chapel etc on the top floor. Finance and personnel offices were on the bottom floor.

12. Bruce, according to Ralph Heath, “I think everyone in k9 at one time or another used the facilities mentioned.”
    Bill Vickery said, “Sounds like Jim Berger’s dog guarding him while resting.”
    Fred Madden says, “Too funny…! But no one ever told anyone in the fire department. Had I ever been met by a snarling dog, I may have dropped a load right there…(: “

13. I was stationed at Moron from 1962 to 1965 working in radio maintenance for the control tower. Our sites were across the the runway and on occasion met APs patrolling with their guard dogs at night. At some point we gave them the combination to the transmitter site as it had the only toilet over there and as an added bonus it was also air conditioned. Of course we forgot this so when we went there to perform some maintenance we just strolled right in and were met by a snarling dog. We did escape without harm. I wonder if any of your gang made use of the facilities.

14. I just found this site and thought I would post in hopes that people still read it. I was stationed at Moron in 1961 – 1963. I enjoyed the photos from the Cuban Missile Crisis days when I was a member of the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Warfare team.

    I also enjoyed the photo and account of the B-58 from Bunker Hill AFB that crashed at Moron even though that happened after I left Moron. Prior to being assigned to Moron, I was stationed at Bunker Hill when that base received their first two B-58s.

    Enjoying the site very much. Thanks to those responsible for it.

    • We’re glad that you’re enjoying the site, Jim. If you have any relevant photos from your time in Morón, send them in and we’ll be glad to include them on the site!

15. Thank you so much for your website! I just returned home to N. California last Thurs. (Febr. 22, 2017) from a visit to Sevilla and Cordoba (Febr. 14-22), during which I took the bus out to Santa Clara housing one day and walked all around our old neighborhood. It was so interesting and still a nice area. Our family lived in Santa Clara during that time, and I attended 5th and 6th grade at the barracks used as our San Pablo Elementary School and then 7th grade at Sevilla High School in the Santa Clara community. I found our home, right across the street from the former baseball fields, now a park. A beautiful and large new home has replaced our casa, and I even met the owners…lovely people who spoke English and own hotels in S. Spain…new friends now! My Dad was CMSGT Stephen W. Ross, who was stationed at Moron from June 1961 to June 1964. I’ll have to check my Dad’s DD-214 to see how his assignment at Moron was listed. He worked in petroleum. I know he mentioned knowing Brig. General Jack Catlin (http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jecatlin.htm) then and kept in contact later. My Dad died in Jan. 2016 at the age of 93 1/2. I took care of him for 3 years after he had a stroke. I wish I’d asked him all about his memories of our years in Sevilla before his stroke! We AF brats from those Sevilla/San Pablo/Santa Clara days have a closed Facebook group and a website. Here’s the website: http://www.sevillahighschool.com/SHS9.html

    • Pretty sure are families were neighbors We lived across from ball parks too. We were at I-9A were there from 1961 thru 1963

    • Hi Stephanie!
      My name is Sergio and I live now in Santa Clara. I am also a journalist and I´m trying to make a documentary about our area.
      I´d like to follow the American heritage of Santa Clara (since I studied in MIchigan I feel half American and Spaniard). I´m loocking for people how lived in Santa Clara those days and asking for pictures people may have to see how it was back in the 50´s and 60´s.
      Too bad we didnt meet when you came last year!
      My email is screspo@atn.es just in case you wanna contact me. It would be great.
      Thanks

16. I was stationed at Moron from 1961-1963. HQ sqd base comm. Worked at the pile of dirt, to the right of the main gate. Any vets around from that time?

17. memories….I was stationed at Moron, and then to the Seville Admin. Annex. ’65-66 to ’69. I re-enlisted in ’68 there. Got to stay another year.