From: M0M012345@aol.com
To: PSLTOM@aol.com
Subject: Landsberg am lech
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 15:59:2

Hi,
I got to the 12thRSM in Landsberg in Feb 53, worked in the photo lab in the basement with Msgt Hubble, 11 months later they sent me to the 2nd RSM in Darmstadt, and 11 months later to 6910th back at Landsberg... I remember Col. Augustinus was commander, of the 6900th Security Wing .
(sidenote on Co. Augustinus..During his tour at Brooks and Security Hill in its infancy over on Kelly AFB. he got his butt in a crack, for commandering the woodshop, Civil Engineers Squadron, and having them make western motif furniture of western white pine, for some of the offices, and especially the barracks on Brooks and Security Hill. Anyone remember the furniture? Seems he overstepped his authority and spent funds in this project for the benefit of the enlisted troops in the Barracks) any way I ran the photo lab for the next 11 months and rotated just before thanksgiving in 55... USAFSS folks seem to have the best camradrie in the whole USAF
Marvin Mobley Msgt USAF retired
P.S. hollar back at me.
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Subj: Post this you all
Date: 5/24/1999

I ran across this old newspaper clipping during a recent update of my files and thought you might be interested.
Gemutil. Beisammenseindeurtcher und US-Jager (The article of course was in Deutch...but a portion of the translation follows)
"There might have been about 300 American and 40 German hunters who came together last night in the club of the Airmen in order to spend there an evening in real comradeship.
"when the band played in munchen steht das hofbrauhaus corporal Aaker could not resist. He went straight up to the microphone and sang different German favorite songs in German. With real ardour he sung amongst others "trink, trink, bruderins trink" which he earned honest applause from the German and American guests.
That came to me by way of the social affairs office...imagine, being touted in a deutcher tagblat!
Thought you'd be interested.
Tom Aaker
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Subj: GREETING SUBJECTS!
Date: 8/6/1999 9:39:53 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: JMyers9061
To: M0M012345

Greetings Subjects,

This is your Baron calling from the land of OOU BLAA DEE from Bagdad on the Rhine. Yes, I am pulling you back to days of yesteryear and our friend the Baron of Bounce. How many remember the invitation of our sending in bricks so that he could wall in the kingdom of the Hill Billy Gast Haus?

The Baron put in a special appearance at the Deutches Museum one winters evening when Stan Kenton and his band were stirring the waters of the Isar River. He had such lovely ladies with as June Christy and Chris Conners. There was so much music that the fog over Munich cleared for a full moon entry.

There was another band present. It was Hans Kohler and his group that played at our own Blue Note Club at the Ernst Ludwig Kaserne located in Darmstadt. He had a fair lady at the piano that was great. She Utta Hip. Things were great back then. Let us hear from you and your memories about the finest city we can remember - Munich.
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Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 10:49:47 EDT
Subject: History Mystery

Can't recall whether it was you that asked or not but...Drew Field (Army Signal Corps and related) was in Tampa Florida. Indications are that it may have become MCDill AFB. I will check out that theory when we return from a 3-week jaunt to Ottawa, Montreal, Burlington,

VT and the new Brunswick and Nova Scotia Some of the troops from there went to the Calif. base you mentioned and some went into the new AF. One of the Army Security units had a Lt . William Mundorff in it. We had a Lt-Capt. Joseph R. Mundorff in the 6910th with us! Related???
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Subj: 2nd RSM & 6910th RGM History
Date: 8/12/1999 8:20:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: raymackt@home.com

Larry, good challenge! Don't have a clue myself, but perhaps someone else will. And...maybe we will get published again in FTV Newsletter and get even a larger audience! :-) (Would like to send directly to that list, but know that is discouraged...)

Let me add ANOTHER challenge for our group...I have been collecting ALL of the history clips that have passed thru my e-mail box in last year or so. These are in a plain text file. However, there are a lot of duplicate messages (forwards), and some annotations are needed. I want to publish this in our next news letter, but
I SURE COULD USE SOME HELP IN EDITING THIS FILE!
Any takers?
Thanks!
R@y
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Larry Tart Wrote:
Ray & Maury,

Larry Tart here.

I asked the questions a while back about Drew Field and Lt Mundorff. I have since been informed that Drew Field was in fact in Tampa, Florida. It is supposedly now called Drew Park--an area adjacent to Tampa Int'l Airport & about 7 miles north of MacDill AFB (see message below).

As for Lt/Capt Mundorff, there might be a relationship between the William Mundorff and your Capt Joseph Mundorff at the 6910th in the early '50s. The William Mundorff was in the 8th RSM (Army Air Corps Security Agency) in the Pacific in WW II.

I have a new challenge for you old-timers. On 19 January 1951 USAFSS issued general order # 6 redesignating its squadrons’ detachments. The 1st RSM’s Dets A, B and C (Misawa, Ashiya and Korea) were redesignated detachments 11, 12 and 13, respectively. Det 13 had been activated in Korea on 10 January 1951, assuming the resources of Det C. The 2nd RSM’s Dets, A, B and C in Germany were renamed Dets 21, 22 and 23, and the 3rd RSM, having been activated in Alaska had two detachments (A and B) that were redesignated Dets 31 and 32

Do any of the 6910th early gang have any info on the detachments of the 2nd RSM--as they existed in 1951? The 6920th Scty Group was activated at Johnson AB, Japan on 1 Sept 1951. Interestngly, it was the 6920th Security Group, not a Radio Group, Mobile--It's purpose was to manage the 1st RSM and newly activated 15th RSM. I'm guessing, but would assume that the 6910th Scty Group was created about the same time--possibly on the same USAFSS general orders although I have no proof. What do you think? Anyone know for sure when the 6910th stood up for the first time?
I'm also lookng for info on the 3rd RSM (Alaska) and its detachments.
Thanks
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Hello Larry:

Don't guess I know you: my name is Joe H Gregory, Jr., and I was in USAFSS from 53-79. I was stationed @ Bremerhaven, San Vito, Anchorage, Wakkanai, several tours in San Antonio, NSA, and finally retired from MacDill.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading your article on USAFSS history in the March FTVA Newsletter and I can tell you that Drew Field, Fl, was located in Tampa, Fl. Today, it's known as Drew Park. It is located in north Tampa, adjacent to the Tampa International Airport (TIA), and about 7 miles north of MacDill AFB. It's just an industrial area now with a few of the old barracks still standing after they were converted to 3-4 small apartments. A few old buildings were used by businesses; i.e., cabinet shops, etc. Unfortunately, it's now a mixture of low-income families, a couple of small trailer courts, and a multitude of XXX movie houses, nude theaters and massage parlors--all blended with what businesses are left. On the positive side, TIA is slowly buying up the property, tearing down the old buildings and trailer courts, and preparing for the year 2012 expansion of runways, etc. As for the history, I will talk to some of the Tampa old-timers and see if I can find out anything of interest and let you know.
See you later,
Joe

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Subj:2nd RSM & 6910th RGM History
Date: 8/12/1999 8:56:23 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From:(Ray M. Thompson)

Reference to detachments of the RSM's I was in the 12th RSM at Landsberg in 1952. they had a detachment in Linz, Austria, don't recall what detachment #. I went TDY there in May of 52 to rephotograph the folks there, when we had a change of security passes. I remember it well, it was raining at the base when I left, sleeting at the Landsberg train station and snowed all the way to Linz on the train. it was strange to see all the window boxes in homes along the rail route and trainmasters building, in each sttion along the way, full of flowers with little snowcaps on them.
That is just one of the many fond memories I have from my tour at the 12th, 2nd, and finally 6910th.
Marvin Mobley
A/2C
photographer
23250

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Subj: Greyhair Memory
Date: 8/12/1999 8:18:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: (Ray M. Thompson)

My recollection of designations was: 37th at Edinboro, Sc; 41st at Bremehaven ,Gr: ; 34th at Tropili; Ankara was in the attic of the U S Embasy; and I don't recall the number at Lintz. , Austria. It was somewhat illegal as Austria was a neutral area by Potsdam agreement[???]. I vagely remember something in Rome, I used to read Claire Booth Luce's diplomatic summerys as they came thru the com center. She was our Ambisador to Italy at the time. Nothing exciting ever came thru. Interesting putting all this back together. If you know when the 6910th reunioin in Ashville, NC is , please let me know. June and I are going to the New England area in September.
Foye
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Subj: Senior Moment
Date: 8/13/1999 8:10:18 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: (Ray M. Thompson)

I vaugely remember the Lintz, Austria unit being a "detachment " rather than a full blown unit. Norman McClellan should remember some of this stuff. We worked together at Darmstadt in the com center.
Foye
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Subj: Re: 2nd RSM & 6910th RGM History
Date: 8/13/1999 8:10:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From:(Ray M. Thompson)
Ray replies:

Larry, you are a Noodle! (from Movie, "Driving Miss Daisy") and that's a COMPLIMENT.
Many, many thanks for the offer and I'll be forwarding the file post haste!
R@y
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Ray, I'm deeply involved in trying to pull together related USAFSS histories; so, I'd be happy to give it a shot--I can compare what you have compiled with my collection of odds 'n ends. Send me the file & I'll work my way through it.
Thanks,
Larry Tart

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Subj: "I Remembers...", Cont'd
Date: 8/13/1999 6:07:21 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: (Ray M. Thompson)
Keep them coming, guys...these are the kind of recollections I think we all enjoy sharing....!
R@y
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HARRY WROTE:

Ray, I remember stories about an Austrian detachment located at an airfield surrounded by the soviet zone of occupation. The ground access corridor was closed from midnight to sunrise or something like that. Airmen caught in the corridor after midnight would be detained at one of the russian gatehouses. When the guards at the American gatehouse saw this happen, they would stage a friendly (?) raid to free the detainees.

The Austrian situation was pretty much a farce in the early 50s. The Austrians printed a postage stamp depicting the globe encircled with all the flags of the United Nations with a space containing a question mark. Austria was still being occupied at that time. I also remember seeing an Austrian science fiction movie in Germany titled, "Eins April Im Jahre 2000." The plot revolved around the end of the occupation of Austria. Typical Viennese humor.

Hello to all the old hands still around. I've set up a web site for my High School and College classmates who ask what I've been doing for the last 50 years. I'll send Ray a copy under separate cover. It will be from alphagorilla, my nom de plume or should I say my nom de guerre. Feel free to use anything there.
Harry Euteneuer
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Subj: Early History/USAFSS Europe
Date: 8/15/1999 9:10:47 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: LarryTart
BCC: M0M012345

Guys,

Having had a little time to pour over the collection of history notes that Ray Thompson has provided me and talked to a few persons over the weekend, the early history of the USAFSS European-based units are becoming more clear in my mind. Joe Mishkofski and Bill Carlson provided the details that have put the early history in perspective. Thank you Joe and Bill.

Joe provided me old cys of orders and verbal inputs that transfer the 2nd RSM from the Army Security Agency to USAFSS on 15 July 1949. The 2nd RSM had relocated from Herzo Base, Herzogenauerach ?sp? to Darmstadt sub-post on 1 March 1949, shortly after Joe Mishkofski reported to the unit as a Morse operator in January 1949. On 15 Aug 1949 Joe was sent to a detachment of the 2nd RSM at Rothwesten AB where the host unit was the 601st AC&W Sq at APO 171. The 2nd RSM det at Rothwesten was a USAFSS DF/Morse intercept site. There were no AF voice operators there although the Army (ASA) did have linguists in their Det 114 at Rothwesten. Joe was reassigned to the 2nd RSM at Darmstadt (APO 175 ) on 14 Sept 1949 and returned PCS to the ZI on 11 April 1950—to the 8th RSM at Brooks AFB where he helped set up the new Morse intercept school to train CW operators arriving from Scott AFB & Keesler AFB in USAFSS intercept techniques (special characters, formatting, etc). He was discharged on 1 June 1950 (52 days early because of accrued leave); was later recalled, and ultimately retired as an AF CWO4.

The only detachment of the 2nd RSM that Joe served with was the det at Rothwesten & he was not sure of the location of the others. Other details that I’ve gathered suggest that one may have been in Bremerhaven and another possibly at Landsberg in the very early 1950’s. On 19 Jan 1951, USAFSS issued general order # 6 redesignating the operational detachments belonging to the 1st RSM (Japan), 2nd RSM (Germany), and 3rd RSM (Alaska). The three 2nd RSM detachments (A,B and C) were redesignated 21, 22 and 23. Given that Ray Thompson arrived at Landsberg in early 1951 "right after 6910th has moved there from Darmstadt", he was no doubt assigned to one of the 2nd RSM detachments (21, 22 or 23) when he initially arrived at Landsberg. The detachment had probably been established at Landsberg just before Ray arrived.

Later, as Bill Carlson points out in his beautifully written piece on the early history of the 6910th, the 6910th Scty Group was activated at Brooks AFB on 23 May 1951 and deployed to Wiesbaden on 28 July 1951. At the time, the 6910th SG served as the USAFSS administrative/management unit in Europe with the 2nd RSM at Darmstadt, 41st RSM at Bremerhaven and 10th RSM at Chicksands and the 12 RSM at Bingen serving as the operational (intercept) sites. As Carlson points out, the 6910th SG was transferred from Wiesbaden to Landsberg in May 1953 and the 6900th Security Wing was activated at Landsberg in Oct 1953. Although I don’t have firm records on all the redesignations, sometime prior to May 8, 1955 the 6910th became the 6910th Radio Group Mobile with subordinate RSM’s in Germany, and the 10th RSM at Chicksands evidently became the 6950th Radio Group Mobile.

On 8 May 1955 the 2nd RSM was redesignated the 6911th RSM. Additionally, the 12th RSM, 41st RSM, 10th RSM and 37th RSM (the latter had been established at Kirknewton, Scotland) were redesignated as the 6912th RSM, 6913th RSM, 6950th RGM and 6952nd RSM, respectively, but I do not have firm records showing the dates these units were redesignated.

In the second half of 1950, USAFSS relocated its 6900th Scty Wing and 6910th RGM from Landsberg, with the 6900th ending up in Frankfurt and the 6910th relocating to Sembach, Germany. In addition, a new processing unit, the 6901st Special Comms Group was activated and relocated from Landsberg to Zweibruecken, Germany in November 1956. In a later iteration, we’ll look at the further evolution of the 6910th after leaving Landsberg. I'd appreciate any feedback from any of you with additonal info on the early days of the USAFSS units in Europe.
Best Regards,
Larry Tart
sending from State College, PA
(814) 238-7067

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Subj: 6910th Security Group guy
Date: 9/1/1999 6:15:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Ray, I got your e-mail address from Jere Harris. I was with the 6910th from April 1952 (Darmstadt) through February 1955 (Landsberg). I was a 20470 staff sergeant when I was discharged at Camp Kilmer. I had absolutely no idea we had a newsletter and reunions. I've seen several guys I was with, but mostly soon after I got out. I saw the late Lou DiMuro a lot in the 1960s. There also were others: Ed Gerlich, Bill Crowell, Dave Hurley, Gayle Williamson, Gus Horvath, Jack Blakley, and a few more. Some are on the roster Jere sent me today. Art Freije, also deceased, had a son who managed a hotel in Denver. He told me Art died a few years ago. I spent most of my life as a newspaperman, working on the Springfield, Ohio, News and Sun. I was an editor at the Denver Post for 11 years, then went with Time Warner, and retired in 1993. But I still work as a consultant for the company and as senior editor for the Douglas County (Colorado) News-Press. My wife Shirley and I live in Castle Rock, Colo., about 15 miles south of Denver. We lived for six years in Norwalk, Conn., when I was with Time Warner. My wife has a successful ladies' boutique here in Castle Rock. If there is a newsletter, please add my name. Whatever the cost, I'll send you a check.
My address is 2256 Emerald Drive, Castle Rock, Colorado, 80104
(303) 660-9934.
My e-mail address is newshawk@email.msn.com
I also have a fax number (303) 660-3300.
I can't tell you how excited I am to make some contact with this part of my life. I told Jere, I wasn't debriefed officially until 1969 in Corning, N.Y. Thanks in advance.
Jim Duffy
(Also known as S/Sgt. James C. Duffy, AF 15 447 425)
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Brought back some interesting memories tracking the Berlin corridor during my stay on "charlie" flight in the early sixties as a ditty bopper. Wish I could of seen the program, maybe it got taped by someone, sure would like to see it.
Larry Jaffe
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At 10:47 AM 9/15/1999 -0500, you wrote: Greg, I appreciate your comments, very much. We'd NEVER turn down good USAFSS "stories of the past", even if they were after our watch! :-) Let those 60's stories roll! I secretly wish some of the SILENT MAJORITY on the list would talk more! :-(
Ray,

I thank you again for keeping me in the circle of the 6910TH personnel group. Althought I do no reconize some of the names I still have a certain loyality to this outstanding Organization of which I was only a part of for a short period of time. I have to evaluate them as having been the best in their field at a time when it was critical to our national defense "
I enjoy hearing other stories of "past" adventures and know of none that would be of interest to the 50's group! Wish I could have "taped" some of the "intrusions" of the Berlin Corridor, by the Russians in the 60's. You have to give the 60's group credit for what was eventially to be a "Unification of Germany"!
Stay in touch!
zack

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Hello!