European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1950, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The shores Commodore Stephen Decatur and his marines  recognize whats on the shores of Tripoli the old fort which housed the pirate guns during the famed Battle in 1804 is now a service club for British and american off signs Are posted on the dirty yellow Walls sur rounding the old the americans Are stationed at wheelus a military air transport service five Miles East of Between the Mediterranean and the libyan desert Mats flights connecting the Middle East and Europe originate at the which was named after it Richard american Pilot killed near on the persian Gulf in february a former italian fighter base known it was occupied by the Raf after the British 8th army captured Tripoli in the air transport cd operated from there for a time in but when the americans moved out later that year the Field was Safe reopened wheelus in june 1948 and it has been going Strong Ever col bocks is in charge of the in which is known As the 1603d air base the three run ways straddle a former Auto Racetrack built by the italians during the Mussolini regime the including Chapel and Nestle under Date Palm in addition to its regular dependent wheelus boasts a stateside Type trailer court and the occupants of the four trailers say they  live any where the base provides water and lights at a set fee of s7 a they can have phone service in their trailers for an extra 1 so a their monthly hous ing allowance helps to Knock Down their original investment for the some prefer to live in Tripoli and rent by Ken Zumwalt staff writer direct from the a two bedroom Villa costs about Mal military authority which is the backed by the British is 170 Sto scrip is used on the the pm and commissary Are at wheelus and Are Well some dependents buy from the a prac Tice which is frowned on officially for health and sanitary but with dates and Lemons and oranges Selling for As Little As 10 cents a its hard to pass them eggs sell for about 24 cents a the biggest problem faced by the de pendent with children is since there is no school on the wheelus kiddies attend the British school in trip the school is but my Little girl Doest know what a Dollar her prob lems Are All figured in pounds and Shil one notto concerned Mother social life centers around the private bathing the nine Hole Golf course and the two for officers and the other for enlisted both clubs Are attractive and Well Bingo gets a big As do the Slot which pay in the pm managed by m ski William of off duty airmen act As waiters and thus solving one of wheelus main a Lack of the who form a Small group in Are the Only skilled workers unskilled work is done by the the control Tower at wheelus Airfield looks out Over the the ramp and the three run Elevation at wheelus is 17 the sea can be seen in the photo All denominations worship at the Chapel located in the Center of the base area Between two Date note the sign in italian and arabic in the photo at the the airmen Are cps Robert of left and Joseph of both air the Arch of Marcus Aurelius Only roman ruin in two air Force wives Chat in the front Yard of their trailer Home after a visit to the base they Are Henry of and Raymond of with bicycle their husbands Are the British Navy and air Force gather in the no club Lor they Are i to r sgt of the British 1 div and radioman l Sod feature Section