European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 1, 1962, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The a i a 1-, Var. Rimmi a � a by Wallace Beenes a Madrid Bureau of carts stroll across runway in ase is vital to nato and the unite states former Secretary of state Dean Ach Eson put it even More strongly. Writing in the tale review. A described the base As the most important in the world toward maintaining thai world wide de networks 5-,. " More than-.4,000 planes Jet fighters cargo planes and tank ers roared off the runway last year some 200,000 passengers Vand countless tons of cargo and mail were funnelled through the 5100 million bases _ Lajes " pronounced lodges could also be called the Gibraltar that never  of Yuri since the planes Cross Rig the Atlantic come from different time zones it is not uncommon to see a Crew tone table eating breakfast while dinner is being served soothers nearby. \ -,."4i"the air Force can operate Over the at f lactic. With out a base in 1 the azores but pie big difference 1s,."payload," in other words Veitii , the planes carry to More cargo and"1 less Gas. A Cut also  Handy at times. Dur ing one recent exercise we were scheduled / to handle 68 planes but we also had to take care of 69 re routes Sci Edued for l the North Kern route to brawn explained. A Brig in , is the ranking i t j officer on Tere Etra the Island where the a  . He also commands the " Purn maintains the Rescue service and performs inane assorted support act i ties. The army and Navy also have a stake in the azores. The army corps of engineers is currently building a s5 million Harbor installation so that ships will no longer be unloaded offshore i fuck Tuik to Taviner trucks with diesel to if were loaded on Mandin g Craft and of 7?,, sh1p. "7 ,4 the Navy operates a variety of activ-11loc a ranging from an Airstrip and com a of mmander"ofu.s., 1n the land tvs Ald tie Islan d was no raied As one1 of Islan a Noj Raie important Navy basis under Lajes proved ills Worth during world a after tie. Portuguese gave the hurl Tosh permission to Buu d an Airstrip. Of the base quickly became a key transport a a tar f and played an important part in i the submarine wars along the Atlantic f coast. _ i if we have another War we will have to fight a lot More subs than the germans. Could Muster the figure quoted is usually 500and they will undoubtedly be As sophisticated As ours so they would be one hell a threat Greene added. The planes of the air transport com used Lajes during the past War but the United slates did t move in to stay until an agreement for joint use of the base was negotiated with Portugal after the War. Today there Are some 5,000 american son the Island about evenly divided be tween servicemen and  since the . Flag can t Fly on portuguese soil the hosts have graciously agreed to let the american Flag wave from a pole mounted on the Headquarters build ing hut not in the ground. Life on the Island can be trying at  pleasure of jiving in a mild Semi tropical climate is offset by the humidity which can rust a car to ruin within a few months and the Gale Force  have to get acclimated to the  Brown explained my wife received broken Arm when she got blown around the Corner of our House bachelors also have to get  life simply does t exist off the base and there is Only one portuguese restaurant on the Island where the americans eat but despite the old world custom of courting through windows covered by Iron grills a surprisingly Large number of marriages have occurred Between the  and the local girls. Married couples also have a problem finding satisfactory housing but those who do get settled comfortably frequently extend their Tours. To keep everyone concerned from get Ting Rock Happy the air Force has taken Steps to make things As pleasant As pos sible. Trips can be made to the adjoining \ islands and everyone gels at least on trip to Jeur pc during his tour. The base itself is hard to beat. The officers club dues free offers such novel lies As a dining room and base Exchange open around the clock while the lavish no club has been described As one of the Best in the air  not one but two Heaters take care of the movies and the base Library has a standing Rule if we Don t have a boo someone asks for we order it fishing boats Are operated during the summer months and a Golf course docs a Lively business along with the other sport facilities. The quaint picturesque villages an towns on the Island make a pleasant place to visit at least for the first few times and there Are big Days during the Yea with Bull fights Etc. In fact the azores probably has the distinction of being the Only place any where with bullfights on the Beach. This dates Back to the Day that an invading army of some 2,000 spaniards started sloshing ashore to take Over. The portuguese did t have much of a defend ing army but they did have a Herd of wild bulls Handy. The bulls were turned Loose and drove the spaniards Back into the sea drown ing about half of them. So the portuguese have been in charge at the azores Ever since. The stars and stripes 131 portuguese airman Joao gonzo tvs Freitas