Miyako Air Station

Remote assignment while in the Air Force

1 Miyako Air Station, Miyako Jima, Ryuku Isllands. March 1964 -- March 1965	2 Okinawa	3 Miyako Jima is about halfway between Okinawa and Taewan	4	5 Miyako Air Port. The airport had a coral based runway. There was no terminal building, passengers waited for thier flihgt under a tree. In this picture Fr. Martin is talking to the Air America pilot. Air America was the primary airline that served Souteast Asia.	6 Aerial view of our radar site. The long building in the foreground is the barracks. The small bldg infront of it is the hobby shop below are the tennis courts. Just to the right of it is headquarters and behind it the gym/theater. To the right is the NCO club and above behid it is the BOQ. The radar site is on the upper right corner.
7 The radar site is on the highest point on the island. This is the view the below, just outside the station.	8 This is the view from the north side of the BOQ.	9 Looking down on the station from "the hill."	10 Nabaru Village just outside the site.	11 Looking east from "the hill."	12 Still looking south east from hill.
13 The BOQ also known as the "Miyako Hilton." The motorcycle in the foreground is mine, Tohotsu with a single cycle engine. I bought it for $50 and later sold it for $50.	14 My motorcycle--a Tohotsu.	15 View from in front of BOQ. From left to right Maj William Elrige, Commander and 1st Lt. Bill Herren (Texas A&M class of '62.	16 Bill Herren, Fr. Martin, our interperter, and Okumura Sen Sei discussing a possible deal with motorcycle dealer.	17 Kazuo Okamura, Bill Herren and Fr. Martin. Fr. Martin, a Cupcian Monk, was pastor of the local Catholic Church, St. Patrick's.	18 Main street in Hirari, largest city in Miyako. Population about 50,000 in 1965.
19 One of the side streets in Hirari.	20 Still in Hirari	21 Three of the bank employees in my English class: Mr. Nakama, Mr. Shinto and Mr. Tomari.	22 Harvest field not far from site.	23 Nabaru Village	24 A farmer with his daughter
25 Boy by door in Nabaru	26 Remants from the past. Three boys sit on top of one of several abandoned Japanese bunkers on Miyako. Miyako was never invaded.	27 Another view of bunker.	28 Another view.	29 Hernan Contreras before photo session	30
31 Hernan and John McDonnough	32 Smoking was cool back then.	33 John McDonnough	34 Fisherman sorting his fish.	35 Bus tourof Miyako setup by my English class	36 On the bus
37 By the dam and hydroelectric plant	38 Stopping for a picnic by the cliff next to the ocean.	39 At the botonical garden	40 Playing at the botonical garden	41	42 This was the site of the most popular beach. We called it "Colonel's Beach"
43 Charley Crew May 1965. We grew a mustache for the project. The photo was taken by studio in town.	44 At entrance of bank. Taught English to local group	45 Ivan McRoy fellow officer at Miyako Air Station	46 Mike Conners Radar officer at Miyako	47 One of the trucks in our motor pool.	48 Local kids joined us at beach party.
49 Worker digging trench along road	50 We called this the colonel's beach.	51 Colonel's beach	52 At the beach	53 First merged panaramic view of the radar site taken from the "ridge."	54 Second merged panaramiic view
55 Third merged image	56 Fourth merged image	57 Fifth merged image	58 F4C's making "bubble check."	59 F4C's overhead	60 On the "ridge to view "buble checkers"
61 F4's going away	62 The only paved road, at the time that connected Hirara, the airport and the radar site.	63 The paved road on its last bend entering the Air Atation.	64 Airman at guard at the BOQ during an alert exercise.	65 Relaxing in the BOQ lounge.	66 The crew celebrating something at the NCO Club.
67 On the way to the loran site.	68 Aproaching the loran station, manned by the USCG, on the east side of the island	69 A friendly game of volley ball between our crew and the Coast Guard. There were about a dozen sailors assigned to that loran station.	70 We were not very good at keeping score. Don't remember the score or even noting it.	71 The Miyako air strip consisted of one lane oriented along the prevailing winds. I was amazed at the skills of the pilots landing here in a strong cross wind.	72 Air America was the only airline that landed in Miyako. While the plane could land with a full load; it could not take off with a full load. C130's would once…
73 Outside a local bar in Hirara.	74 Bill Herren, Texas A&M class of '62 at a local bar. I was also class of '62.	75 My beautiful picture	76 The old mansion of Miyako	77 Another view of the same mansion. It must've been beautiful in its day.	78 Chatting at the corner in Hirara
79 Another street scsne	80 A local play at a theater in Hirara. I'm not sure what it was about, but it was quite entertaining.	81 The make up of the actors was very traditional and impeccable.	82 Another scene in the same play	83 I believe the sorcero is casting a spell of some sort	84 Priest talking with nuns at St. Patrick's parish school in Miyako. Fr. Martin (not in the picture). an Irishman former fireman from Nee York, of course named…
85 The tour was set up by the the students of my English class.	86 Descending the stairs to the base of the fresh water well in Miyako	87 At the base of the well.	88 Looking up from the bottom of the fresh water well in Miyako	89 Botonical Gardens in Miyako. One of the stops during our tour.	90 The Botonical Garden in Miyako. One of our stops on the tour.
91 This is the site a German ship wrecked in a severe stomm off the coast of Miyako in the 19th Century. The locals, at great risk to themselves, rescued the…	92 A monument erected by the orders of Wilhelm II to comemorate the rescue of the German crew.	93 Looking into the lake formed by the Miyako dam.	94 At the site of the dam	95 Getting down the cliff for our picnic by the sea shore.	96 The cliffs on the east side of the island. Phpto taken on our trek to our picnic while on our tour.
97 The site of our picnic. The views were spectacular, but it wasn't very comfortable. Each one of us had to find asuitable boulder to sit on.	98 The view looking south. Notice the individual at the top of the cliff. It's rather steep, but not suitable for diving. The water is shallow for about 70…	99 A view looking north.	100 A rather large star fish (about 18" across) in the shallows of Miyako. As we approched, it emitted a yellowish cloud from from a center orifice. It quickly…