NOUASSEUR AIR BASE CONSTRUCTION MEMORIES
Text and photos by Bill McCredie, 496th
AIS Heavy Equipment Operator
Story contributed by Dennis Wood, Nouasseur H.S., Class of 1959 Bill and Dennis were neighbors by chance from 1995 - 2001 in Mukilteo WA |
Nouasseur Air Base, near Casablanca, French Morocco
was designed to be an Air Base for USAF B-36 and B-52 bombers. The base
was constructed by the Morrison-Knudsen (M-K) Consortium, assisted by
the 496th Air Installation Squadron (AIS) of the US Air Force from August
1951 to June 1952.
The 496th AIS Unit The following photos show some of the operations that the author participated in. |
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LARGER VIEWS
|
Dallas hut temporary housing for
squadrons on the base during construction. Personnel housed were equipment operators, equipment maintenance, air police, food services, and motor pool. Photo was taken from the water tower. |
496th AIS Wood, Electric, Plumbing,
Fuel & Heavy Equipment Shops. Photo taken from the Water Tower. |
Completed Nouasseur Air Base
Temporary camp, with flag and water tower. |
Dozer clearing land. Soil was heavy
with
clay. Winter rains made it very difficult. |
Dozer clearing land.
|
Ditch Digger being repaired.
|
496th Heavy Equipment Operators.
Front row left to right is Chuck Morein, Bill McCredie, and Tripp. |
R & R trip to Ifrane and Fez.
|
The 50-ton roller used to compact
the surface.
M-K apron failed this load-bearing test and the surface had to be redone. |
A Douglas C-74 Globemaster was
one of the first heavy transport aircraft to use the new runway. |
Douglas C-74 Globemaster transport
aircraft refueling at Nouasseur Air Base, French Morocco, about spring 1952. |
Douglas C-74 Globemaster transport
aircraft loading at Nouasseur Air Base, French Morocco. |
Douglas C-47 Dakota transport based
at Nouasseur Air Base, French Morocco. Dozer used to construct the field is in the background. |