December 2002
I love your site. Your photo of McGrath Field is a special highlight for me. It was named for my grandfather, John McGrath, a great baseball player as legend has it. Also the first McGrath in our family to arrive in Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal Keep it up
Very wonderful sight. It helped me when I was doing my report on the Panama Canal Treaty. It was so helpful!
Thank you. I lived in the Zone 1975-78 as an Air Force dependent, so I'm not technically a Zonian. However, I have many fond memories of the paradise that used to be. I particularly liked the picture of the Curundu pool where I learned to swim as a student at CJHS. Thanks again.
I was stationed in the Canal Zone off and on for a total of almost 12 years of my 27 year career with the Army. Our second daughter, Natasha, was born there in 1969 at Gorgas Army Hospital, thus officially becoming a "Zonian"! It caused us all some problems years later when she married a young fellow in the Air Force Intelligence Service and they got posted overseas. Had to get a U.S. Senator involved in getting her passport approved! I am honored to have been the author of "ALAE SUPRA CANALEM - Wings Over the Canal: The Sixth Air Force and Antilles Air Command" published by Turner Publishing Co., Paducah, KY in 1995 (ISBN 1-56311-153-5) and was recently designated as the Sixth Air Force Historian at a reunion of Sixth AF veterans at Ottumwa, Iowa (Air Power Museum, President Bob Taylor is an old CZ hand with the 24th Fighter Squadron). I am presently preparing a series of histories of the airfields used by the Sixth Air Force and predecessor organizations throughout the CZ, Panama, Central America and the Caribbean, commencing, of course, with France Field. I hope to have them published in the JOURNAL of the American Aviation Historical Society, who awarded me their annual Willis Nye Award in 1974 for an article that was the forerunner of the above book, "A Brief History of U.S. Army Aviation in Defense of the Panama Canal." I sure enjoyed the photos on your site from France Field, and would like to secure copies some time. After retirement from the service, I became a member of the staff of the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, where I am now Research Team Leader in the Archives as well as Adjunct Curator for Latin American Aviation. Would love to hear from anyone who has photos or stories to relate about aircraft in the Canal Zone or surrounding area, as well as civil and military aviation in Panama and Central America. Dan Hagedorn
I found your excellent site tonight. Thank you so much. You've done a wonderful job bringing me home. My family lived in the Zone from 1967-1988. Gamboa was the first place we lived. I love the Photo of the Week of the PCC swim class. The Duffus family are very good friends of ours, and there's Bill! So many of your photos just plain got to me. I don't know if I'm happy or sad. But thank you. Julie
Great site - thanks for the memories
Great site. I was born in Panama, Raymon Clinic (sp?)and lived in Ancon from 1939 to 1957. I have memories which couldn't be bought.
Merry Christmas, Bill. Thanks again for providing all the memories. Continued best wishes to the PanCanal Society. Happy Holidays to all.
HI I´M HERE THE MAN FROM CURUNDU BOWLING CENTER AND THE REEDER GYM I LIKE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ALL MY FRIENDS IN THE CANAL ZONE AREA. I USE TO WORK WITH D.C.A SPORT ACTIVITIES.
What a great site you have put together. What good ole memories this site revived! Thanks
I was temporarily stationed at Rodman Naval Station in 1996 while serving in the United States Marine Corps. My unit also attended JOTC at Ft. Sherman. Many of your photographs reflect my same memories while visiting Panama. Thanks for your site!
The Canal Zone was a beautiful place. I am proud to have served with one of the Zonians named George M. Chevalier. He and his Sister's book named Isthmian Crossings is a tribute to all of you and your forefathers who faithfully served with The Panama Canal Company. It was my pleasure to see such a beautiful Country. Thank you.
Thanks for the memories.