1634 Phantom Airforce Base - San Vito dei Normanni?

Where's it gone :confused:

Researching history of the area I came across several web sites relating to a BIG US base at San Vito, apparently closed in 1983 but I found references from US personnel saying that they were based there as recently as 1990 during the Kosovo situation.

When I say it was a BIG base, I mean BIG. Lots of US families living on and off base.

We have seen the entrance to a Military base on the Brindisi/San Vito road. Maybe this is where it was, although it doesn't look big enough.

I'm a bit perplexed as you would have thought that - say - 25 years of US families living in close proximity to the locals would have caused changes i.e. more of the older people speaking English, more US themed restaurants etc.

Huh! Just had a thought, maybe that's why some of the bars in San Vito have US themed names :)

Anyone got any information ... just curious.

You might like to try

[url]http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/san-vito.htm[/url]

This will give you some information and more links

Hope this helps...

It was actually a small (318 acres) air force/navy electronic signals group facility.I lived there as a kid from '77 to '82. We actually lived off base except for the last 6 months before rotating back to the states. The best food was the boomerang pizzaria in Brindisi! Australian lady married Italian guy. Best calzones and the tomato bread was unbeatable!

We were stationed there from 1973 to 1976. Most Americans lived off-base as there was very limited on-base housing. They were spread out in a variety of communities, Brindisi, San Vito, Ostuni, Specchiolla, etc. San Vito had an apartment complex where quite a few Americans lived, also one in Brindisi. We only had AFN radio, no AFN television. Every town had their market on a different day so it would be fun to go to the different markets. The best place to buy fruits, vegetables, cheeses, shoes, and household items. There were no large supermarkets or department stores in the area. The commissary was a godsend for buying canned goods, toilet paper, aluminum foil and items you couldn't find on the economy or were more expensive. Yes, we had the "elephant cage" and a nine hole golf course which didn't make sense as it was usually dried up - but, I guess, was something the base commander wanted. We loved living on the economy and mixing with the Italians, a warm and gracious people. Of course there were different customs, habits and driving - but that was what made it fun! Before the Boomerang it was called Nuovas and was located in a different location in Brindisi. When we went back there in the 80's we had one heck of a hard time finding out what had happened to Nuovas as no one remembered the name. After enough questions we found the Boomerang and it was just as delicious as it was in the seventies. I would fly to Italy just to go there. Nothing like a ham, cheese, pickled mushroom fertilli (calzone) and tomato bread (focaccia).its like dying and going to heaven! We called the road going from San Vito to the base, the S curve because of the rise and curve in the road. Many great memories!

Sue, our neighbours keep referring to the air base and saying how there were loads of Americans living here at one time including on our Contrado. Can only assume, as with most Services personnel, that when they closed the base , they were all posted elsewhere. Would have thought some would have stayed or returned tho'.

We did meet Marc (from UK) who was in the RAF (is it still called that ?) during the Kosovo crisis and he was here for about 6 months I think. Perhaps he may be able to give us a bit more info.

I know the base you mean but it is an Italian Marine Base I think. Have no idea where the 'huge ' base may be although have heard talk of an abandoned golf course attached to it ! I'll ask around and see if I can find anything out....quite intrigued now ......strange about so few speak English ( or American English) though .

I once knew an American guy (in his 20's) whose father was posted to a military base in Germany. He spent the bulk of his childhood (from age 5 to 19) in Germany, but did not speak a word of the language. If he is anything to go by, perhaps the absence of an obvious English/American influence on the local community is down to the same reason - military staff and families might have done most of their socialising 'on base' and not had much to do with the local population.

ciao a tutti
when i was stationed at gioia dei colle in the early 90's there were at least 2 american land based military installations, one a signals unit the other i dont know, but the americans mainly used the bases further north for there flying sorties ancona and such like.The base itself in san vito covered a large area however there was not that many personel there. They did socialise on base quite alot having been to many a line dancing evening i should know. The americans i believe also used accomodation up towards monopoli around porto giardino.

[QUOTE=Sano]I once knew an American guy (in his 20's) whose father was posted to a military base in Germany. He spent the bulk of his childhood (from age 5 to 19) in Germany, but did not speak a word of the language. If he is anything to go by, perhaps the absence of an obvious English/American influence on the local community is down to the same reason - military staff and families might have done most of their socialising 'on base' and not had much to do with the local population.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I think they are quite cossetted on base and apparently the PX shops are like Aladdin's caves and heavily subsidised; all this together with the language barrier and constant security warnings is maybe why they are not seen out often. I once was kindly offered a lift from two young crew-cutted Amercians after I had a puncture on a mountain road in the Dolomites. They were up there touring the WWI war graves and were clearly from the air force base in Vicenza but made out they were on holiday from America - presumably because they had been told not to fraternise or worried that I would ask to have a look around the PX shop?

The americans troops in Italy tend to live their bases as "a world apart", recreating their own way of life, like a "little america" inside the base, with specific food, social contacts, even entertainement, so they generally do not mix with local population.
That's what happened in San Vito, wehere local people had few opportunities to meet the u.s. soldiers and, conseguentely, few need to learn english language in order to talk with them.
Probably things are different in u.k. because of your special relationship with USA

[QUOTE=Carol and Dave]You might like to try

[url]http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/san-vito.htm[/url]

This will give you some information and more links

Hope this helps...[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the link Carol and Dave. It makes interesting reading. Also interesting to find out that although the base in San Vito was relatively big, there weren't big numbers of personnel, possibly because it was mostly used as a 'listening station' ... does that mean what I think it means?

[QUOTE=notaio]The americans troops in Italy tend to live their bases as "a world apart", recreating their own way of life, like a "little america" inside the base, with specific food, social contacts, even entertainement, so they generally do not mix with local population.
That's what happened in San Vito, wehere local people had few opportunities to meet the u.s. soldiers and, conseguentely, few need to learn english language in order to talk with them.
Probably things are different in u.k. because of your special relationship with USA[/QUOTE]

Bit like Gibraltar ;) Sorry, couldn't resist that :)

When I was looking into living over here a few years ago, I kept coming across the American forces information sites, they tended to refer to life on base with only scant information regarding the surrounding areas, however, I suppose there is a high degree of comfort for maybe a young serviceman knowing that everything will be familiar, it would be a great shame though if they missed the chance of seeing much of this lovely country... I am reminded though of the American base in Harrogate Yorks. I have a relative who delivered goods there regularly, he did remark that it was just like small town America as shown on TV nice people but, staying on base a lot of the time, although they wouldn't be working a 9 - 5 day really.

[QUOTE=Susan P]Thanks for the link Carol and Dave. It makes interesting reading. Also interesting to find out that although the base in San Vito was relatively big, there weren't big numbers of personnel, possibly because it was mostly used as a 'listening station' ... does that mean what I think it means?[/QUOTE]

It certainly does! if you ever passed RAF Chicksands in the UK you would see a version of AN/FLR-9 array.

If you follow the link to:
[url]http://www.sunnysanvito.com[/url]
you will see a picture of the San Vito one known as the elephant cage!

A google image search for AN/FLR-9 will also show you great pictures and an ordinary search on google will tell you about the uses of the array.

I am a radio ham and I'm still trying to get Carol to agree to let me install one when we get to Abruzzo.....no luck yet

Don't we have a forum member here from Naples who works on an American military base?

Sorry, but I can't remember her name. If she is about though perhaps she could share her perceptions of life 'on base' with us?

...having spent a lot of time in the east anglian region have lived close to both mildenhall and lakenheath.... i can remember having young american service ment at the house for christmas.... and have many good friends from the past that were obliged to join the us armed forces in those days....

we also spent a lot of time visting with friends on the bases...families in general being more often found in the officer ranks or people that had made a career in the us armed services...the bases had schools ,shops, churches ...and of course the famous px... when having lunch or dinner on the bases remember the food they had at home being very american based and very good.... i think its just easier for people that seemed to be moved around the world at short notice to have their own facilities...obviously children needd to follow a certain curriculum.... i had presumed the uk armed forces lived in much the same way in germany etc... or wherever they had big bases abroad...

... i think also in general tht if you happen to live near any army bases of any country there is almost an enforced segregation between locals and army personel.... even in the uk say if you happen to live in the sort aldershot /farnham area ...there are often myths based on local resentment of the behaviour of various in general younger members of armed forces and their behaviour... this applies in italy too... germany and france...where i happen to know towns where in the past they have either hated having their own forces in bases close by... enjoying the economy which thrives on their spending habits but often hating the rowdiness of the younger members....

... i think also there is a very special relationship between italy and america....especially in points rome and south where they provided food and shelter to a starving population fifty or so years ago.... really another north south divide which in the case of that period meant people in southern cities like naples being almost starved to death...whilst the north in its collaboration with the german forces was much better off....relatively... and you will find that depite the lefts best efforts here via various left wing newspapers to try and discredit america that lots of people still with many relatives in america still regard it as almost a second homeland... i think in fact you will find that in the centre / southern areas of italy at least there is hardly a family that doesnt have or has had a relative or part of their family there..... and for long periods have been supported by dollars being sent home....

.... so i would say italy has an honest special relationship with america...which is i agree not quite what the term stands for in english based nuance

[QUOTE=Carol and Dave]It certainly does! if you ever passed RAF Chicksands in the UK you would see a version of AN/FLR-9 array.

If you follow the link to:
[url]http://www.sunnysanvito.com[/url]
you will see a picture of the San Vito one known as the elephant cage!

A google image search for AN/FLR-9 will also show you great pictures and an ordinary search on google will tell you about the uses of the array.

I am a radio ham and I'm still trying to get Carol to agree to let me install one when we get to Abruzzo.....no luck yet[/QUOTE]

Shouldn't you be moving to Puglia rather than Abruzzo? You could take over the redundant 'elephant cage' left behind on the base ;) Lyn says that there's a deserted golf course too. Could be a nice little earner :D

There is a US military base here in the North, near Vicenza, I have never visited it, but I know it is generally open to the "public" on special events like the celebrations on July 4th. In any case the personnel there seems to keep to themselves, they have a radio station, TV programmes, their food, and habits all like a miniature US state. I would imagine that a lot of people simply do not mix with the local population because they stay there for a limited amount of time. I think that although Americans are generally welcome as tourists or residents, most Italian people have mixed feelings about military bases in Italy. Unfortunately there have been a couple of accidents where for instance civil people were killed when US pilots were training and by mistake crashed against a cable car on the mountains.

[QUOTE=adriatica]...
... i think also in general tht if you happen to live near any army bases of any country there is almost an enforced segregation between locals and army personel.... even in the uk say if you happen to live in the sort aldershot /farnham area ...there are often myths based on local resentment of the behaviour of various in general younger members of armed forces and their behaviour... this applies in italy too... germany and france...where i happen to know towns where in the past they have either hated having their own forces in bases close by... enjoying the economy which thrives on their spending habits but often hating the rowdiness of the younger members....

[/QUOTE]

It also happens in university cities esp. Oxford and Cambridege that are dominated by their universities. A lot to do with large populations of young men and testosterone me thinks.

[QUOTE=sdoj]It also happens in university cities esp. Oxford and Cambridege that are dominated by their universities. A lot to do with large populations of young men and testosterone me thinks.[/QUOTE]

My gran used to complain about the Australian armed forces stationed in Cape Town during the war. The stories always involved furniture being thrown over balconies and other tales of rowdiness and licentiousness.

Same goes for Stellenbosch, the university town near where I grew up, so I think you might be on to something here sdoj...

Just thought, if this thread continues much longer, you will probably start to notice anomalies with the site, while things are being errrrm, "checked out" ;)
Thank goodness no one's mentioned Catcher in the Rye, or 9 mm. ;) :cool:
Ooopps......

[QUOTE=eliana]There is a US military base here in the North, near Vicenza, I have never visited it, but I know it is generally open to the "public" on special events like the celebrations on July 4th. In any case the personnel there seems to keep to themselves, they have a radio station, TV programmes, their food, and habits all like a miniature US state. I would imagine that a lot of people simply do not mix with the local population because they stay there for a limited amount of time. I think that although Americans are generally welcome as tourists or residents, most Italian people have mixed feelings about military bases in Italy. Unfortunately there have been a couple of accidents where for instance civil people were killed when US pilots were training and by mistake crashed against a cable car on the mountains.[/QUOTE]

105FM American Forces radio - I used to enjoy listening to a few of the programmes esp. "click and clack". I once wrote to the sergeant or corporal who was running the radio station regarding inteference from another broadcaster - he wrote back saying that he was aware of the problem, which was caused by a pirate station, and had sent a registered letter to the Rome offices of the radio and telecommunications department (or some such place) asking for the appropriate action to be taken. I sometimes wonder how that one worked itself out - any guesses anyone?

[QUOTE=GeorgeS]Just thought, if this thread continues much longer, you will probably start to notice anomalies with the site, while things are being errrrm, "checked out" ;)
Thank goodness no one's mentioned Catcher in the Rye, or 9 mm. ;) :cool:
Ooopps......[/QUOTE]

Or Catch 22 :rolleyes:

I've met several people over the years who've grown up in US military families.
They've told me about how difficult it was growing up and settling down in a foreign place. As soon as they would get used to new friends and school, they
would be sent somewhere else only to start all over again. I don't find Americans
in general to be clannish (though I'm sure there are some that are), but I think
giving the children some kind of schooling that is similar at different bases gives
them some kind of stability and prediction (which is sorely needed when they are moving all the time).

[QUOTE=will]I dont remember much mixing in the Greenham base that was near us, would have been lynched by protesters...but it was a long time ago.

NB. Notaio, I write this as a point of interest, hope you dont mind.......The term "special relationship" is one of those simple phrases which is actually loaded with subliminal undercurrents......it has all sorts of political resonance in the UK.....as its often used to cement opinion over military objectives while harking back to WW1 and WW2 .....and by the media debating foriegn policy etc etc.........but I can assure you many, many from the UK would regard their relationship with Europe, myself included, as far more special.

If you google "special relationship UK and USA" you will see the degree to which this innocuous phrase is used as a political football by the media and political commentators[/QUOTE]

Will, I think I could write a macro in Word (yep, Bill Gates - you don't like him either - do you run with Lynux?) to produce your comments in these threads -they are so painfully predictable.
Have a look at greatscott's contribution - understanding, unbiased, sensitive and considerate.
You, instead load your scatter gun with political bile and spray at anything that [U]on the surface[/U] does not fit into your narrow doctrine. You don't seem to consider for one moment the underlying or that you might be generalising a tad. Also don't you think "nota bene" is a bit over the top in introducing your "point of interest"? Also you keep taking threads off topic, which, if i am honest, I may have a tendency to do myself but not as blatantly as you.

1634 Phantom Airforce Base - San Vito dei Normanni?

San Vito airstation

San Vito air station

yes very strange

american airforce base

Sano....