ShoPPING & SUPPLIES AT WHEELUS.
The Wheelus Base Exchange
Photo of the Base Exchange in the 1960s, courtesy of Judy Moore.
The Base Exchange was a little home from home for crew and dependents of Wheelus, providing goods and luxuries that were unobtainable outside of the base. The Exchange sold goods at either cost price, or cost, plus a small profit, which went towards a recreational fund for military personnel.
The base exchange was run initially by the Overseas Central Exchange, but on the 1st January 1953 was merged with the United States Air Forces Europe Exchange (AFEX)1.
Goods on sale ranged from electrical equipment, household goods, clothes, jewelry, furniture, toys, sports equipment, cigarettes, alcohol and so much more. Also available for purchase were items of local origin. One such item, which was purchased by many, was the highly decorated camel saddles, which were in great demand and frequently used as stools or footstools. There were also concessions, one of which was Neekamals, this was an Indian concession, which sold gifts, jewellery and trinkets.
Camel Saddle from Southern Libya, Wikipedia Commons
The exchange was staffed by military crew and dependents, with wives playing a big role in the day to day running of the exchange.
One such wife was Rose Pellitier Paddie, from New Brunswick, Canada. Her daughter, Sharon recalled a moment ‘My Mother was a cashier at the Base Exchange, and said that Gaddafi used to come in and buy his cigarettes ‘Marlborough Reds’ He liked to use my mums lane because she was a 'strawberry blonde, with blue eyes and spoke French’.
The exchange closed its doors on the 31st May 1970, having served the staff and dependents of Wheelus for over 25 years2.
The Wheelus Commissary Store
The Commissary sales store was similar to a supermarket, where the crew and personnel of Wheelus could purchase everyday items, such as meat, fish, canned goods, food, drinks and household products. These were mainly American branded items that were largely unavailable elsewhere in Libya and could be purchased at cost price, plus a small surcharge3.
Fresh fruit and vegetables were shipped in from Germany, and parents could order dairy supplies for their children4.
Wheelus Field Commissary Sales Store, Wheelus Airbase Tripoli Facebook Page
EAST GATE AND TRIPOLI MARKETS
Outside the East Gate were shops and an open air market, this was a large area of sand, where the merchants spread their goods on the ground and squatted or stood beside them. Items for sale included tapestries, jewellery, blankets and various trinkets, which were often bought by Americans as keepsakes and souvenirs of their time at Wheelus5.
The Camel Meat and Sales market, sold live animals and displayed the bodies of the dead camels, whose meat was for consumption, this meat was strung up for inspection. The meat was said to have been washed in sulphur before being displayed. The smell was said to be very pungent and there were always swarms of flies6.
The public ‘Sulphur Springs Baths’ were also located in this area, and were used by the local men for bathing and relaxation, women were forbidden to enter7.
There was also a market in the old town area of Tripoli, which was home to many craftsmen. These highly skilled individuals' goods included quality gold and silver jewellery, beautiful handmade carpets and rugs, decorative copperplate and silver items, and handmade leather goods8.
View of Wheelus East Gate and Local Vendors, courtesy of Mike Nemecek
FOOTNOTES.
Log in or sign up to view. Facebook. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.facebook.com/WheelusAirBaseTripoliLibya/photos/a.578567442195827/1556462831072945
Usareur Units & Kasernes, 1945 - 1989. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm?https&&www.usarmygermany.com%2FUnits%2FAAFES-Eur%2FUSAREUR_AAFES.htm
Commissaries. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.commissaries.com/
Clarino, alma, J.: 1954 - 1956. American Overseas Schools Historical Society. (2019, August 7). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://aoshs.org/memories/clarino-alma-j-libya-france-1954-1956/
Lieber, Llewellyn: Wheelus air force base: 1953 - 1955. American Overseas Schools Historical Society. (2021, February 11). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://aoshs.org/memories/lieber-llewellyn-libya-1953-1955-wheelus-air-force-base/
Wheelus AirBase Tripoli. Facebook. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.facebook.com/WheelusAirBaseTripoliLibya/
Ibid.
Lieber, Llewellyn: Wheelus air force base: 1953 - 1955. American Overseas Schools Historical Society. (2021, February 11). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://aoshs.org/memories/lieber-llewellyn-libya-1953-1955-wheelus-air-force-base/