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Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (34)
3x3
cool shot!
Annihilator-6
Funny, I just happened to be taking a break from studying the Pacific Theater of WWII and this is what I see! Great photo!
renecyberdoc
just imagine these mothers ,hammering on the beach ,when the marines debarked,gives me the chill.very nice shot.
bmac62
This is my kind of shot... Looking at the gun, it makes me think about the trouble that the soldiers must have had just to get the gun into this position. And then what action did it see and finally what happened to the crew? At least 63 years have passed since this gun was used last. Kind of spooky. Bill
ragouc
Good shot.
jeroni
Wonderful and very creative work
PIERRE25
Jolie capture, belle photo!
lyron
Interesting image!!!
durleybeachbum
They look better rusty!
emmecielle
Interesting photo! :)
fredster66
Great find and super photo.
casmindo
History in a Snap Shot! Great picture Sig
junge1
@durleybeachbum. I like that comment Andrea and I agree!
Digimon
Fantastic!!
billcody
Wonderful catch! I love these old places with their history. If they could talk!
CavalierLady
Neat historical shot, in a lush setting!
rawdodb
Excellent shot!!
moochagoo
That's very interesting !
MrsRatbag
Wonderful shot!
kgb224
Excellent capture my friend.
pixelmeister
Nice shot!
jocko500
always wonder what happen to all those guns. now I knw some was left there to remind people. cool shot
dbrv6
Great historical capture.
gypsyflame
Wouldn't it be great if this gun could talk? I bet it would have some tales to tell. Great shot!
flaviok
Magnifica captura histórica, excelente, aplausos (5)
thevolunteer
I am with gypsyflame, if only these old relics could talk. A great historical capture. I saw some castle walls, in Japan, with canon ball dents in them. But, hard to capture well. Aloha
Richardphotos
for to be scanned it is very good quality. I love seeing old things like this
Minda
This is very interesting sig , u did great shot.
Kaartijer
Great quality picture, awesome view! To bad 'cause they didn't restore that japanese toy (of course, not to be reused!)...
debbielove
Now thats a cool shot! A great find. Was reading today that the RAAF has just found a Bristol Beaufort in the same area. They are trying to recover it as the crew are still listed as missing.... A fine shot. Thanks for showing it, my friend. Rob.