In 1957, Hans immigrated to the United States and was drafted into the US Air Force. Separately, in 1957 Helga also immigrated to the United States. Helga eventually lived in the YWCA in Milwaukee WI. Hans was stationed nearby at the 128th Air Refueling Wing. In late 1957, the Ladies staying at the YWCA organized a dance party to meet eligible bachelors, especially bachelors from the nearby military bases. There Hans and Helga meet, and were married on 1 November 1958.
Hans served honorably for 20 years in the US Air Force, retiring as a SMSgt. During those 20 years, they both became US citizens and had a family. They lived in the USA, Germany, and England. Hans was also stationed in Thailand for a year. After Hans retired from the US Air Force, Hans and Helga went to Saudi Arabia where Hans took on a position with Northrop. Then Hans and Helga returned to Austin Texas.
- Places Lived
- Wisconsin USA Mar 1957- Dec1958
- Germany Dec 1958-Dec 1962
- New Mexico Dec 1962-Dec 1966
- England Dec 1966-Jan 1971
- South Carolina Jan 1971-Jul 1972
- Alabama Aug 1972-Dec 1974
- Saudi Arabia Sept 1977 – Jan 1980
Photo Albums 1958-1980 Introduction
Hans took many of photos and Helga made the photo albums. The first section is each album by photo with captions if there were any provided in the original album. Following these albums are scans of the pages from the albums from 1958 when they married until 1980 when they returned to Austin Texas for their retirement years. After 1980, the world changed. They albums are here to document what the world used to be like. A lot of the world before 1980 had not been so ‘westernized’ and there were not so many tall buildings. Tourism still involved interacting with the locals and staying in non ‘westernized’ accommodations, And never mind discussing the safety of traveling the roads.
Albums by Photo and captions
Wisconsin USA Mar 1957 – Dec 1958
In 1957, Hans and Helga separately immigrated to United States. Hans arrived in New York City on 1 March 1957 and on the 2nd took a train to Chicago Illinois to stay with his sponsors, Mr and Mrs Schott. Hans had been drafted, and by 18 October 1957 he was in Basic Training at Lackland AFB San Antonio. On 7 November 1957, Helga arrived in New York City and took a train to the Milwaukee Wisconsin area to stay with relatives. After basic training, in late November 1957, Hans was assigned to General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, Milwaukee Wisconsin. In early 1958, Helga moves to the YWCA (Women) in Milwaukee and takes on various jobs in Milwaukee. In March 1958, the residence of the YWCA decide to invite the local Airmen to a dance. At this dance Helga meets Hans. In September 1958, they move in together into an apartment in Milwaukee. They marry on 1 November 1958. On 21 November 1958 receives orders to move to Rheine Mein AFB, Wiesbaden, West Germany. Both Hans and Helga returned to West Germany. This compendium is based on the album that Helga put together documenting their immigration, courting, travels, and marriage while in United States. Helga’s captions have been added along with some additional notes. Some extra photos have also been added.
Germany Dec 1958- Dec 1962
Before moving to Germany, Hans and Helga were in Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA. They were married on 1 November 1958, and on 21 November 1958 Hans receives orders to move to Rheine Mein AFB, Wiesbaden, West Germany. Both Hans and Helga returned to West Germany. This compendium contains photos of their travels, visitors, and families during their three years in Germany. During their three years, their daughter, Bettina, was born on 9 October 1959. On 16 May 1961, Hans became a Naturalized United States Citizen. Helga and Bettina remained West German citizens. In November 1962 Hans received order to be stationed at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell New Mexico USA. Hans left in November 1962, but Helga and Bettina did not move until late December 1962. Compendium BOOK A contains Pages 1-41 are from the two albums created by Helga which starts with arriving in November 1958 in Wiesbaden West Germany and ends in December 1962. Compendium BOOK B contains extra photos that were not included in the albums. They are indicated by their related page number with an “a” suffix. Compendium BOOK C contains the extra photos about travels to locations like Austria, Geneva Switzerland, Moran Italy, France, Barcelona, Spain
New Mexico Dec 1962 – Dec 1966
In 1962, Hans, Helga, and their daughter Bettina were living in Wiesbaden West Germany. Hans was stationed at Rhein Main Air Base. In November 1962 Hans received order to be stationed at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell New Mexico USA. Hans left in November, but Helga and Bettina did not move until December. Once in Roswell, they moved into off-base housing at 602 Redwood Street. They lived here until November 1966, when Hans received orders to be stationed in Upper Heyford, England, United Kingdom and the family moved to Banbury, England. This compendium is different than other compendiums. Helga put together two detailed album with plenty captions and extra information, and these two albums are compendium A and B. Compendium C and D are additional photos that did not make it into Helga’s albums. They are grouped by subject. Compendium E contains their travel photos.
England Jan 1967 – Dec 1970/Jan1971
Prior to England, the family lived in Roswell, New Mexico. By late January 1967, the family moved into 50 Pinhill Road, Banbury, Oxon, Great Britain. From 3 November 1969 to 10 Dec 1970 Hans was stationed in Thailand and the family had to stay behind in England. Hans’ experiences and photos from Thailand are included in a separate Compendium. In late December 1970, Hans was assigned to Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter South Carolina. The family left England in late December 1970 or early January 1971 and they reunited in South Carolina. This compendium is different than other compendiums. Helga put together two detailed album with plenty captions and extra information, and these two albums are in compendium A. Compendium B has additional photos that did not make it into Helga’s albums. They are grouped by the page numbers from Helga’s albums. Compendium C are the photos from Subjects that did not make Helga’s albums. Compendium D contains their travel photos.
England 1966-1971 travel compendium is still in progress
South Carolina Jan 1971 – July 1972
In late December 1970 Hans was assigned to Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter South Carolina USA. Hans arrived from his one year tour in Thailand in 1970. His family had stayed in England during 1970, and moved to South Carolina to become a combined family again. These compendiums are a collections of photos from their time in South Carolina and the family travels within United States. They also traveled to Germany, and those photos are also in another compendium. They stayed in South Carolina until July 1972. Hans was assigned to Maxwell Montgomery Alabama and the family had to move again.
Alabama Aug 1972 – Dec 1974
In July 1972, Hans and his family began their move from Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter South Carolina to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery Alabama. When leaving South Carolina to move to Alabama, the whole family took a trip to Germany in July 1972. In August 1972, the family arrived in Montgomery Alabama. At first they lived in a trailer park at???. Then they moved to 223 Murphee Drive in a suburb near Prattville. They would live here until December 1974, when they began their move to Bergstrom AFB near Austin Texas. This compendium is a collections of photos from their time in Alabama. Their vacations to other states with the USA are included.
Saudi Arabia Sept 1977 to Jan 1980
From September 1977 to January 1980, Hans took on a job with Northrop in Saudi Arabia. Helga and Chris went to live with Hans in Saudi Arabia. Bettina stayed in Austin Texas and attended University. These compendiums contain the photos with captions as provided by Helga. A more detailed account of what occurred during their time in Saudi Arabia is included in other compendiums under the Saudi Arabia tab.
End of albums with individual photos – now page scans
attached pdf of following albums by page scans
- Albums 1957-1980
- 1957-1958 Wisconsin, FL, TX, Wisconsin,
- HH courtship1958-1959 Wisconsin,
- Germany1960-1962 Germany Wiesbaden1962-1965
- New Mexico, Caves, Erika & Peters Death1965-1968 New Mexico and England1969-1970
- England1970-1971 England to SC USA1971-1972
- South Carolina1972-1973
- Alabama1973-1974 Alabama1974-1975 Alabama,
- Texas1975-1976 Texas1975-1977 Austin1976 Texas1976
- Germany1977-1980
- 1977-1980 Saudi Arabia two volumes, info on back also
- 1978 Iran May Vol 1 & 21979 Thailand Oct
- 1978-1980 Germany, TX, Wisconsin, move back to Texas
1957-1958 Wisconsin, FL, TX, Wisconsin, HH Courtship
1958-1959 Wisconsin, Germany
1960-1962 Germany, Wiesbaden
1962-1965 New Mexico, Caves, Erika & Peter’s Deaths
1965-1968 New Mexico and England
1969-1970 England
1969-1970 Thailand
1970-1971 England to SC USA
1971-1972 South Carolina
1972-1973 Alabama
1973-1974 Alabama
1974-1975 Alabama, Texas
1975-1976 Texas
1975-1977 Austin Texas
1976 Texas
1976 Germany
1977-1980 Saudi Arabia Two volumes, photo have info on back also
1978 Iran two volumes
1979 Thailand
1978-1980 Germany, Texas, Wisconsin, move back to Texas
Hans and Helga's Corner 