KARAMÜRSEL AIR STATION BROCHURE

Guide for Incoming Personnel

© 1997-2011 by Author

It is with a sincere feeling of personal satisfaction that I welcome you to TUSLOG Detachment 3.     This brochure was created to acquaint you in a small measure with the area to which you are coming, and to give you a brief picture of our facilities and operation.     I hope that you will find this brochure not only interesting, but also of some assistance in planning your trip and your stay in Turkey. Sincerely, KENNETH W. HOLBERT Colonel, USAF Commander

 

The Tomb of the Turkish National Hero, Kemal Atatürk

Why Turkey?: Some of the reasons America is being represented in Turkey are - first, the result of our Government's planning and decisions which date back to 12 March 1947 when President Truman made an appeal to the joint session of Congress for support to the free people of the world, who are resisting attempted subjugation by outside pressures. Subsequently, Congress approved the extension of military and economic aid to Turkey. A survey group from America was sent to Turkey to appraise the situation. A detailed report on the results of that survey was published under the title « Turkey, An Economic Appraisal », and is available in most military and civilian libraries. The assistance Turkey has received from America has enabled her to increase her defense capability greatly. Today, Turkey views her modern, streamlined well trained and effective defense force with a great deal of pride. Secondly, Turkey joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1952. Today, Turkey is the largest contributor to NATO manpower. She is also a very strong supporter of the United Nations. Having integrated her ground, sea and air units into the joint defense structure of NATO, along with other free world defense organizations, Turkey is making a very valuable contribution to the defense and security of the Free World. Finally, it is important to know that the Turkish soldiers who stand guard on the Turkish - Russian border are defending all the nations of the free world against Russian aggression.  Therefore, we (America) by furnishing material, financial and technical assistance, and by sending personnel to Turkey, do so as part of an immense program to maintain peace in the world and to defend the free nations of the world against aggression.

The near Eastern Republic of Turkey is comprised of the peninsular of Asia Minor (Anatolia) and the small portion of Europe known to the ancient world as Eastern Thrace. Turkey in Europe is separated from Anatolia by the straits - the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles which form the only sea passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It is bounded on the northeast by the Black Sea and the southwest by the Aegean Sea. its western frontier was determined by the treaty of Lausanne in 1923 with Greece and Bulgaria. The islands of Smroz and Bozcaada, off the Dardanelles, also belong to Turkey.  With a total area of 396,189 square miles; the Turkish Republic is the bridge between Europe and Asia.

Few regions of the world have had in their history so long a period of successive civilization. Turkey dates back to the fourth millienium before the Christian era. Its history has slowly been pieced together through archaeological findings, legend and mythology Its importance was established when the Greeks and Romans of a higher level of civilization moved in among the tribes of nomadic amazons, built the first cities and formed the first governmental systems in the area. In 333 B.C., Alexander the Great claimed a large portion of Turkey while the land remained under Roman domination for several centuries. Turkey welcomed the Christian era and shortly afterward saw the rule of the Byzantium and the SeIjuk Turks. Finally it became the center of the rule of the Ottoman Turks under which the land flourished greatly. The Ottoman state evolved from a society whose institutions  were fundamentally nomadic. The Sultan was based on two primary classes - The military and the religious. After the conquest of Constantinople and the transfer of the capital to the imperial city, the Turkish system was influenced by that of the Byzantine empire with pasha governed provinces. Successors of the Ottomans were the young Turkish or Seljuk princes who commanded the area until Mustafa Kemal established the first democracy in Turkey and helped the country to its republicship in 1924. The new democracy is the present governmental system. As a consequence of this historic richness, Turkey is filled with ancient cities and their remains as well as monuments, relics, and works of art make the country a paradisical wonderland to the tourist. Present -  day Turkey is a land of paradox with contrasts ranging from the model city of Istanbul to the vast undeveloped areas of Anatolia. Under the impetus of the national hero, the late Kemal Ataturk, Turkey has made marked advances toward modernization.

Iznik

In comparison with the old governmental systems, the relatively new democratic form of government shows influence of U. S., French and British examples. The new government which is an assembly of deputies (representatives) of each city, fourteen ministers, a prime minister and the president comprise the Turkish parliament.

When traveling abroad, it is natural for one to expect certain differences in customs and tradition in the lands he visits. However, the differences in appearance of a crowd in Istanbul could hardly be distinguished from a group in New York or Chicago - Red Heads - Blonds - Brunettes, dressed in the same styles as the Americans. The age of the fez and the veil went out with the advent of democracy.
    Since that time, modernism is the popular theme and is practiced in every way. The people strive to attain higher education, and though Turkish is the official language, you will find that French is used as the diplomatic language. But, English, German, Greek and Russian are also spoken.

A Thoroughfare in Ankara

Istanbul, the chief city of Istanbul Province, Turkey, and a major seaport, lies at the southeast end of the Bosphorus' on the shores of the Sea of Marmara. Originally, a Greek city, Byzantium, it was created the capital of the Roman Empire in A.D. 330 by Constantine the Great and renamed Constantinople. The city fell to the Turks in 1453 and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire as Istanbul, though it was still known as Constantinople to the non -  Moslem world until about 1930.
    In 1923 the capital was moved to Ankara. From earliest times, the site of Istanbul was in the vicinity of the migration routes and there were many settlements in the area, especially on the Asian side of the straits.  Early authors indicate that the city was founded in the Seventh Century, B.C. by the Megrians with Byzas as the eponymous founder.  The city itself has been the arena of  numerous battles, and has been under siege probably more times than any other city in the world. 
    In 479 B. C., it was delivered for a persian sovereignty, occupied by the Lacedaemonians and the Romans, and in 196 was captured by the emperor Severus.  Byzantium (Istanbul) for a short time ceased to be a city, but was restored and enlarged soon after. Theatres, palaces, hippodromes and baths were constructed In 324, the city opened its doors to Constantine.
    Under the direction of Constantine, the new capital was embellished by the finest monuments of Rome, Athens, Alexandria, and Ephesus.   New inhabitants were brought in and commerce was promoted. At first, the city under Constantine's rule, was called New Rome.
    Then, after the Constantinian rule, the city was under the rule of Theodosius I. and later divided between his two sons. In 532, the Emperor Justinian took command.
    It was under Justinian's rule that the great mosque, Hagia Sophia, was constructed. This probably was the most prosperous period in Istanbuls history. The most devastating year for Constantinople was 1204 when the fourth crusade landed in Constantinople instead of making for Jerusalem.

The Istanbul Hilton

Sultan's Summer Castle

After the crusaders had invaded Kadikoy and Üskudar, they attacked Constantinople. The city was subjected to terrible destruction and plunder.  Neither holy edifice nor works of art were spared.
    Although the crusader assault made the city capital a new Latin Empire, it also left it a poor and ruined city with nothing of its former splendour. After the Ottoman conquest, Mohammed II made Istanbul a worthy capital. He built palaces, mosques, museums, libraries and the Bagdad Kiosk.
    After Mohammed II, the Sultans and their Viziers devoted themselves to the reconstruction of the city.  Gradually Istanbul took the appearance of a wholly Turkish city with tall minarets and a way of life totally different from that of the Byzantine days, with a different language, a different style of dress, and many changes in custom Today.

An old Istanbul Dwelling

After the crusaders had invaded Kadikoy and Üskudar,they attacked Constantinople. The city was subjected to terrible destruction and plunder. Neither holy edifice nor works of art were spared. Although the crusader assault made the city capital a new Latin Empire, it also left it a poor and ruined city with nothing of its former splendour.      After the Ottoman conquest, Mohammed II made Istanbul a worthy capital. He built palaces, mosques, museums, libraries and the Bagdad Kiosk.     After Mohammed II, the Sultans and their Viziers devoted themselves to the reconstruction of the city, and gradually Istanbul took on the appearance of a wholly Turkish city with tall minarets and a way of life totally different from that of the Byzantine days, and with a different language, a different styl of dress, and many changes in custom Today. Istanbul refers to itself as Turkey's most modern and prosperous city. The city of the old and the new, aware of its glorious past, looks toward the future with a confidence that is easy to observe as one passes through the modern quarters of the city.

The 'Esek'(EH-shek - Donkey) still widely used although there now are many cars

The Obelisk in Sultanahmet.

The climate in the area to which you are coming is generally mild and moist.  The temperature is similar in many respects to Washington, D C. The summers are hot and humid. In the evenings, the hot dry atmosphere is alleviated by the cool sea breezes intermingling with the mountain winds. After midnight, one usually needs a blanket in the summer. The marked difference in the weather in this area is that the winters are generally short and mild and the summers are hot and humid. The winter season usually begins in November and lasts through mid-March.
    Spring is the rainy season (March and April). The advent of the rainy season fluctuates in that sometimes it begins as early as February and lasts through April. During the rainy season, there is considerable mud to contend with in the neighboring towns due to the unpaved condition of streets.
    At Karamursel Air Station, the situation is pleasingly different. The streets are all paved and you will be able to observe many phases of station development in progress. This development involves many recreational projects. The most important being Blake Village, the station housing project.