Naval Air StationPort Lyautey, Morocco

The following links to photographs are from the personal collection of Jerry (Gerald J.) Zimmerman who served at NAS Port Lyautey between 8/2/47 to 4/15/48. Former shipmates of Jerry may contact Jerry at Jerdadzim@cs.com.

Some Photographs from "Downtown" Port Lyautey

Barney, on the right, was one of Port Lyautey's and Casablanca's successful business men catering to the U.S. servicemen and, soon to come tourists. Jerry can't recall if this was his store in Port Lyautey or Casablanca…they were similar in size. Besides selling local craft and souvenir items to tourists, Barney also offered photo finishing and studio service to local residents. To his left is an employee, and on the far left is his brother.

Business man Barney, his brother on his right and an employee on the left, stand behind the counter and in the center of many of the items that were sent or carried home by U.S. servicemen. Barney tried, unsuccessfully, to convince me to consider operating his photo finishing and studio after my Navy hitch was over. Although a tempting opportunity for a 20 year old, my desire was to return to the states and Wisconsin. Jerry has often wondered, had he accepted Barney's offer, what his life might have become? Also, with the change from the French to Arab rule, what became of Barney and his business? Can anyone fill Jerry in on this missing bit of history?

The Base Fire Department made its services available as a backup to the Port Lyautey Fire Department. In the picture above the U.S. sailor fire crew begin packing up their gear after successfully assisting to bring a shed and fuel fire under control with a minimum amount of damage. The Base Fire Chief's Jeep can be seen behind the Base fire truck, and behind the Jeep, another Base fire truck. The tall, slim sailor on the right with his back to the camera was the Base's Fire Chief.

Jerry was always surprised but pleased to see many happy children about and on the streets in Port Lyautey. He remembers them to be no different than children back in the States. They felt very comfortable and safe to visit openly with U.S. servicemen who always treated them as special children. Those that chose to earn money by shinning black Navy shoes became early and good business men and also very proficient in speaking English.

Port Lyautey had its form of rival "street gangs." This group that Jerry is pictured with was headed by the man to the right of him. Most times they simply enjoyed good natured conversation. Even so, they were always available to exchange (illegally) Moroccan money for American dollars. They also purchased or sold black market items by order and out of the eye of local police and Navy SP's. The leader, as did many of the youths, spoke almost perfect English.

WEB-Editor NOTE!......in the 1957 - 59 time frame, this illegal exchange of money was carried to new heights. While the official rate of exchange for military payment certificates (MPC's as they were called because american currency was not allowed on the base) was 400 moroccan francs to the dollar on the base, they could be exchanged for 600+ moroccan francs per dollar via the black market. And if you had american greenbacks, the rate could reach 1000+ moroccan francs per dollar. Some industrious american servicemen, upon receiving their pay in MPC's, would exchange a certain sum of it for a money order. The money order would then be sent home to someone in the US with instructions to cash it and send the greenbacks back to the sender via mail. These funds would then be converted at the black market rate of 1000+ moroccan francs per dollar.

In the background is the riverside, high-rise storage building of Port Lyautey. On the street are two methods of city transportation: a horse drawn "bus" and a hired horse carriage, known as one-horse cusheys.

The Catholic Church of Port Lyautey was an interesting piece of architect and well attended on Sundays by locals and Base servicemen. Jerry was disappointed recently to learn the Church was demolished and removed sometime in the late 1980's, early 1990's. The former Church grounds now house the Bank of Maroc after the Moroccan government purchased the abandoned Church.

WEB-Editor NOTE!......iThis was probably the most photographed building in Kenitra. Unfortunately, it was probably the least visited by American servicemen. However Jerry has provided photographs of the Church from the inside taken during Easter services in 1948. Click here to see those photographs.

The small, sheltered newsstand in Port Lyautey was always well attended. There was no newspaper delivery service and this had to be the place to pick up the daily local and national news.

Port Lyautey's French section of beautiful gardened homes contrasted dramatically from the nearby, crowded Medina. The homes were large and expensive, indicating the success of the French presence in Morocco.

Jerry, like many sailors after him, made good use of the Port Lyautey Train Station, a much better way to travel to Rabat than the slow and crowded Bus. The passenger cars were first class and the schedule was very dependable.

Although it was an interesting adventure, Jerry chose to ride the local Bus system to Rabat JUST one time! It was crowded, and he was fortunate to get a seat and not have to stand in the aisle. He did not recall any French aboard, just Arabs, most in their native dress and carrying packages, bags and other items. During the 30 some mile ride he lost track of the many stops made along the way to pick up or discharge riders. Customers merely stood at the edge of the road expecting the bus to stop for them. Some of the reasons the train became his choice of travel.

Jerry took this picture during one his country side-trips. The camel and donkey teams were a common combination. While visiting with a missionary in Sale he questioned him what the reasoning was. Why not two camels or two donkeys? The missionary informed Jerry that it was an Arab's traditional thinking that animals can talk to each other in their own, particular language. Therefore if they matched a team of camels or donkeys they could communicate and decide not to work! Whereas and because the camel and donkey can not understand each other's language, the farmer has less trouble getting his team to work as they should.