December 1983, Operation Pulsator (support of Beirut), Buccaneer and Phantom detchments operating from Akrotiri. Phantom squadron change from 43 to 56. Joint dining-in night between Bucc det and Phan det to say farewell to 43.
So, we (the Bucc det) decided to present 43 with a trophy. "Fighting Cocks" (in the avian sense) were not easy to come by so we purchased a live chicken from "Kris Kebab" restaurant for £1. The Bucc det commander played the bagpipes and so the chicken was duly piped in at the dinner on a silver salver under a large silver dome. Once it had been presented to OC Phan det, we expected some animal from 43 to decapitate it. But no, the chicken became the guest of honour and spent the rest of the evening strutting around the tables cr**ping everywhere. Usual food and drink throwing and vomitting, and a good night was had by all.
Next morning the PMC (a Wing Commander dentist!) went into breakfast and exploded at the "state" of the dining room, immediately phoning the Station Commander, Group Captain John Willis. The staish then summoned OC Bucc det and OC Phan det for a viewing of the dining room, along with the PMC. He surveyed the room and calmly said "What mess, PMC? Looks to me like the boys had a good time". He then summoned the detachment commanders to his office and apologised for the behaviour of his PMC! I was very pleased that JW made 4 star - a real gent.
The chicken became the Phan det mascot and lived in a drying room in one of the blocks. However, after about a month it disappeared, and we suspect that "Kris" had stolen back a now very well fed chicken for a few kebabs.
The final 43 Sqn sortie of their det was a Friday lunchtime push with 5 F4s defending the airfield against 4 attacking Buccs. One F4 chasing a Bucc hit the beach at around 200 ft still supersonic, and it was pointed out to us that if we were calling it an airfield attack we should fly high enough for the bombs to fuse!
The days of real aircraft.........