RAF Sharjah

[sisemen]

I'm looking for a map of RAF Sharjah circa 1967-68. I'm hoping to do a quick visit to the site at the end of June and I'm trying to get everything aligned to Google Earth via an old oblique photo taking from a Shack at about that time.

Google has let me down but I have faith in PPRuNers to come up with the goods :ok:

[parabellum]

I think you will find it almost unrecognisable now, as it has been built over.
Maybe a bit of an old fort left?

[sisemen]

Yep, the old fort is there (my work place as a member of the Mountain Desert Rescue Team) and the old control tower (now in a museum complex) and, of course, King Abdul Azis Road is the old main runway. I just thought it would be cool to wander down the street and point out to Mrs Sisemen where my room was etc etc etc - difficult to do that when extrapolating from an oblique photo!

[l.garey]

Have a look at my site:

l.garey - RAF Sharjah, Al Mahatta Museum (http://l.garey.googlepages.com/rafsharjah,almahattamuseum)

where I compare GE with an aerial photo. I have other aerials taken earlier and some modern views of King Abdul Aziz Street.

I was there again a month ago.

Laurence

[sisemen]

Laurence - Thanks. I had checked out your site some time ago. Unfortunately any magnification of the magnificent photo taken circa 1976 pixelates out without being able to determine too much detail (such as where my block was!). However, an excellent site nevertheless.:ok:

[l.garey]

Does this one help? 1964. Shows the original sand runways as well as the "new" tarmac one.

Laurence

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/DSCF0020.jpg

[Capot]

I have a 1972 UK MoD 1:100,000 map for the whole UAE, apart from western and southern Abu Dhabi (it's actually several sheets taped together, of course.)

This includes Sharjah, probably as it was a few years earlier when the data were collected. In fact, looking at some of the town areas, shown as black shading, I suspect that they are as they were in the mid-60s.

It's based on photosurvey overlaid with tracks and other topo.

You can probably do a lot better better, but if an A4 scan centred on Sharjah is any use I could provide it, towards the end of next week.

It would cover from Dubai to Hamriyah, more or less.

[sisemen]

Thanks to everyone for all the info. Superb pic Laurence and is exactly what I needed.

Depart Perth at sparrow's (WA time) Monday for Dubai.

[l.garey]

Capot:
That would be of great use to me!
I have recently got hold of some aerial photos of the Buraimi area dated 1968, but they are gigantic files and I am still struggling with them. They give fabulous detail of the area of Buraimi which interests me, with its two airfields, Hamasa and Dau'di, about which I am trying to cobble together an article.

Siseman:
Have a good trip. You will see the 1964 aerial photo in the museum at Al Mahatta.

Laurence

[sisemen]

Capot - wouldn't mind a copy also. :ok:

[Capot]

L Garey and Sisemen

I would be delighted, but I have the impression that you would both like the whole map.......?

It's quite large, as you would expect @ 1:100,000.

The only way I can think of is to get selected areas colour copied on A3 and mail them. I'm happy to try and do that within reason if you would pm with the area(s) you're interested in, and the address.

If anyone can think of another way, please let me know!

PS L.Garey; I also have a BP map of all on and offshore installations in Abu Dhabi, including every hole, pipelines and so on in the mid-60s, a Bureimi Oasis map of the same period (if I can ever find it)etc..and a very large scale map of the Liwa showing virtually very track, garden and airstrip. Any use? I did have the US map for the Empty Quarter from Al Ayn to the South and West, which could be in the attic. It was complied fom aerial survey, with place names obtained by a team who took guides around and asked them what everything was called. It showed an awful lot of features (wells, dunes, salt flats etc) called "Ma 'Aaref" which many will recognise as "I Don't Know".

[l.garey]

Capot: PM on its way.
Laurence

[fordexplorer]

Capot

Would it be possible to obtain a copy of part of the 1972 UK MoD 1:100,000 map that you have? I'm only interested in the area around Fujairah and Kalba.

Best regards

Ford

[Capot]

Laurence I do apologise! I don't remember seeing your pm. Is there anything I can do?

fordexplorer; As long as it fits into a reasonable number of A4 chunks, scanning should be fairly easy. Locating the bedsheet map is the first hurdle; I know it's somewhere, but it's been a hectic 9 months, to say the least, and I'll have to think about where I put it.

Garage storage boxes? Attic? Office at bottom of garden? Let me see.............

[Lukeafb1]

Laurence,

I have one query from your website link.

You say that Comet XK655 was at one time based in Cyprus. Having been a member of 51sqn and crew on 655, I don't recall that it was ever 'based' in Cyprus. Its home bases whilst it was on 51, were Watton and later Wyton. We detached to Sharjah many times and Akrotiri occasionally, but 'based' in Cyprus? I don't think so.

However, if you know something I don't I'll be glad to apologise. :confused:

[alisoncc]

Some photos of the centre of the universe - otherwise known as RAF Sharjah circa 1966. This was before all the Aden mob took over the place.

http://alisoncc.com/nwimages/sharjah1.jpg

http://alisoncc.com/nwimages/sharjah2.jpg

http://alisoncc.com/nwimages/sharjah3.jpg

http://alisoncc.com/nwimages/sharjah4.jpg

Enjoy

[zetec2]

G-AOPL Prentice (I think) tail only, in the picture, what & why please ?, Rgds, Paul H.

[forget]

Off the top of my head - 252 redundant RAF Prentices were later bought in 1956 by Aviation Traders Ltd, a company owned by Freddie Laker. Most were eventually scrapped, but 28 were converted for civil use with two seats and two jumpseats behind the two pilots' seats, separated by a structure which housed the original 4-channel radio. This conversion had quite poor performance with 4 passengers. One aircraft was converted to a seven-seat layout for pleasure flights. One (G-AOPL) was acquired from Shackleton Aviation at Sywell by a Captain in the Trucial Oman Scouts and flown to Sharjah in 1967; later being flown on to South Africa where it remained until it ceased flying.

Actually -
Percival Prentice - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Prentice)

[alisoncc]

One (G-AOPL) ........the Trucial Oman Scouts and flown to Sharjah in 1967;

I left in January 1967, so most likely there earlier.

Out of general interest here's a photo of Dubai taken back then. I understand it's changed a bit. :ok:

http://alisoncc.com/nwimages/sharjah5.jpg

[old,not bold]

G-AOPL Prentice (I think) tail only, in the picture, what & why please

I'll surface from oblivion to say it was mine. I don't like to write about it too much, because Henry Crun gets so deeply envious of anyone who owned a Prentice.

Brief history; bought for £700 from Shackletons at Sywell Sept '66, exported from Gatwick (Bureimi Airways Flight 001 to Sharjah was called on the PA) 27/9/66, number of unforeseen occurrences on route including a forced landing after both mags failed in cloud over the Italian mountains, complete 2-month repair and refurb in Baghdad after an engine fire on takeoff (Shackleton's workmanship being the root cause), got to Sharjah Jan '67, flew round the desert for a bit, then 2 RAF officers on leave from Twin Pin flying took it to South Africa, where it was sold for £700 in mid '67.

The idea was to keep it in Sharjah and return to UK eventually, but an engine overhaul was imminent and Gulf Aviation, whom I later joined, stopped doing their own Gipsy Queen (Dove, Heron) overhauls in between my purchase of a Gipsy Queen for that reason and its arrival 9 months later.

It was bought by a farmer's boy who planned to use it to fly to Durban for riotous weekends from his Dad's farm, inland at 6000ft. He had just got his licence and rejected all offers of advice from the RAF officers about calculating Prentice take-off performance at 6000ft. The demo flight and deal were done at sea level, and the RAF officers got the next plane out.

The Prentice was an interesting aircraft to fly, suffering as it did from being grossly underpowered with the aerodynamic beauty of a s**thouse. Oiling up the rearmost plugs while taxying was its best trick; mag checks were pointless on the ground and I did them on the climb out, always a nervous moment especially over the sea. But rumbling along at 1900 RPM and 90Kts at 6,000 ft or so, sunny day over the Med, window open, it had its nice moments as well.

PS G-AOPL landing at Abu Dhabi International Airport Jan 1967...and Sharjah next day

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff141/picshooter/Ident2.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff141/picshooter/Ident1-1.jpg

[Herod]

allisoncc, "The Aden mob took over"? Surely you mean "The boys from the newly independent Republic of South Yemen arrived, adding a little tone and sophistication to the place" (78 Sqn Wessex Aden/Sharjah '67/'68)

[Cornish Jack]

"adding a little tone and sophistication " to Sharjah is an oxymoron:rolleyes::E;)

[old,not bold]

The tone in Sharjah was set extremely high, in the '50s and '60s, by the TOS.

Unfortunately, it was lowered again by the crowd of rowdies who lived on the airfield waiting to supply air transportation services to the TOS, such as routine and ad hoc supply trips to TOS camps and patrols, bringing female guests from Bahrain and Aden to TOS parties, patrolling the seas to spot people smugglers/slavers for the TOS, and so on. I understood that the airfield also served as a staging post for military flights, but that was a relatively unimportant role.

[alisoncc]

Old, not bold wrote:
Bureimi Airways Flight 001 to Sharjah was called on the PA

Surely that should have been "Yimkin Bardain" Airways. Not too sure of the spelling.

Unfortunately, it was lowered again by the crowd of rowdies who lived on the airfield waiting to supply air transportation services to the TOS

Yeh, it was us. Got some mention in the press at last. Fame and fortune will follow. :O

[ken knight]

Some of the Wessex on the line.
I was lucky to be sent to Dubia in 1979 while working for Bristow to carry out rotor track and balance on the Bell 212's. On one airtest were flew up to the salt flats beyond Sharjah to look for an overdue Jetranger. As we overflew the old base the pilot had to say it was Sharjah, I would never have known.

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/balmedie3169/sharjah/img402.jpg

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/balmedie3169/sharjah/img404.jpg

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/balmedie3169/sharjah/img403.jpg

This last pic is one of the Squadron aircraft on the beach at Fujeria.
We were taken across for a "picnic" on the odd occasion, food supplied via the mess so we took one of the mess staff along for the ride. I bet this place is nothing like it was back then!

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/balmedie3169/sharjah/img405.jpg

[goudie]

"adding a little tone and sophistication " to Sharjah


That only happened when the Canberra sqdns., from Akrotiri, were there on detachment

[bluesilk]

Correct, like when 249 were there in Feb 64.
As has been noted Dubai was somewhat different in those days.
Happy days if a trifle warm!:ok:

[Lukeafb1]

Cor, Bluesilk, I was on that 249 detachment as well!

[goudie]

249? I was referring to 32, who were also in Sharjah in '64

[Herod]

As Rowan and Martin didn't say "Welcome to beautiful downtown Sharjah".

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/SharjahSuq.jpg

[Dan Winterland]

249 on det in Sharjah in about 1968. Pater is in row three sporting a particularly magnificent handlebar moustache. They had a competition to grow the best and I think Dad did very well. I remember him walking into our quarter in Akrotiri after a month away looking like Jimmy Edwards and I recall my Mums' first words to him (while pointing at the bathroom) was "Shave it off now!".

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/dbchippy/125.jpg

Edited to remove the 'th' part of the photobucket link which was making the picture small. Thanks forget

[virgo]

[http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i271/Virgo_photo/sharjah%20shacks/Shacks0007_edited-1.jpg?

[virgo]

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i271/Virgo_photo/sharjah%20shacks/shacks0009_edited.jpg?t=1269103875

[alisoncc]

Didn't know the USAF flew Canberras. Must be USAF with all those people
for just one bird. :ok:

Does remind me of when a couple of USAF Phantoms lobbed in to Sharjah -
enroute somewhere. They turned up with more people that the full station
compliment.

[Lukeafb1]

Alisoncc,

But the USAF did fly Canberras, even if they called them B57s and added some bits. In fact they had two unmodified B2s as well, for pilot training!:)

[brakedwell]

Sharjah in the midday sun !

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/aviation/152Twinpioneermy105sqnArgosySharjah.jpg

[goudie]

The line hut a/con just managed to keep the temp to 80f. Felt more like 40f coming in from the line.

IIRC all activity ceased if the humidity became greater than the temperature. Was never there when it happened.

[l.garey]

Lukeafb1: Sorry, only just saw your post as I was away. You are probably correct that the Comet was not "based" in Cyprus, just passing (very quietly so that noone would notice it maybe).

Laurence

[l.garey]

old not bold:
I wonder if the pieces of Prentice still in the Al Mahatta Museum at Sharjah are from G-AOPL, ie rudder marked PAC/R234, PAC81, 1/3/49.

Laurence

[Lukeafb1]

Laurence,

In that case, I won't apologise!:)

A point of interest. One of its sister 51 Comets is now on display at RAF Duxford. Of the 4 Comets on 51 (655, 695, 659 and 671) all were ex-BOAC. Ground crew would regularly find BOAC Serial numbers on components which had not been changed for some time. 671 was our transport aircraft and used purely for ferrying crew around.

[old,not bold]

Laurence

G-AOPL departed complete with rudder, as I recall from waving it good-bye with a glad heart.

I did manage to break the starboard wing-spar near the already upturned tip when landing at the Al Ayn strip; the aircraft was sharply rolled about 80 degrees to the right by a dust-devil as I crossed the threshold, and the wing hit the ground first. Luckily it fell back on to the wheels rather than its back; I decided to make it a touch-and-go, and flew gently back to Sharjah. A friendly RAF fitter put a fishplate across the crack, new bit of skin and it was as good as new.

That was the only damage that I knew about, so where the bits of rudder in the museum came from I cannot imagine. Bizarre coincidence, though.

[alisoncc]

Bet you were surprised to see photos of it turn up here. Incidently the rudder was still attached to the rest of the aircraft when I took the photo.

[brakedwell]

The sun didn't always shine at Sharjah! When these photos were taken in Feb 1961 the sand runway was waterlogged and the only dry area available for me to operate my Twin Pioneer was in the southwest corner of the airfield. At that time the flaps and slats were locked up due to a failure of the chain drive mechanism, which extended the take off run considerably. The tents were erected to house aircrew from a Canberra and a Hunter (208?) squadron due to take part in an exercise which was cancelled because of the weather!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/aviation/SharjahJFlood.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/aviation/61.jpg

[ken knight]

Found this along with another picture which I have written on he back "50th Anniversary RAF flypast March 1968"
I presume this was a squadron picture to mark the occasion.
Some names to faces. far left front row,
Garth "Horse" Parfitt, 4th left front row Phil Carter, 9th left front row Peter Faid?
Back row far right myself.

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/balmedie3169/78SquadronSharjah.jpg?t=1269442842

[Herod]

Ken, I think your date is slightly out. I'm in contact with the current Squadron Historian and he sent me a copy of that picture dated June 68. Since I'm not on it, and I left at the beginning of May, that would make sense.
Lots more names I could add, PM me if you want them.

[l.garey]

Old, not bold: Noted re the rudder.
I am fascinated to know you flew down to Al Ain (as it is now) in the Prentice. I wonder which of the two airfields that was, at the time. They were both called Buraimi, the oasis next door. One was Buraimi Daudi and the other Buraimi Hamasa. The RAF used Daudi, which was to the south.east of the town. The other, across the border in Oman, a couple of km north of it. Hamasa is still in use by the Oman Police Air Wing, while Daudi disapperared under a housing estate last year. Forumites like JW411, brakedwell and capot knew the area well. Daudi was notable in that finals to the western end of the runway was in line with the "new" Hilton hotel, which was a worry.
See the post at http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/367559-al-ain-old-airport.html

Laurence

[old,not bold]

Laurence,

I took the Prentice to Al Ayn several times; the strip was certainly to the SE from the Murabba'a, which itself was out on its own and serving as the Police station. But I don't think we called it Da'udi, or indeed anything else apart from "the strip", as in "I'm off to the strip to collect the beer from the crabs".

[Fokkerwokker]

old,not bold

How long were you with Gulf Aviation please?

[old,not bold]

Fokkerwocker

11 years; Herons and DC3s to L1011s

[Fokkerwokker]

I probably carried your navbag for you then....give us a clue!

[parabellum]

Sadly Peter Faid was killed in an accident in Ghana back in the late sixties or very early seventies, flying for Bristow Helicopters..

[ken knight]

Yes, I had just started at Bristow in March 1970 when we were told of the accident and that the pilot was Peter Faid.
He had been flying a Bell 206 in Ghana but I also think he had been flying a Wessex 60 in support of early North Sea oil exploration prior to that.

[teeteringhead]

And Garth Parfitt IIRC "departed the fix" a year or so ago after a heart attack in retirement in France......

[l.garey]

Does anyone have any data, or even pictures, of activities at Sharjah during WW2 or just before and after?

Laurence

[l.garey]

I have just been sent a couple of photos apparently taken at Sharjah. The first is Wellington W5675 (E on the engine cover), and the second a bunch of Ansons and a Valetta. I cannot make out the serials of these last ones. What is the badge on the Wellington's nose?
Can anyone date and give units for these two scenes? Thanks
Laurence

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/davmacwellington-1.jpg



http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/davmacansons-1.jpg

[l.garey]

I tried to enhance the photo above of the Ansons and Valetta. The Valetta might be VW822. Anyone remember it? One of the Ansons seems to be VM...
Laurence

[brakedwell]

The Ansons are almost certainly from 1417 Flight, which was based in Bahrain. They were replaced by Pembrokes in the mid fifties. In October 1958 1417 Flt became 152 Squadron when four new Twin Pioneers were added to the fleet.

[l.garey]

Thanks brakedwell.
In the same batch of photos are 2 of a Twin Pioneer. Both coded M, so presumably the same one. Was it from 152 Sqd? What is the badge on the nose?
There is also 30 Sqd Beverley XL152 in the background, if a Beverley can ever be in the background. Makes it 1965 or 1966 I presume. The other photo seems to be out in the desert, rather than in SHJ itself.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/davmacbev-1.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/davmactwinpincamel.jpg

Did you know the chap in the picture (or the camel)?

Laurence.

[forget]

Laurence, In between solving all above, cracking web site here if you haven't already seen it. :ok:

mainframeset (http://radfanhunters.co.uk/mainframeset.htm)

[l.garey]

Wow, hadn't seen it, but have now, and will more over the next days. Thanks.
Trust you are well!

Laurence

[brakedwell]

The Twin Pioneer belongs to 152 and the photo must have been taken in 1962 or later. The squadron flash (yellow white and green) is visible on the side of the nose. In 1960 I was instrumental in getting squadron markings painted on either side of the fuselage roundels of our Pembrokes, like the 152 Sqn Meteor NF14's up to 1958. When I returned to the UK in August 1961 there were no plans to paint squadron flashes on the Twin Pioneers.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/152%20Squadron%20Bahrain/Pembroke.jpg

I suspect the Camel driver might answer to the name of Mo ;)

[ricardian]

The sun didn't always shine at Sharjah! When these photos were taken in Feb 1961 the sand runway was waterlogged and the only dry area available for me to operate my Twin Pioneer was in the southwest corner of the airfield. At that time the flaps and slats were locked up due to a failure of the chain drive mechanism, which extended the take off run considerably. The tents were erected to house aircrew from a Canberra and a Hunter (208?) squadron due to take part in an exercise which was cancelled because of the weather!
There was a heavy storm when I was at Sharjah 1963-64. I was working in the signals office (RAF W/T links to Muharraq, Masirah, Salalah, Riyan & Khormaksar plus R/T link to Political Agent at Ras Al Khyma). Torrential rain & strong winds - blew the roof off the NAAFI and inflicted quite a bit of damage to other buildings. When comms were restored the first message was 12 hours old warning of imminent bad weather...

[l.garey]

Another teaser about Sharjah. I copied a print on the wall of the Museum, ex RAF Sharjah, last year. With apologies for the awful quality. Just photographed on the wall, with permission. There seem to be 3 RAF Lodestars. Anyone identify them? All part of trying to piece together WW2, or just after, Sharjah history.
(Edited to say "Venturas" after comment by forget, below)

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/lodestars.jpg

Laurence

[forget]

244 (AIR SEA RESCUE SQUADRON) THE LAST OF THE SHAIBAH TALES.

(Lovely story - posted just for that reason - and a mention of Sharjah.)

In the Vincent days at Shaibah, when going down the Gulf we always flew in pairs. This enabled a fitter or a rigger to be carried in addition to the W.op Air gunners. We could then be self-sufficient for servicing, and stay away for long periods. One day we were going to either Sharjah or Muscat, I can't remember which. We flew down the middle of the Gulf. It was blowing a strong Southerly, and our ground speed cannot have been much over 70m.p.h. Visibility over the sea was good, but the water was rough, white horses all round. As we passed over Faylakal Island we saw a dhow on the rocks. She was getting a terrible pounding and was breaking up.

There were four men on deck, one on land, and one was in the water. Wreckage was floating all around the stricken vessel. For a moment we thought of throwing a dinghy overboard, but with land so near, it did not seem a helpful idea.

There was no W/T watch in Kuwait (the nearest port). All we could do after flying around at low altitude several times, was to report the situation by W/T to Shaibah. With instructions for the message to be relayed to the Political Agent Kuwait (by telegram).

A week or ten days later, on the way back to Shaibah, I called in at Kuwait, having some business with the Political Agent. When we met he said, "Thank you for your wire, you will be pleased to hear that all the men were saved, and the name of your squadron is very high here". "How come", I asked. He. said, "The rescued mariners are the celebrities of the week and are holding court in the cafes".

Their tale goes like this - Our boat was on the rocks being pounded to pieces in the rough sea. We thought our last hour had come when two Hawai ji ha: (Ships of the Air) flew round, and each let down a ladder for us to grasp (our training aerials!). They passed too quickly for us to lay hold, and after several attempts to gather us up they flew away on a southerly course. As everyone knows, it was a boat from our home port which eventually picked us up from the waterless island. We learned that they had heard of our plight, as these airmen in some way sent a message, when they tried to snatch us up. Indeed, these men of the air are resourceful men. We thank Allah the Merciful for sending them to us in our hour of need!".

http://www.rquirk.com/med/244sqn/244news/244newsn28.pdf

[forget]

Laurence, I think your possible Lodestars are actually Venturas with the upper turret removed. Note the belly bulge just forward of the tail wheel.

The RAF took delivery of 394 Ventura light bombers, which entered service in 1942.

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura/PV-2 Harpoon - history, photos, specification of the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura/PV-2 Harpoon (http://www.aircraftaces.com/pv1-ventura.htm)

[l.garey]

You are probably right, forget. I was going on the solid nose. I originally thought Venturas always had glazing, but I have since found pictures with solid noses. It fits in better with the lack of cabin glazing, as far as can be seen, as well as the "bulge". Venturas did serve in the Middle East, with 13, 500 and 624 Sqds (Owen Thetford). Now I need someone to remember them at Sharjah!

Laurence

[sisemen]

Unfortunately I didn't manage to get to Sharjah last year as time was extremely limited. Did however get a trip to Al Ain courtesy of one of the Sheik's buddies who was a friend of my wife's father. The trip to Buraimi was certainly completed much faster than the last time I did it in 1967!

I managed to dig out a few nostalgia photos. I only had a few as the rest were left behind on my first divorce and were chucked out :*

Sharjah waterfront:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c92/allan907/PC120002.jpg

Coffee shop at Dayd:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c92/allan907/PC120009.jpg

The MDRT landrovers outside the office in the old fort:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c92/allan907/PC120008.jpg

...and lastly The Cable and Wireless place at Jebel Ali (probably now buried under the skyscrapers of Jumeirah)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c92/allan907/PC120010.jpg

[brakedwell]

These old photos were taken in 1959.

RAF Sharjah mobile "NAAFI" man.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/152%20Squadron%20Bahrain/Sharjahtrader.jpg

The "flogging" canon outside the Sheik's palace was used to punish minor misdemeanours such as brewing date hooch. Sentences were usually carried out immediately after Ramadan.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/152%20Squadron%20Bahrain/Sharjahpre-flogging.jpg

Crowd waiting to watch a flogging.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/152%20Squadron%20Bahrain/Sharjahmeeting.jpg

[sisemen]

These old photos were taken in 1959.


They'd banned spectating at the hangings and floggings by 1967. :eek:

[alisoncc]

There was story doing the rounds in Sharjah in '65/'66 that parked outside the Sheiks palace in Abu Dhabi there was combine harvester. Apparently some sales rep from the US had shown the Sheik photos of the Canadian prairies or similar awash with fields of grain, and convinced him that all he needed was one of their machines to get the same there.

[forget]

I came across this on UKMAMS Old Bods Association - Photos 1960's Page 2 (http://ukmamsoba.org/photographs_1960_2.htm)

Caption says - The picture is of RAF Sharjah circa some time in 1969. I found this photo in the old Air Movements building which was completely deserted in April 1973 during Exercise Pale Jade. The last entry on the movements board was a Belfast! (Ian Berry.)

PS. On the page above click on the camera for some RAF nostalgia.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b270/cumpas/photog62_large.jpg

[l.garey]

That's a great photo, forget. I can't quite see the control tower which, apart from the runway left as a street in the middle of town, is the only part which survived.

Laurence

[brakedwell]

I don't think it is Sharjah.

[forget]

Interesting. I don't see anything obvious to pin it down one way or the other. However, the five parked Andovers would indicate a home base for them; and -

As Aden closed down the traditions of No 84 Squadron were being maintained in the Gulf, now equipped with six brand new Andover Cl's which moved into Sharjah at the end of August 1967.

[l.garey]

Euh, I think it looks like Sharjah. But Brakedwell should know. He went there often enough!
Check this photo from 1976 from "Wings over the Gulf" by Shirley Kay.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/sharjah-small.jpg

Laurence

[l.garey]

Here are 2 other aerial shots of Sharjah from Shirley Kay's book, dating from 1970 she says.

Laurence

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/sharjahkay1001small.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/sharjahkay2002small.jpg

[brakedwell]

I was wrong Laurence, the vertical photo confirms it is Sharjah. The paved parking ramp threw me and I was thinking the VC10 could have belonged to the Oman Royal Flight. The last time I landed at the old Sharjah Airport was in an IAS Cargo Britannia (G-AOVF) on the 17th Oct 1976. I remember the tarmac runway being visible from the grotty hotel we stayed at outside the western boundary of the airfield. I also remember leaving Brit parked on sand overnight as I was a bit worried about it sinking in. Then again, memory plays
funny tricks when you are as ancient as me.

ps: I like the photo of the Twin Pin on 1960 Page 1 of the MAMS website

[l.garey]

OK, so we agree! Lovely to unearth these old photos. Remember those of Buraimi last year, the fort and the cold beer (sorry, refreshment) ? All the best

Laurence

[EmmaFaid]

Hello, I found this forum in an internet search whilst trying to research the flying career of my late father, Peter Faid.

I was only 5 years old when my father died in a helicopter crash in 1970, and my mother Ann (who died a few years ago) told me very little about him. I hope you do not mind me posting to your forum - but I would be very grateful for any help or information you can give me about my father and his flying career.

Many thanks

Emma Faid
(daughter of the late Peter John Faid)

[Plank Cap]

Emma,

Try posting on the Rotorheads pages of Pprune for information regarding your father. There are many many knowledgable and experienced helicopter pilots who lurk there, both current and retired, some of whom must have known of your father. I too had a family member involved in a flying accident with Bristow Helicopters at a similar time, and Pprune has been wealth of information. Good luck...........

[ken knight]

Emma,
Check your personal messages.

[spike63]

I remember the night in question very well. I was on signals duty that night and remember walking (wading) back to the billet next morning making my way past roofing sheets. I also remember the ADVANCED :confused: warning message received after most of the camp was roofless.

[captain_salman]

Hello and good day to all !

Dear sirs,
I am an aviation enthusiast (a virtual pilot with 2000+ IFR hours at Virtual PIA) and an Anglophile, this world explains the reason I am here at RAF related thread. I joined just recently after a search on the internet about old RAF Sharjah station, but unfortunately there is very limited information and photographs available. I am stunned and at the same time delighted to know that there actual ex-RAF pilots her who served Sharjah!

You all will happy to know that live in building which is situated just in front of the old hanger. I have been living in this area called (Al Mahatta - meaning A Station in Arabic) for 5 years now, I've grown up in Sharjah and I'm now 27 years old. I am fascinated by the historical significance of this area, and I have done a detailed survey of the entire RAF vicinity, I have been searching for clue and remains of old RAF buildings and quarters in this area. My attention is to compare the "now & then" images and would go back and smell the time! The time when Sharjah ruled the skies of the Gulf....

I will be posting some pictures after this post of this area now, my recent attempt was to visit the place just behind the old hanger, I could see the remains of a room with a pin-board still on the wall! And I could see the pin hole in it indicating that at one point in time the used to be a map on that board with clipboards and marks with aerial view of Sharjah I could literally imagine that as a quick flashback! Another was a very old WC just beside, some demolished walls and the wooden roof remains still there and one of the rooms had burned down severely I could say this because of the burned wooden roof frames!

I will post detailed pictures of the ruin quarters of RAF and the current condition of the old hanger which is situated outside the Museum premises where one of you might have even stayed you never know!! What's more interesting is that I have tried to dig a few inches just beside the old hanger's gate (the same hanger where squadron group picture is taken with two helicopters on each side earlier in this thread!) and after digging I have found traces of engine oil in the sand, couple of very old bolts, and interestingly a British Petroleum labelled tap made of black plastic probably from some old can which contained plane's engine oil! Noticing the design of BP on it I found out that it was very old, round about from the 50s to 60s perhaps!

The area is surrounded by residential buildings and many plots are empty and still one could see the old tarmac taxiways and aircraft parking spots all over Al Mahatta area (I will post the pictures of the these tarmac remains) with the "General Electric - GE" light pole remains on the ground with a label "Made in England" !!

I solute to all ex-RAF officers and pilot, and as a token of appreciation to your services in the British empire I would love to accompany you with a detailed guided tour of my area today refreshing all your past memories as I am fully aware of Al Mahatta area as of 2011! That is when ever anyone of your respected personalities visit Sharjah, please contact me :) By this even I will gain knowledge about the geographical changes from the mid 19th century to present and I will love hear your RAF Sharjah stories :)

here is my email: [email protected]

May I profoundly request to your good selves that if you have any other RAF SHJ airport pictures from the time please post it I am really desperate to see how this area looked like during its heyday !! :(

The main aircraft parking area is now converted to a small park called as Mahatta Park just beside the RAF Fort where my building is located! I will update you all with the pictures, please share your stories of RAF Sharjah with me,

with best regards!
SALMAN
(from Sharjah - UAE)

[l.garey]

Welcome to the forum, Salman. You may have noticed that I have posted a few contributions to this thread, as the history of Sharjah has interested me since I first discovered it when I was working in Al Ain between 2000 and 2004. I have written a bit about the Al Mahatta museum and its contents. Maybe you would like to look at my page:
rafsharjah,almahattamuseum - lgarey (http://sites.google.com/site/lgarey/rafsharjah%2Calmahattamuseum)

I have also more recently been investigating the crash of a Wellington in 1943 soon after it left Sharjah en route to Karachi.
RAF Wellington Crash, Dhadnah, 1943 - lgarey (http://sites.google.com/site/lgarey/raf-wellington-crash-dhadnah-1943)

And also the story of the 8 Squadron Venom based at Sharjah in 1958, which crashed on the Saiq plateau in the Jebel Akhdar range (and is still there).
The Jebel Akhdar War - lgarey (http://sites.google.com/site/lgarey/jebel-akhdar)

There are a lot of people on this thread who flew from Sharjah and various strips around the UAE and Oman. In fact I am still investigating some of them of which there are still traces.

I find your descriptions of remnants still at Al Mahatta very interesting, and would like to keep in contact with you about your finds.

Laurence

[sisemen]

I was at Sharjah 1967/68 and, while employed in Eng Wing most of my time was spent with the Mountain/Desert Rescue Team which had its offices in the old fort.

[captain_salman]

Thank you for replying, I will be keep updates on the current condition of the RAF remains here in Sharjah, will also share interesting pictures.

Some random shots taken recently:

RAF Museum today
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8818/dsc04866j.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/dsc04866j.jpg/)

Distant view from my building
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/5564/dsc04865j.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/dsc04865j.jpg/)

Afternoon view from a lower floor
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/3682/dsc04861h.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/dsc04861h.jpg/)

This was the second "T" holding point to the runway I was talking about still remains today visible in the empty are where few cars are parked today. The first "T" fully connected taxiway in hard tarmac is no more as buildings now exist there :(
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9797/tholdingpoint.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/510/tholdingpoint.jpg/)

And now a similar to Kay's old picture with this GE snap of today, the yellow "T" is what's left of the holding point taxiway connecting to the runway. The red markings are the RAF fort and the hanger for the similar reference in the pic below this GE snap!
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6135/thangerviewnew.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/249/thangerviewnew.jpg/)

Now the same reference of today's remains on yesterday's photo!
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6227/thangerviewold.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/341/thangerviewold.jpg/)

Time changes everything! I always imagined to see this area in its former glory, does anyone have more images of RAF Sharjah? Perhaps from the 70s or 80s ?

One more fact here....I remember when I was a child back in the mid 90s the area was a complete ruin, control tower glasses were broken, old brown paints on the walls, the field was empty and fully intact !! The taxiways, general aviation parking, ramps, fuel pumps everything was there until 1993 I remember and I wish I could have taken photographs! It was till the mid 90s after which the field, GA parking were broken as buildings started to emerge in the area which repopulates yet again after a gap of 30 years!

There is much to be told about RAF Sharjah's bygone days!:rolleyes:

[captain_salman]

Hello all !

Thought of sharing few more images taken today, the first key image points three colour arrows to let you know where I have captured photographs.
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1849/copyofshjtoday.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/171/copyofshjtoday.jpg/)

This one is taken where yellow arrow points, this is where the mighty Hawkers used to be parked once now turned into a car park.
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9067/04112011236.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/04112011236.jpg/)

View facing west, same car park area... very ironic while I was standing on this old field I wondered how many loyal RAF officers would have proudly walked on the same area I am standing upon!:rolleyes:
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8205/04112011235.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/442/04112011235.jpg/)

This field is where the blue arrow points, far west apron I believe and probably the same area where a Twin Pioneer of 152 Squadron was parked in one of the pictures earlier in this thread!
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5198/04112011237.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/46/04112011237.jpg/)

The old hanger where the green arrow points, can anybody recognise this? I am thinking this is the same place where 78 Sqn's group photo was taken in 1968 photo posted earlier in this thread ?
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/3219/04112011227.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/825/04112011227.jpg/)

When I peaked through the gates for what's inside, I could some very old equipments and mini cranes all rusted! Clearly belonging to the late Imperial Airways era!
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/4880/04112011228.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/04112011228.jpg/)

Unique piece of British history still preserved in the heart of Sharjah! Mind teaser really...the lower left side you see white car is where I had dug.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4016/04112011229.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/254/04112011229.jpg/)

This is what I found after digging many inches, traces of aircraft engine oil (most likely from RAF era) and an old British Petroleum cap and an old piece of cloth used for cleaning!
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/3201/04112011231.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/04112011231.jpg/)

Side view of the hanger, can anyone enlighten whether this aluminium plates are from the RAF era or not?
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/5513/04112011232.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/717/04112011232.jpg/)

West corner of the hanger adjacent to the mosque, does anyone remember these blue iron rods seen in the 60s?
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4999/04112011233.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/04112011233.jpg/)

Gangway door of the hanger on the west side, had anyone been through this gate?
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/9243/04112011234.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/831/04112011234.jpg/)

This old remains of the officers quarters or offices? behind the hanger is what I was talking about, room with a pin board still on the wall! And a lavatory remains on the right side, broken walls on the sides, the roof markings on the wall remind me of their phases during different times!
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9868/04112011219.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/254/04112011219.jpg/)

More towards the left is this old door now sealed from inside, the broken room walls also visible, this is ghostly really... its like diving down the wreck of RMS Titanic and looking at the remains of the Dining Salon entrance and comparing how it was in 1912! I am sure many of you would have gone down the memory lane this very moment!
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4175/04112011223.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/97/04112011223.jpg/)

[l.garey]

Great pictures, Salman, and a great piece of aviation archaeology.
Laurence

[brakedwell]

The Officers Mess was a long way from the hangar and it was a single storey building. Take a look at post number 42. My photos of the March 1961 flooding show the Officers' sleeping accommodation. The tents had been erected to accommodate Hunter pilots taking part in an exercise that was cancelled because the sand runway was under water.

These 208 Squadron Hunters were grounded for over a week!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/aviation/Huntersof8SqnatSharjah.jpg

Drinks in the fort Christmas 1960.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/aviation/SharjahXmas1960.jpg

[allan907]

Many, many thanks for the photos Captain.

Sisemen would have posted but he's currently banned for a couple of weeks!!!

[captain_salman]

Many thanks for your replies respected sirs :) And brakedwell sir thank you for your valuable feedback! This is what I am here for...to give and gain information and refresh some good time memories! Mr. Garey it is indeed classic aviation archaeological survey that I am doing, there is some unknown reason why I am doing all this, perhaps because somewhere I do not like to see things in bad shape.... which is why I wonder how these buildings would have looked like during their heyday! I just can't let go this classic aviation history of this area in vein!
I am fond of classic aeroplanes and my favourite of all is the Vickers Viscount and DC-3! Can anyone of you recognise this place behind the hanger...I mean what this place was? And what planes did this hanger supported... Please shed some light on the pictures above about the gates, the places etc....and most importantly your stories! I am here for your stories sirs.... I am very excited to be here amongst you fine people! Its an honour for me really...please pardon my restlessness I know I am a bit hyper about this topic but I am after all like your grand son and at this age everyone is hyper active more or less :) I just want to go back in history!:ugh:

[captain_salman]

Hello all... has anyone visited this area after their retirement of some time in the mid 80s ? I wish to see how this deserted airport looked like after RAF left it in 73. Any pictures of airport during this time period would be highly appreciated!

[Planemike]

Side view of the hanger, can anyone enlighten whether this aluminium plates are from the RAF era or not?



Captain_salman,

You have done some great archeology. Very much doubt the "plates" are aluminium. Much more likley to be galvanised iron sheet cladding. In the dry atmosphere of Shrjah they will never rust, the sand will just give the surface a fine patina. Not sure that the hangar goes back to Imperial A/W days, others may know differently.

Are the surfaces of the car parks the original surfaces of the airfield hard standings?

Planemike

[brakedwell]

Having spent a lot of time at SHJ during 1959/61 I seem to remember there was only one hangar at that time. I think it was smaller than the one pictured and cannot recall it ever been used to house an aircraft. Any work done on our Twin Pioneers was in the open, often under a blazing hot sun.The last time I flew into Old Sharjah was on 17th October 1976 in a Britannia 312F, G-AOVF. I do remember parking it on compacted sand and staying at a mediocre hotel overlooking the western boundary of the airfield. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to note any changes to the airfield buildings.

[captain_salman]

At Planemike:

Thank you very much sir! :)
most probably you're right, the hanger could than be dating from the early RAF era perhaps. And yes the field is very much the same old field made during the 60s. You might have even taxied your plane on to it you never know, but trust me these airfield parts which are still remaining today are old! I am glad that one of the plot owner decided not to break the British RAF airfield and converted his entire plot into a car parking area and the pictures you see above is of the same field turned car park of that kind noble man. Much of this field is no more as residential buildings have emerged in many parts of this area...

At Brakedwell,

sir you flew the Bristol Britannia 312 freighter in old Sharjah airport in 1976...that was a very good aeroplane one the best turbo-props of the time! G-AOVF was leased / commissioned to many different companies of the time could you tell me from the pictures below which livery did your B312F wore when you must have landed in 76? Donaldson or Invicta?

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/8932/clipboard01fp.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/clipboard01fp.jpg/)

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9636/clipboard02zpf.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/841/clipboard02zpf.jpg/)

its like going back in time sir! After all this is why I am here for.... :)

[captain_salman]

There is a picture below of a ground metal frame of some sort I am not aware of..... it says General Electric - Made in England! A light pole perhaps? These metal frames are multiple in numbers and are over most of the remaining airfield. Could anyone enlighten on what this frame actually was?

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7609/image698.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/141/image698.jpg/)

[Planemike]

Interestingly G-AOVF survives to this day. It is preserved at the RAF Museum Cosford (have in fact seen it today, as I visited the Michael Beetham Restoration Centre). The aircraft wears RAF colour scheme and false serial ""XM497""...........

The fact the fittings occur all over the place suggest they were airfield ground lighting, indicating the edges of runways, taxiways etc. GEC is of course the General Electric Company of Britain now sadly virtually extinct. GE of the USA is still going but unrelated to GEC.

Planemike

[brakedwell]

G-AOVF was leased / commissioned to many different companies of the time could you tell me from the pictures below which livery did your B312F wore when you must have landed in 76? Donaldson or Invicta?

VF belonged to IAS before it was sold to Invicta.

This livery.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/IASBritannia312.jpg

[captain_salman]

You know I feel she looked very beautiful in the BOAC livery :) I have flown the B312s in Flight Simulator but I wish I could fly the real bird though.... I suppose the airport and the fort building must have looked like the one in the picture below when you landed the B312f in 76... this rare picture shows the control tower and by looking at the windows and doors it indicates that the RAF sharjah painted them in turquoise blue during its final years of operation...this explains why the Sharjah govt. restored back in their true colours. So I believe you had seen the old RAF SHJ like this is it sir? :)
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/9321/canson.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/337/canson.jpg/)

[brakedwell]

I remember the pale blue paintwork well, having spent half of every month flying from Sharjah from 1959 to 1961.

Have you heard about the weird character, reputedly an illegitimate son of the Sheikh, who used to appear with a pair of marshalling bats and cause chaos with Gulf Aviation arrivals in 1959 and 60? If he got there first he would marshal Doves and Herons into awkward positions where the pilots were unable to taxi out to the runway without being manhandled by RAF ground crew..

This photo might be of interest to you.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/Bristol_Britannia_Cockpit_REJS-1.jpg

[captain_salman]

Yes sir I have heard this story from an old timer arab near in the restored museum near the old city on the banks of port Khalid. This young man (ill-legit son) also bullied many aeroplanes by throwing stones if they refuse to follow what he was trying to make them do! The rumour goes on one night he even sneaked near a Heron parked on the west apron to puncture it! Anyway he was never recognised as the official heir to the Sheikdom of Sharjah. The monarchy would eventually be transferred to Sultan (then a young man) and the ruler of Sharjah now.

The picture is a fantastic example of modern classic avionics on the Britannia! What a fine plane it was, heard it was not noisy compared to other props of the time. Great Britain produced some outstanding aeroplanes indeed!

[brakedwell]

He didn't appear to be interested in RAF aircraft. I seem to remember he had also been known to expose himself to (rare) female passengers arriving on Gulf Aviation flights! He suddenly disappeared and we soon forgot about him.

The IAL Sharjah boss, who I used to enjoy a few beers with in the fort, was made responsible for over-seeing the ATC side of the Dubai's new airport while it was being built in 1960. He invited me to land my Twin Pioneer on the first 500 yards of completed runway as soon as it was hard enough, so my claim to fame is that I am the first person to land at Dubai International.

[captain_salman]

Sir that is quite a privilege you have enjoyed! First person to land on Dubai International! Wow! I would certainly like to meet you one day, it'll be an honour for me :) Have you heard of Dubai World Central ? The new Al Maktoum International airport is under-way and after its completion it will be the world's largest airport and busiest airport the reports suggest. Dubai World Central will be a combination of Dubai International and Al Maktoum international simultaneous operations, Sharjah however remains behind in the league.... once it was ahead in the Middle East!
Talkind of Dubai did you visit Dubai creek could you tell me how it was, and how the old Dubai airport was...I have an old photo of Dubai airport having a similar control tower like the RAF Sharjah...

[brakedwell]

I visited Dubai Creek and souk a few times, which was very photogenic. As there were no tarmac roads then everybody took their own favourite track to Dubai. I was called out in Bahrain one night to medevac two seriously injured survivors of a fatal head on collision between two landrovers, which met on the crest of a dune between Sharjah and Dubai.
The proximity of a large rubbish tip near Dubai Airport meant it was plagued by flies. I also remember strong odours from stagnant water nearby. I did take some 9mm film of the creek which I will edit and post on YouTube.

[Nimman]

Capt S - regards your post number 90. In case you are unaware, the letters AMWD on the metal plate stand for Air Ministry Works Department. They were the organisation that looked after the infrastructure on RAF stations, commonly called "bricks and works".

[captain_salman]

Well I am very much looking forward to see your film on youtube sir! Do you have a Facebook account? I would like to add you sir if you don't mind...

in the mean time here are some more rare and interesting pictures of RAF Sharjah from 60s - 70s. The airfield on which Kuwait Airways is parked still survives today, the picture is in my post earlier in this page the one after the parking lot where loosely all the cars are parked and the surface is a bit cracky that is the spot!

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/1449/odact8sqnhunterssharjah.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/256/odact8sqnhunterssharjah.jpg/)

Road to control tower, many of you will remember this!
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5840/rafshj3.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/rafshj3.jpg/)

A plane landing with airport fort at the back, a very rare picture!
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7528/photog32.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/7/photog32.jpg/)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2715/sharjahfortgates.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/204/sharjahfortgates.jpg/)

This was prior to the building of new control tower which still exists today,
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7/sharjahcontroltower1963.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/sharjahcontroltower1963.jpg/)

And finally, some plane repaints going on inside the same hanger which exists today! Its just last week that I had a word with the care taker of this hanger and he told me that the Sharjah govt. has no plans to demolish it, today this hanger contains old airport equipment and interestingly he told me it might be refurbished and included in the museum premises!
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/4905/paintsprayingonxk151ksa.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/paintsprayingonxk151ksa.jpg/)

[captain_salman]

At Nimman,

Why thank you very much indeed sir for enlightening me on the description on that metal frame... you know this area is screaming history! Air Ministry Works Department.. they must have been an important element such are taxiway light or parking lights for the nights I presume...... sad to know that GEC is operating any more!

[Herod]

Hi Salman, if this works, here are a couple of pictures of the officer's accomodation, 1968. I thought I had one of the mess, but I'm darned if I can find it. If it turns up I'll post.

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/SharjahOfficersQuarters.jpg

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/SharjahrainOfficersquarters.jpg

And one of the suq

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/SharjahSuq.jpg

[navstar1]

Yes I believe "M" was from 152 Sqn B flight. I think the picture in the desert is of the same aircraft during a visit to the liwa hollows around May-June 1966 with the British Resident from Dubia. I have the original which shows the Union Jack flying (attached to the top hatch) and the splendid looking arab was guarding the aircraft. I was a navigator with 152 in Sharjah for all of 1966. Happy days!

[navstar1]

I believe we called them the "Cloisters" My room is shown top left in the brick building. I was there all of 1966 prior to the new Officers mess being built. Happy days with 152 "B" flight:)

[brakedwell]

152 Aircraft
Yes I believe "M" was from 152 Sqn B flight. I think the picture in the desert is of the same aircraft during a visit to the liwa hollows around May-June 1966 with the British Resident from Dubia. I have the original which shows the Union Jack flying (attached to the top hatch) and the splendid looking arab was guarding the aircraft. I was a navigator with 152 in Sharjah for all of 1966. Happy days!

Are you referring to Humar, SW of the Liwa oasis?

[navstar1]

Yes indeed. According to my log book 25th May 66 Abu Dhabi (sand strip in those days!!) mirfa-Humar-Sharjah:O

[alisoncc]

Ran the left hand side of the MEC at Sharjah in '66. Magic place. These might bring back some memories

http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/sharjah.jpg

http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/sharjah1.jpg

http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/sharjah2.jpg

http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/sharjah4.jpg

http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/sharjah3.jpg

[brakedwell]

We used to land on the smoothest looking stretch of grey sand in 59/61. I never went to the TOS camp at Humar, preferring to remain with the Twin Pin on my own and enjoy the silence (once the engines stopped clicking as they cooled down) and beauty of the dunes. Thanks to a much delayed departure on one trip looking up at the amazing night sky was almost a religious experience

[navstar1]

They sure do!!:O

[navstar1]

If I remember correctly we navigated on a back bearing and dune maps!!:O

[brakedwell]

Most of our Humar flights routed via Tarif, so it was a case of steering 235 plus or minus drift for 45 minutes and then hoping the right grey hollow appeared. Humar took some finding in blowing sand.

[l.garey]

In alisoncc's post no 107 you can see the tail of Prentice G-AOPL. It belonged to old,not bold, who referred to it in this thread in March 2010 (post 19):

Brief history; bought for £700 from Shackletons at Sywell Sept '66, exported from Gatwick (Bureimi Airways Flight 001 to Sharjah was called on the PA) 27/9/66, number of unforeseen occurrences on route including a forced landing after both mags failed in cloud over the Italian mountains, complete 2-month repair and refurb in Baghdad after an engine fire on takeoff (Shackleton's workmanship being the root cause), got to Sharjah Jan '67, flew round the desert for a bit, then 2 RAF officers on leave from Twin Pin flying took it to South Africa, where it was sold for £700 in mid '67.

The idea was to keep it in Sharjah and return to UK eventually, but an engine overhaul was imminent and Gulf Aviation, whom I later joined, stopped doing their own Gipsy Queen (Dove, Heron) overhauls in between my purchase of a Gipsy Queen for that reason and its arrival 9 months later.

It was bought by a farmer's boy who planned to use it to fly to Durban for riotous weekends from his Dad's farm, inland at 6000ft. He had just got his licence and rejected all offers of advice from the RAF officers about calculating Prentice take-off performance at 6000ft. The demo flight and deal were done at sea level, and the RAF officers got the next plane out.

The Prentice was an interesting aircraft to fly, suffering as it did from being grossly underpowered with the aerodynamic beauty of a s**thouse. Oiling up the rearmost plugs while taxying was its best trick; mag checks were pointless on the ground and I did them on the climb out, always a nervous moment especially over the sea. But rumbling along at 1900 RPM and 90Kts at 6,000 ft or so, sunny day over the Med, window open, it had its nice moments as well.

PS G-AOPL landing at Abu Dhabi International Airport Jan 1967...and Sharjah next day

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff141/picshooter/Ident2.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff141/picshooter/Ident1-1.jpg

[goudie]

I did a couple of detachments to Shajah during the mid '60's with 32 Sqdn.
One w/e 3 aircrew and 3 groundcrew (of which I was one) got together and in two landrovers took off into the hills, under the guidance of a Trucial Oman Scout. It was a hairy old drive but we eventually made it to a TOS outpost commanded by a Major from the Inniskillins. We had a great evening sitting on the OM veranda, drinking and being regaled with stories of life in the TOS. I cannot remember the name of the outpost but it did have a swimming pool which belonged to an arab gentleman who lived nearby.
Did anyone else ever visit there and possibly have the name of the outpost?




looking up at the amazing night sky was almost a religious experience


On our trip we slept outside in the desert and yes brakedwell, I know what you mean about looking up at the night sky. Awesome!

[brakedwell]

Manama and Al Khatt were two TOS camps about 50 miles east of Sharjah, just before the mountains on the Musandam Penninsular rise to form the Oman (Muscat) border.

I'm not sure whether this photo is Manama or Al Khatt. They were quite close to each other aligned N - S.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/152%20Squadron%20Bahrain/Omancamp.jpg

[l.garey]

That's a very evocative picture, brakedwell. We may have discussed this before, but I checked out the location of Al Khatt on some old maps we have, and find it was very close to what is now Ras al Khaimah international airport. So much so that I wonder if it was the basis of that later development. I hope to be able to go and check it on the ground one day as part of my ongoing interest in what happened to all these stirps that you people used.

Laurence

[captain_salman]

Thank you all for contributing with such wonderful memorable pictures :) I can imagine how you all had great times during those days... I think the real joy of flying an aeroplane was in your times when everything was manual ..... the planes of 50s and 60s were true pilot's plane! Today the technology does everything for the pilot and all he does is just sit like a dummy and warm the seat! In your times sirs, aeroplanes were TRULY and TOTALLY in control by the pilot! Today aeroplanes are self-controlled! No excitement, no thrill.... sometimes we feel if only we could go back in time isn't it? :rolleyes:

[old,not bold]

Laurence

I'll be in the UAE 2 - 12 March, along with a number of old f***s living their past, aka the few TOS veterans still upright. We are on a 50th anniversary (of TOS formation) trip generously hosted by the Abu Dhabi Government.

We'll be based in Abu Dhabi, and going on excursions to places such as the Liwa, as I understand it. If you are in the UAE it would not be too difficult to meet, although I will not have my own transport.

I could easily pack some memorabilia including our maps from the 1960s, which I have conspicuously failed to copy and send as promised in the past. Airstrips in use at that time are marked; many were just for patrol re-supply and only used very occasionally. No doubt others will bring their mementos too, for use as we exchange largely untrue tales of our exploits.

[l.garey]

Thanks for the information, old one! I had heard of the TOS project, and thought I might get involved, but nothing so far. I am now away from the UAE, although I have been back a few times and made the most of the trips to visit some of the former RAF/TOS bases my friends out there occasionally come across.
Send me an email (I think you have my address).

Laurence

[captain_salman]

Pardon my intrusion sir old, can I come along too ? :) I wish to meet anyone from this RAF era, Mr Laurence I wish to meet you too! please keep us posted if you do have any plans to visit UAE. I am hoping to see this old Sharjah map mentioned, wondering where all the airstrips were and how the town and souqs of old Sharjah were!

I must have compared old and new Sharjah in Google Earth more than a thousand times now!

[brakedwell]

When a leased Kalinga Airlines DC3 flying for Gulf Air went missing on a scheduled flight from Doha to Sharjah I was called out to search the sea for wreckage between Doha and Sharjah. Later in the day a Shackleton from Aden and a Dharan based USAF C 54 joined our Pembroke in the search, which was hampered by strong NW winds and blowing sand. The search was abandoned after one week, but rumours of gold bars on board, hijacking and sabotage persisted for several months. Pilots familiar with the area were convinced the DC3 crew, who were new to the Gulf and unfamiliar with the winds, had overflown Sharjah before descending towards the mountains in the east

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/DC3crash.png


In December 1960 a traveller from the Musandam Peninnsular turned up in Ras al Khaima with a story about strong smells and circling vultures near his mountain village around the time of the accident. A new search for the wreckage of VT-DGS was authorised and a PR Canberra from Cyprus photographed the area with a view to finding a landing area suitable for a Twin Pioneer.

On January 26th 1961 while on a Twin Pioneer detachment at Sharjah I was tasked to find and mark a suitable airstrip on the Musandam Penninsular. Armed with an aerial photograph, the Lat and Long of a promising looking area and a large cannister of lime-wash our adventure began.

Shortly before departure a corporal engine fitter asked if he could come along for the ride, which I agreed to immediately as he might be useful. With Master Navigator “Yorkie” Gladwyn in the right hand seat we headed east towards the mountains.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/ScreenShot2012-01-18at155852.png


We arrived overhead the designated area and circled down to 200 feet above the sandy basin. After 30 minutes looking for a 400 yard stretch of a flat, obstacle free, ground we were about to give up. Rocks poked through the surface at critical intervals and the most promising area was scattered with small trees and what looked like groups of vertical gravestones. As Yorkie said: “ It’s no good let’s go back and have a beer,” I saw a clear run close a line of “gravestones”.

After landing (without hitting any obstacles) I turned the Twin Pioneer through 180 degrees and shut down, forgetting to raise the flaps and slats! The line of (engraved) gravestones would be a good marker along the left hand edge of the take off run.

There was no sign of life when we got out of the aircraft. Before long a group of locals appeared from the northern side of the bowl. At least two of the older men were armed with knives resembling narrow swords and sticks topped with small hatchets. Nobody had a rifle. We shook hands, I began to relax. The corporal took some photographs and then went to collect the lime-wash with Yorkie. While they were inside the aircraft a young women launched herself through door and lay on the floor face down. I heard raised voices and a bang when something hit the port flap. One member of the group grabbed the women by her ankles and dragged her backwards out of the aircraft. She landed heavily and let out a cry. I shouted to Yorkie, “Switch on the booster pumps!” hoping the buzzing noises would frighten them away. Unfortunately Yorkie was not familiar with the switches!

Very conscious that we were outsiders who had landed in their graveyard, and it was almost certain no Europeans or vehicles had been there before us I pushed my way through the crowd and pulled the door shut. They moved away quickly when the starter cartridge fired and the starboard engine burst into life.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/JohnTPMusandam.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/johnyorkygladwinlocalsMusandam.jpg


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/localstpMusandam.jpg

Things are turning nasty.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/JohnwithMusanmlocals3-tmp.jpg

Visible dent on flap trailing edge.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/Musandamlocals.jpg

Exit route west
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/Musandamwestvalley.jpg

I decided to land at the TOS camp at Khatt and talk to the CO. Initially he was angry our landing, but then he admitted that the TOS had been looking for an excuse to send an expedition into the Musandam Penninsular for years. As it was a foreign country (Oman) and closed to Europeans he always knew the chances were slim. The vulture story was the excuse they had been waiting for, but HQ Persian Gulf would not approve launching a search party unless an airstrip was available for casevacs and resupply by Twin Pioneer.

Footnote - The Sultan got to hear about out visit and a new search was never approved. The wreckage of VT-DGS was discovered several years later in a dried up river bed about forty miles east of Sharjah. The TOS camp at Khatt must have been close to what is now Ras al Khaima International. And yes I did feel a bit like Biggles at the time!

[l.garey]

Lovely stuff, brakedwell! You deserved any "light refreshments" you got at Jahili after that!

Laurence

[l.garey]

old,not,bold: please check your PMs. I sent you one!

Laurence

[captain_salman]

brakedwell, thank you for sheding light on this incident... I am curious to know where exactly the wreck of VT-DGS was found. Was it near the current RAK Int.l Airport ??

this thread is becoming interesting fellows :)

[brakedwell]

Salman, I am sure it was some way south R al K Int in the region of what is now Al Dhaid/Manama. There were no tarmac roads and very few settlements in those days. I can't remember how long it was before someone came across the wreckage as I was back in UK, but it must have been two years at least. The DC3 hit a low cliff on the eastern side of a dried up waddi and disintegrated into small pieces. Apparently the remains, covered in sand, were very hard to see. If there was gold on board it was never recovered!!

[Savio Lodh]

I visited the Al Mahatta Museum (RAF Sharjah) on March 2nd 2012 and was quite shocked to see the airport's rooms and courtyard kept in the original manner. The aircrafts in the main hangar are also in good condition. Sadly, the ATC tower is not opened for visitors. I will be visiting the old airport soon, and will photograph the other hangars outside and the taxiways which are now car parks. I took some photos of the aircrafts and ATC, but I'm not being allowed to post attachments yet:confused:... BTW, the Comet's cockpit smelt like heaven.:ok:

[l.garey]

Welcome to the thread Savio. We have talked a lot about Al Mahatta in the preceding posts, but it is good to have up-to-date news.

https://sites.google.com/site/lgarey/rafsharjah%2Calmahattamuseum

Laurence

[Savio Lodh]

Thank You Mr. Laurence Garey. Your article on the Jebel Akhdar War is amazing!!:ok: The only RAF crash I knew was of the Wellington bomber of 1943. The anniversary of the crash still comes out on the local Gulf Newspapers. I live quite close to RAF Sharjah (Mahatta Airport) and my grandad used to work as an electrician in RAF Thumrait, Oman.

[captain_salman]

Dear Savio

Since you live in Sharjah perhaps we could meet and explore this area together, there are many things to be discovered and stories to be told. As I am living in this area for more than 15 years I am aware of which parts of RAF parts still exist and how the times have changed from what it had been and how it is now.

Let me know when it is convenient for you to visit the area :)

[l.garey]

I wish I could join you two! I shall be transitting Dubai tomorrow on my way to South Africa, but not stopping for more than 4 hours, around midnight. Maybe another time.

Laurence

[captain_salman]

It would have been a pleasure accompanying you sir, surely we will meet soon:)

[brakedwell]

Lovely stuff, brakedwell! You deserved any "light refreshments" you got at Jahili after that!
Laurence


I must admit we had a couple at Al Khatt - to calm the nerves of course!

[Daveyuk]

Hi all, I'm helping a friend with PhD research concerning the history of RAF Sharjah. We are looking for anyone who might have been there in the 50s or 60s and, among other things, remembers the base cinema there. This is unique academic research and we'd like to hear from anyone who would be happy to talk about their recollections and experiences. If you can help we'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me on my personal email address.
Thanks for your time, Dave Cox, Bristol.
email [email protected]

[captain_salman]

Good reminding about the cinema in the RAF Sharjah premises, I believe it was the very first cinema in the Trucial States during the time! If anyone knows about RAF Sharjah's cinema please share your valuable information here! :rolleyes:

[nvubu]

I was saving these for the Which Aerodrome thread, but I thought that they were more appropriate here - I hope they are of the right airport. :)

These were both taken during the war. I've included links to a full sized version.

This one is "Airport At Sharjah, Arabia."
http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z474/nvubu/Sharjah01.jpg
The full size version (4508x3519) can be found here (http://www.nvubu.co.uk/pprune/Sharjah01.jpg)

The next one is "Control Tower And Installations At An Airfield At Sharjah, Trucial Oman, Arabia"
http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z474/nvubu/Sharjah02.jpg
Again the full sized version (4500x3510) is here (http://www.nvubu.co.uk/pprune/Sharjah02.jpg)

[ricardian]

If anyone knows about RAF Sharjah's cinema please share your valuable information here!
I was at Sharjah 1963-64 as an SAC in the commcen. I remember the cinema well, the first two rows were always full of locally-enslisted Trucial Oman Scouts (TOS) because they were cheap (about 0.25 rupees). The 16mm projector was operated by volunteers and the cinema was well attended, especially for the occasional concerts put on by Combined Services Entertainments (successor to ENSA).

[JW411]

nvubu:

I'm sorry old mate but I don't think that is Sharjah. I remember the fort at Sharjah pretty well and stayed in it overnight on more than one occasion. Your fort is too big.

Having said that, the bit to the right of your photographs is a darker colour. Could it be a "proposed extension".

Bur even then, the control tower is not where I remember it.

Come on JJ (Brakedwell) where are you when we need you!

[ricardian]

It might be Sharjah (but I have my doubts) but it certainly isn't the cinema as I remember it

[brakedwell]

In March 1961 the Astra Cinema Organisation in Aden dispatched an additional 16mm film projector, together with four feature films, to entertain detached 208 and Canberra squadron members involved in an ambitious joint service excercise. Unfortunately heavy rain shortly before the excercise was due to begin flooded the airfield and the excercise was called off. None of the Sharjah based officers were prepared to take responsibility for the projector, so I volunteered to look after it. The films were Our Man in Havanna, Rally Round the Flag Boys, Further up the Creak and Tom Thumb, plus cartoons and newsreels. We placed the projector in the bathroom of our 152 sqn detachment bedroom and aimed it through the open door at the opposite wall on which a sheet "borrowed" from my copilot's bed was taped. 208 squadron provided copious amount of beer to launch our 24 hour cinema. IAL air traffic controllers soon got to know about it and I was summoned to the Fort to hear a proposition that would benefit everybody. "Do you know anything about the Sharjah Pornographic Society?" I was asked. I shook my head. "It's been around for years, films are easy to come by, but the only available 16mm projector is held by the British residency office in Dubai and we can only use it for training purposes so many times! More beer was promised, our private cinema became more crowded and myself and my copilot moved into a tent! The projector ran non stop for three days while an IAL Landrover shuttled between Dubai and Sharjah rounding up blue films. I think all those involved were secretly relieved when the projector ran out of oil!

[brakedwell]

I agree jock, the buildings are much too big, but the radio masts look familiar.

[nvubu]

Sorry about that. :O

The source of the photos has been correct for other ones I've used - although I have been able to find the others in GE, whereas for Sharjah they are no more.

I'd be interested to know where they are so maybe I'll post them on the What Aerodrome thread after all:ok:

These photos are almost certainly from 1943/4.

jw411/brakedwell - The links to the original sized source photos will give a huge amount of detail. I included them as I thought I might be wrong.

update: I've posted them on the Which Aerodrome thread as well

[quebec]

hello from sunny sharjah..

i really hope to find what i been looking for over here...
i recently moved into a nice little villa being part of a "compound" known to be the RAF accommodation some time back...no local here seems to recall anything but i have a feeling this was the housing you guys are talking about at some point in the thread...
the house is 1 of 8 private houses on the outside of the gate....i have the one on the corner, with a closed garage.
the house has been maintain very well, thanks to its concrete walls and some caring tenants over the years but its been left aside for almost 2 years and im spending every spare hour since the shifting on bringing it back to life !
it still has, i believe, the original stylish blue tiles on the floor that makes it very unique. :)
while taking a walk at night, through the compound, i can feel like walking through history.
i need to know who lived here, how it was, what it looked like...i want to complete the puzzle...im a history freak...and since i, myself, served 12 yrs in the Canadian Air Forces, all this Sharjah air force history is teasing me...wanna know more...and perhaps instructs others !

the area is called Ghubaiba nowadays..

any flaskback guys ?

http://C:\Documents and Settings\s385413\Desktop\SRJ 1.JPEG\


the Google map picture above gives an idea of the location of the compound (40 barracks and 8 villas) in reference to the Museum..about 2.5km distant.

[captain_salman]

These pictures appear to be of Sharjah's old fort airport during the Imperial times (pre RAF era) that gate looks familiar to me, thank you so much for sharing with us, Brakedwell the cinema information was interesting! Any photos of that cinema perhaps? :)

[brakedwell]

Salman, our temporary Cinema was a room in the Officers Mess visitors block. IIRC the station cinema (Astra) was open air with four high walls and a stage at one end. Can't remember how many it could seat as I only visited it a few times.

[nvubu]

I've been doing some more research, and I think these photos are of the fort at RAF Sharjah.

There's a good photo of the same fort in "The Sand Kings of Oman" - here's a link Title (http://www.ctesiphon.com/Sand-Kings-Oman-net.htm) half way down the page.

http://www.ctesiphon.com/images/Sand-Kings-d.jpg

Here's a photo of the gates of Sharjah Fort from the page Sharjah Fort entrance gate, the Trucial States (http://www.harrys-stuff.com/arab-gulf-sharjah/sharjah-fort-gates.php) (a lot of the pages at this site are missing their images)

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z474/nvubu/sharjah-fort-gates.jpg

The below photo is from the same site - RAF Sharjah from Sharjah Fort

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z474/nvubu/raf-sharjah.jpg

Here I've blown up the gate of the fort from my post - interesting one has the cannon, the other doesn't. The layout is the same as the above photo, especially the slope of the roof, and the steps.

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z474/nvubu/Gate01.jpg http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z474/nvubu/Gate02.jpg

I think the clincher are the images on this page Sharjah Airport | 40 years of the UAE (http://halcrow.com/40years.ae/?portfolio=sharjah-airport) an example of which is below.

http://www.40years.ae/wp-content/gallery/memory-sharjah-raf/15-1970-5-control-tower-and-the-fort-at-raf-sharjah-with-reduced-footer.jpg

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/N5231N.JPG

nvubu:

I think you are right. It is the fort at Sharjah. It does look bigger than I remember it and that is not the control tower that I remember. The latter was obviously demolished and the new one built alongside the fort. I have been searching for a decent photograph of the fort in my collection but the only one I can find that fits the bill is this photograph of JW Mecom Lodestar N5231N which I took in 1970.

Sorry for the confusion.

JW411

[brakedwell]

Memmory can play funny tricks :O

[Herod]

I used to know what those tricks are, but I've forgotten. But I can still spell memory! :)

[nvubu]

I think it looks large because it is all on it's own in the photos with no other reference buildings. JW411 - Your photo is of the same building as you can see the same shape building above the gates when compared to my two blow-ups.

I enjoyed searching for proof one way or the other this morning - should have done that before posting :ok:

I did have my doubts about them in my initial posting as I couldn't match them up to any of the images posted - that's why I didn't edit out the frames, and provide the link to the large size images.

I've had a PM asking me if I can identify the aircraft in the 1st image. I can't - can anyone else?

Here are blow-ups of the two aircraft - I assume it is this one that is the aircraft in question.

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z474/nvubu/ac01.jpg

However, there is also this one (or is it two:hmm:). Very interesting shadow.

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z474/nvubu/ac02.jpg

[JW411]

Well, I reckon the top one is a Vickers Vincent and the bottom one is an early Avro Anson Mk.1.

[JW411]

Further to the above, I have just found a reference in "Action Stations Overseas" which is of interest:

"Another detachment from Shaibah, this time provided by 244 Sqn, arrived in January 1942 and, with its eight Vickers Vincents and an Airspeed Oxford, began surveying landing grounds, during the course of which one Vincent (K4121) was lost. Armed with 250 lb anti-submarine bombs the Vincents started anti-sub patrols in February, but were replaced by Blenheim IVs two months later. The detachment became a full squadron presence in 1943, with 244's CO also assuming command of RAF Sharjah itself."

The Air-Britain "K File" tells me that:

K4121 Swung on landing and tipped up, Sharjah, 09.03.42; Damaged Beyond Repair.

(Before someone makes the suggestion, the bottom photograph is definitely not an Airspeed Oxford but is definitely a Mk.1 Anson). In fact, it looks like there are two of them.

[nvubu]

Very interesting, I'd never heard of the Vickers Vincent before. The other seem very odd proportions - the shadow in the foreground confuses.
- the engine is for the aircraft behind it, yet the shadow seems to be disconnected from it.

Thanks for that

[JW411]

By the way, did you notice in the foreground of my Lodestar photograph, that the name of the airfield and the code letters "SJ" were laid out in black tarmac in front of the fort?

I also seem to remember that the airfield datum point was marked out with the usual black tarmac circle. It was to the south of the "modern" runway and I think it had the letter "S" in the middle.

[captain_salman]

@ Quebec, sir I think we should meet up ASAP! Upon our meeting you will also know how deeply I am attached to history, be it of any kind... I am a keen researcher and have a sharp eye for everything! I am also intrigued by RAF Sharjah and you must have seen my photo post attempts.

Just like you I also have an imagination for everything, I like to imagine things how they used to be in their heyday! To go back in time and try to visualise history is what my passion is. I have studied this area of Al Mahatta inside out! I want to explore this area with you and share the information I have regards to its current conditions and which areas exist even today! Trust me sir ... there is much RAF Sharjah left even today compared to what we all used to think.

I believe if we meet we can share each other's information as well, the area you live in at the moment share its roots to RAF Sharjah is very interesting for me to know!:ooh:

here's my contact details for you and everyone who wishes to meet me here in Al Mahatta (aka RAF Sharjah!)

email: [email protected]

[quebec]

@ Salman....
yes we should meet up...ASAP like u say :p
i can feel ur excitement and im looking forward to hear and see what u dug out from this historical chapter !
i will contact u on ur perso email, most likely tonite when i reach home.

dont get too excited, i dont have much info for u :bored:
im dying to understand how this compound im living in actually came to life.

oh, but for the record...im a ma'm.....not a sir :O

loll

[captain_salman]

My sincere apologies madam :O

I would also like to say that there is one more gentleman with us who posted earlier in this thread (named: Savio Lodh) who also lives near by. He also wishes to visit the area and share each other's information, I have tried to reach him on his personal contact but haven't heard from him as of now.

ma'am its absolutely okay if you do not have much information to share with me, however you will have a lot of information from me after I will show you this entire area in a typical archaeological style! So looking forward for your coming :) my flat is just in front of RAF Sharjah control tower!

I will also let you know if Savio contacts me so we could plan up a trio meeting here and go back in time and share the results with our ex-RAF officer friends here at the forum :)

[alisoncc]

share the results with our ex-RAF officer friends here at the forum

Not everyone who inhabits these pages was a zobbit. There were some intelligent people stationed at RAF Sharjah, like moi. :p

Anyway thought it was a magic place from Dec 1965 through to Jan 1967.

[quebec]

haha....so that means you must have been a fitter or avionics....with all due respect to pilots, of course !
so tell me, can you help us then...there is a compound of shacks & private villas at about 2.5km inland (east) of the original runway which, according to locals, was the housing of the RAF....but i cant understand because all the pictures i find on the different sites are showing the main base housing....who was staying in my house then .... and what year was this...today it is called Ghubaiba neighborhood.
:sad:

[captain_salman]

@ Alisoncc,

absolutely right, everyone contribute to make RAF what is was during the peak days as you said it was a magical place from 65 to 67! Can you share your information with us? :)

@ quebec,

Perhaps you can share the pics of the place once used for RAF housing? This will give us a know-how about that area and maybe someone among us might be able to recognise that area.

[captain_salman]

Since our member "quebec" cannot post pictures at the moment because she's a new member, I am posting two screen shots from Google Earth on her behalf showing about the place she said was once used for RAF housing. One shot is overview of the area (yellow marked is where the current RAF museum and the hangar with other remains exist) and the (red marked area is the place used as RAF housing)

next shot is a close up shot of that housing, it does appear to be rather British among the new Arabic villas in the surroundings of Al Ghubaiba.


http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/480/clipboard03pc.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/268/clipboard03pc.jpg/)


http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/2623/clipboard02hv.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/clipboard02hv.jpg/)

Can anyone remember this place?:)

[Herod]

I may be wrong, but I think Sharjah was an unaccompanied posting. That being the case, there would be no married quarters. I know we lowly Flying Officers were living in the tin huts I posted earlier, but I can't recall what the senior officer's accomodation was.

[quebec]

the seniors....of course....that would make sense...
i did notice from the TOS website that the Mrs' were pictured on some photos, standing beside their hubby...means they were here with you guys...
keep digging...you're awesome
:ok:

[JW411]

Although I was never actually based at Sharjah, I used to visit it on at least a weekly basis when I was an Argosy captain on 105 Sqn based in Aden and then 105 Sqn and Ardet in Bahrain. My era was from 1966 until the end of 1971.

I stayed in the mess (and the fort) at Sharjah quite often and it is my memory that Sharjah was indeed an unaccompanied posting but I may be wrong.

Could it be that IAL (International Aeradio Limited) had some family accommodation?

Whilst we are on the subject of Sharjah, has anyone made mention of the RAF Gliding Club at Sharjah? The Club inherited some of the gliders that we had in the Aden Services Gliding Club (which was based at Sheik Othman).

Our two Nissan Patrol 4x4s also ended up at Sharjah complete with several thousand feet of Kenya fencing wire with which we used to auto-tow the gliders behind the Nissans.

In my spare time in the RAF, I was CFI of an RAFGSA gliding club back in UK. The Club at Sharjah went through a period when they didn't have a Full Category instructor so they were unable to send pupils on their first solo etc. I used to help if I could when I was in Bahrain. I would try to do the early morning Bahrain to Sharjah schedule which had about 2 hours on the ground at Sharjah.

I would be met at the nose hatch as I got out of my Argosy by a couple of the lads and spirited across the airfield to the glider launch point (they were pretty much flying off the old sand runway 30/12 which was south and parallel to the "modern" runway (which was only 100 feet wide, by the way).

I would do what had to be done and the lads listened out on the radio until my trusty co-pilot called to tell me that our passengers were boarding, whereupon I would be transported quickly back to the Argosy and depart for Bahrain.

On one classic day, which was a fantastic piece of rostering, I got back to my aeroplane just as Tony M (who was also a Full Cat) taxied in from Masirah, also on his way back to Bahrain whereupon the lads in the Nissan went next door to take him over to the gliding club to take over from where I had left off!

[quebec]

hahaha !
now that's a full day at work !
so....regarding this compound...still unclear i suppose.
i also dont have a clue of the year it was buit.
according to some aerial photos found on web, it doesnt seem to be there in 60's...the end of the runway (inland) looks very deserted.
hmm...:rolleyes:

[JW411]

Sorry, I can't really help you with the compound. My time in the Gulf flying Argosys really came to an end in October, 1971. Having said that, I then went on to fly the Belfast for a few years.

I made several flights to Sharjah between 1972 and 1976 resupplying the British Army Trials Team (BATT) at Sharjah. To the best of my recollection, they had taken over the old Trucial Oman Scouts (TOS) mess.

[captain_salman]

JW411

indeed an amazing flashback of a fine day at work back in time sir! What a joyful read it was! Thank you for sharing your experience, this is what I am here for.... the seniors are our story-tellers and we're only motivated to research because of you fine people once served here:D

Juliet Whisky Four OneOne you're cleared for take off runway three zero, surface winds four at two niner five, initial climb to five thousand for Alpha One Lardo departure follow radar on One Two Five decimal Four Five! :cool:

[sisemen]

Sharjah was definitely unaccompanied. In my day (May 67-Jan 68) the only European woman was some corpulent happy WRVS lady. At the end of 9 months even she started to look attractive!!

[bob johns]

JW411 Short Belfast! I remember seeing two Belfast aircraft unload a pair of Wessex helicopters each in Dacca (Bangladesh ) in 1973 ,one,for whatever reason sticks in my mind,was named Excelladis grand looking aircraft and most certainly a cut above the little wee aeroplane that I was operating.during the relief effort.

[banjobill]

Nov 68 to Dec 69 it was a 13 month unaccompanied tour with a month's LUKFREE leave in the UK somewhere in the middle. I still have my 13 month ' no nookie ' tie, plus as a 'leckie on 84 I still have my 'forfirq'sake' tie which denoted 4 landings at Firq and 4 at Sake. I wonder if they're worth anything on ebay?
And yes the Weavers lady and the two very elderly ladies who worked at the MMS (mission to mediteranean seamen) did become quite attractive towards the end.

[JW411]

I think you mean XR371 "Enceladus" which was the last Belfast built. I flew her to the MU at Kemble to "die" on 26.08.1976 and felt very sad to leave her there. Luckily, she was to make just one more short flight to the RAF Museum at Cosford where she is now under cover and being looked after well.

[Cornish Jack]

Most certainly unaccompanied in '55-'58.
On my first night stop in '55 I was regaled with the tale (possibly apocryphal) of an incident during the French Indo/China war. The French military apparently provided female 'comforts' for their chaps and a full load on a Connie was en-route and suffered an engine failure near to overhead Sharjah, Duly diverted and the 'lady' pax were accommodated in the Sgt's Mess - Officer's Mess was too small. It seems that inter Mess visits became tres popular for the period of the enforced stay!! C'est definitely la vie!!:hmm:

[Herod]

Round about New Year '67-'68 it was arranged that a party of (respectable)young ladies would be flown from Bahrain to Sharjah as guests of the officers, who were laying on a dance. Having been picked up by bus from the aircraft they were taken initially to the movements hall where the driver left them while he found the movements officer. Sadly (?), he left the keys in the bus, and a very enterprising NCO proceeded to drive the ladies to the Sergeant's Mess, where they were right royally entertained. Their "release" was only accomplished after the officers contributed a substantial amount of money to the airmen's party fund. :)

[quebec]

i might not find a lot of info regarding my house over here but so far, im enjoying the reading !

And this french 'anecdote' is funny....i can only think about what was going through the frenchmen's mind at that moment....having their fresh meat warmed up by the englishmen !:ugh:

[sisemen]

Herod - thanks for the memory jogger. Yes. That definitely happened! I remember the officers getting a bit upset at the time.

Of course, having been commissioned later, there's no way I could condone that sort of behaviour.

http://www.hotink.com/wacky/mfiles/m-ani.gif

[Croqueteer]

:ok:411 We must have talked about this over German beers, I flew with the sharjah gliding club between 67 and 70. We could auto tow with the said fencing wire to about 2000ft, the limiting factor being the wt of the wire and fuel endurance of the Nissan! Sometimes we camped at Buraimi oasis, or at Diad, in the gravel plain behind the Muscat mountains. Then we had a Thames Trader with a winch and enough wire to launch the K8 to 400ft, so we waited for a dust devil to approach and launched into it, the we could soar to about 12000ft. Its the only time I've felt vertigo in an aircraft as for the first 4000ft you were looking down the hole inthe dust devil. I later discovered we were in the airway to India. This finished when our tame pongo stuffed the wing of the K8 into a desert tree. Good times, sleeping in the back of a 3-tonner after an evening by a fire and the odd tinnie.

[teeteringhead]

Sharjah was definitely unaccompanied. With the exception of the Stn Cdr I think - certainly when I was there (70-71) the staish - Cedric Symons - was accompanied by wife and family. But no-one else was.

And wasn't it MMG not MMS? - Mission to Mediterranean Garrisons.

[captain_salman]

I am thoroughly enjoying your regale of fond memories gentlemen! Ideal place to cherish the moments of bygone days :) If we continue to remember down the memory lane perhaps we might uncover some interesting rather thrilling moments here in the Trucial states :cool:

By they way I was wondering what happened during the last final years of RAF-Sharjah airport... was the area restricted near the runway or did the local teens sneaked in on the runway to play making it difficult for the authorities to clear up the runway to make way for landing planes?

as our member (quebec) said "keep digging guys" ;)

[Croqueteer]

:)PS 411 I seem to remember helping to off-load the K8 from a Belfast that brought it from the UK.

[JW411]

croqueteer:

First of all, I never belonged to an RAFG gliding club but I did carry many a glider back from Laarbruch, Bruggen and Wildenrath in the back of the Argosy or the Belfast for the RAFGSA (Andy Gough deals).

I distinctly remember bringing a Doppelraab back for Nick Nicholls and Frank Wilson in a Belfast. On the way back to Brize, I went downstairs and kicked all the wing panels in (the fabric was rotten) and by the time we landed at Brize it looked like a train crash.

"What the hell is that" said the Customs Officer.

"Well, it's an old glider that two of my Corporals have bought and they don't have any money. As you can see, it is beyond repair."

"Give me £7.50 and we will call it a day" said he.

We took it over to Abingdon and Tony Blyth took over the rebuild. I did the test flight at WOTG on 01.08.75 and the old girl was immaculate. I actually turned down a trip in Bernard Fitchett's brand new ASW-17 to do the air test.

Anyway, I don't remember taking the Ka-8 to Sharjah but I do remember it going there so maybe I got involved in the paperwork.

In my time in Aden, we had 5 gliders. Swallow (400), Oly 401x (401), T-31 (402), T-21b (403) and T-21b (404).

Now I know that the Oly 401 went to Cyprus and I think the Swallow went to Sembawang in Singapore. I know for sure that T-21b 404 went to Sharjah (for it is recorded in my logbook). Did the T-31 also go to Sharjah?

[Croqueteer]

:)No, we only had the T21 until we got the K8. Idid fly the T31 in Aden.

[JW411]

In the 1960s and 1970s flying was still FUN. (It really has got too serious nowadays). Especially in places like the Middle East in those days it was an ongoing game to have practical jokes (such as the door in the Officers Mess at Masirah which said "TV ROOM". The nearest TV was at least 500 miles away but some unsuspecting visitor always went through the door just to fall three feet into the desert outside!

So here is a spoof that I played on Sharjah ATC one day. First of all, we need some background. In those days it was not possible to go from Sharjah to Bahrain just using VHF or UHF communication.

Bahrain centre was, of course, on HF but Single Side Band (SSB) had yet to be introduced so all contact with Bahrian Centre on HF was on a common frequency (on AM) shared by everyone from Cairo, Addis Ababa, Aden and all the way to Karachi and Bombay. It was not good.

I had a very good friend in Bahrain who was the Deputy SATCO (he worked for IAL). He told me one day in the bar that they had just spent a lot of money installing a Lower Side Band (LSB) network linking the ATC Centres in Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and Dubai (which had just got started). This was very much a Ground to Ground (Point to Point) network and definitely not for the likes of us to use.

Now we had a major problem when we went into the bundu to places like Heima where we had no contact with anyone and I persuaded Alan that it would be in everyone's interest if we could break the rules and call them on LSB and file a flight plan. They agreed.

So, if any of you are still awake, I was at Sharjah ready to go back to Bahrain and called the Tower for "Start Clearance".

What they then had to do was call Dubai on the telephone and ask them to get a clearance from Bahrain Centre.

So we tuned one of our HF sets on to 6745 kcs (khz) LSB and duly heard the following:

"Bahrain, Bahrain, Dubai".

"Go ahead Dubai".

"Request airways clearance RAFAIR 8199 Sharjah to Bahrain".

"Standby".

Five minutes later;

"Dubai, Dubai, Bahrain".

"Go ahead Bahrain".

"RAFAIR 8199 is cleared Sharjah to Bahrain via Flight Planned Route after take-off turn right on to heading 360 degrees, climb to and maintain 3,000 ft and contact Dubai on 125.1 and expect F120 by abeam Das Island".

So now the chap in Dubai ATC calls his friend in Sharjah ATC on the telephone and gives him our clearance (which we have already heard).

So, the Tower in Sharjah calls me on UHF;

"RAFAIR 8199 I have your clearance, are you ready to copy?"

This was where the fun started!

I said "Just for a change, how's about I tell YOU what the clearance is?"

A bit of a silence.

"All right then, what do you think the clearance is?" (Spoken with a great deal of confidence).

So we read back the clearance EXACTLY as it had been given by Bahrain.

There was an even longer silence.

Then we were given "Start Clearance".

It took them a long time to work it out.

[quebec]

Awww man ....nice one :p
Ur awesome JW411..still remembering so much detailed stories...wow
Wish I was sitting next to u and hear you live...and I Hope I'll be that good with stories in 25yrs !
:ok:

[Herod]

Off thread slightly, but does anyone remember the trick pulled on the new co-pilots when stopping at Gan? Now Gan, for those who may not be familiar with it, is just an atoll with a long runway meeting the sea at both ends, and sufficient accomodation for the RAF personnel. The plot was to persuade the young co- to ring the taxi company (MT corporal, who was in on the joke), to request a taxi to take the crew to the railway station, so they could catch a train downtown! The nearest railway was Columbo, in Sri Lanka. I've seen this work, and was amazed that the chap who had landed there only an hour previously hadn't grasped the layout of the place.

[JW411]

Not a joke but a bit of fun;

When we were all getting out of Aden in 1967, some idiot (or maybe there was more than one) sent out a standard repatriation form for all of us to fill in.

One of the questions was:

"Where is your nearest railway station?"

"Djibouti" said my navigator.

As in all matters "navigation" this was totally accurate but totally impractical,

That would indeed have been an interesting journey.

[teeteringhead]

Don't know if it was a genuine mistake, a spoof or an urban myth but:

When I was in Sharjah there was a story going around of a bemused young squaddie found wandering around Bahrein - looking for the Railway Station.

His orderly room (allegedly) seeing that the VC10 only took him to Muharraq when he wanted to go to Sharjah, simply gave him a rail warrant from Bahrein to Sharjah ....

[alisoncc]

Vaguely remember intending to post this here last Christmas, but may have forgotten. So:

http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/sharjahCard.jpg

[teeteringhead]

One of my most amusing (and genuine!) recollections of my time in Sharjah strangely concerned the hi-jacked BA VC-10 that was blown up in Jordan (Dawson's Field?).

I had a polite letter from the PMC of the mess, along the lines of:

"Your last Mess Bill cheque was one of many which were blown up on the VC-10, please cancel it and write us another one!"

I've still got it somewhere - if I can find it I'll scan and post it!

edited to add:

Just Googled the Hi-jacking. Was Dawson's Field in September 1970. And it was BOAC and not BA........

[brakedwell]

A few memories from my time on 152 Sqn in 1959-61.

All RAF, TOS and IAL positions were unaccompanied. RAF tour was one year.

The TOS Officers Mess was an old building on the Sharjah seafront. The expat TOS Sergeants Mess was situated on the southeast edge of RAF Sharjah, together with the TOS and Army lines.

I remember a few British TOS officers had their wives to stay on one or two special occasions. As we were not allowed to carry them on our scheduled Pembroke flights they flew BOAC to Bahrain and then Gulf Aviation to Sharjah.

The RAF Station Commander was a Squadron Leader post. S/L Kingsley Brown, a navigator by trade, was the most unpopular incumbent in my time on 152. He didn't like women, but grudgingly allowed a visiting party of Combined Services Entertainers to stay in the officers mess. Three very attractive dancers were allocated rooms in a hut adjacent to the CO's quarters.The following morning his personal clothes line was filled by a row of knickers and bra's, which the girls must have washed before they went to bed.

CSE entertainers were accommodated in the sergeants mess during the remainder of his tour and we renamed him S/L Queensly Pink!

During 1960/1 a WVS lady lived in the RAF officers mess. She was great fun and is pictured in post no: 83

[quebec]

You just said the south-east edge of the base ?
Do you mean towards the end off the runway ?
If so, this sounds like the location of my house/compound I'm searching for...

[captain_salman]

Juliet Whistky Four One One, you are fantastic sir! You made my day with your ATC clearances, being a Virtual Pilot I get the idea how simple and beautiful the ATC-Pilot communication used to be and Radio-telephony was beginning to take its shape! Being today's virtual pilot it makes me attracted to the old classic aeroplanes with traditional analogue dials with manual cockpits! Today's fly-by-wire and glass cockpits are no fun seriously! Because the plane fly for itself pilot is just merely in command, back then the pilots really had their birds in total command!:cool:

Even in flight simulator when I fly the old beauties like DC-3, DC-6, Flying Fortress, Viscount, Goose, Twin Pioneer, B52, L188, 610 Viking, Vickers Vanguard....to name but a few!! What aeroplanes by God! I can imagine how you all must have felt flying these in real life!:ok:

I am curious to know what happened in the final years after the UAE federation was formed in the 70s, did the RAF just abandoned Sharjah station or was is still used for small exercises after the federation? What was this area's environment just before RAF exited ?

What I remember from my childhood years is that during the early 90s this area was a complete ruin and abandoned! On weekends the Asian community residing in the neighbouring areas used to play Cricket on the taxiways and parking fields which was fully intact back then! It was only after 2000 when real estate sector started to develop buildings they had to break the fields and parts of taxiway.

I can recall that the control tower glass windows were all shattered and some of them was broken too! gates of old fort were chain-locked! Light poles were still there but no lights in them! Stolen perhaps? Anemometers and Wind socks were still there till the early 90s! Anemometer was removed during the renovation of the control tower. During the early 2000 the new hanger was built to host the fine birds! I wonder how they got the Heron and DC-3 of Gulf Aviation there?:rolleyes:

Can anyone shed some light on the final years of RAF Sharjah ?

[brakedwell]

You just said the south-east edge of the base ?
Do you mean towards the end off the runway ?
If so, this sounds like the location of my house/compound I'm searching for...

There were no buildings anywhere near the threshold of runway 30, just scruffy sand and a couple of tracks that led to Dubai. The TOS and RAF sergeants mess were near the bottom right hand corner of the first photo in post 70. East of the RWY threshold. There were no tarmac roads, so it all looked the same then and I only ever visited the sergeants messes in the dark!

[captain_salman]

hmm interesting point sir (Brakedwell) this would only mean one thing that the area "quebec" has mentioned must have emerged after the UAE was formed (During the or from early 70s to mid 70s I presume) As she says the housing is quite old and dates backs to those days. I guess as per the facts and assumptions that the housing would have been made for the British officers who were engineers, or municipal persons responsible of infrastructure development in the area.

One fact is certain, those housing scheme wasn't for Arabs nor does those houses look Arabic from any angle! It must have been for the British officers either relating to UAE's newly formed Army or Government entities for the development I reckon.:rolleyes:

[brakedwell]

RAF Sharjah has never had any married quarters. The officers mess was about 100m from the main gate leading to the aircraft parking area and accomodated no more than a dozen permanent officers. IAL expat staff lived in the fort. My guess is that the older houses were built for civil engineers, contractors and their families involved in the breakneck development of Sharjah post UAE.

[captain_salman]

Just to add some nostalgic flavour to the thread... I am adding two shots of my recent heritage flight in Flight Simulator X from Muscat to Sharjah, this is our very own Bristol Britannia in RAF colours... shot taken somewhere around north east of Fort Jahili :cool:

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/6089/2012324233022312.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/2012324233022312.jpg/)

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/7995/2012324233145906.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/2012324233145906.jpg/)

I wish I could replicate old air routes between Khor Maskar, Muscat, Sharjah, Bahrain and Baghdad....:rolleyes:

[l.garey]

A bit off thread, but I was thinking about Sharjah in the last couple of weeks. I flew with Emirates to Johannesburg. Leaving DXB we could see Sharjah (through the sandy murk), then Jebel Hafit, then (very clearly) Jebel Akhdar where poor Owen Watkinson's Venom still sits where it went down in 1958. Then down to Salalah. Nice ride! On the way back it was Baghdad, Aden, DXB.
So I missed the last page or so of posts to this thread and only caught up yesterday. It was good to see some new photos of the Sharjah fort (yes, it certainly was Sharjah: the massive gates give it away).
What an amzing thread this is turning out to be.

Laurence

[ricardian]

I worked in the commcen at RAF Sharjah 1963-64. We had morse links with Muharraq, Masirah, Salalah, Riyan and Khormaksar. Also a voice link to the political agent at Dubai (PAD) and an ICAO (RAFAN) morse link with Muharraq.

[sisemen]

What an amzing thread this is turning out to be.


Little did I know at the time!

And I didn't get to visit on my Dubai stopover!

[l.garey]

Nor did I! Just 4 hours at DXB in each direction.

Laurence

[captain_salman]

Gentlemen if any of you ever visit here for a day or two than let me know, I will be delighted to provide you a tour of this Mahatta area!:)

[navstar1]

If I remember correctly the officers quarters were call "The Cloisters" in the old officers mess.

Also new arrivals were promised a visit to the "Golden Flip Flop!!" the only night club in the Emirates!!:O We were very young and innocent at the time and believed it existed for at least the first six months of our tour!

The station commander at the time (1966) was Sqn Ldr Tom Sheppard who loved the desert. He was a good a man and did an excellent job as CO.

[Herod]

Aah Sharjah; where you spent the first six months lying on your bed watching the fan go round, and the second six months lying on the floor watching the room go round. :E

[brakedwell]

Anybody remember those Australian eggs that were sealed in cellulose and tasted like :mad:?
Come to think of it most of the Officers Mess food was rubbish in 1959/61!

[captain_salman]

Did "The Cloisters" had televisions with satellites on roof the old fashioned way to see the BBC world service, the closet clear reception channels of those days would have been Channel 1 (from Iran).... PTV (from Pakistan) ......... Durdarshan {DD} (from India) these were the famous channels of the time does anyone remember ? :)

And how were the roads between the emirates... I am sure the best in entire Gulf in those days... as it is today! Or perhaps very bumpy... what were the best cars of those days in the Trucial States?? LR Defender and Nissan Patrol...what about Land Cruiser or Willy's Jeep etc ... :)

And did Sharjah had telephone lines in the 60s ? Because Etisalat Telecommunication was established in mid 70s ... don't know if this area had phone prior to that?

[sisemen]

In 1967 the whole of the area had but one bitumenised road and that was between Sharjah and Dubai. Everything else was either sand track or oiled sand.

What we used to call the 'Coast Road' between Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah was literally the coast road - it was the beach and was impassable in certain tidal conditions.

The road through Shawkah towards Fujeirah and Khor Fakkan was worse than a goat track and, at one point, you had to negotiate something approaching a dried up waterfall and 'jump' the L androver from one rock to another.

Tom Shepherd had just left by the time I got to Sharjah but he was instrumental in getting the Mountain/Desert Rescue Team relocated there from Aden. We caused more than a few headaches for military discipline :E

[brakedwell]

Trucial States 1959/61

Metalled Roads - Zero
Cars - Landrover and Toyota Land Cruisers with a few Japanese saloons in Dubai.
Terrestial TV Zilch
Satellite TV - No satellites!
Telephones - None existent outside SHJ Camp.
Non food shops - A few in Dubai (Ashrafs)

[captain_salman]

Good heavens! UAE has transformed way beyond imagination.... I reckon when ever you visit UAE you'll be amazed to see the changes in every aspect! Did any of you ever enjoyed and mixed with the locals and enjoyed Arabian folklore... I mean the magical tales of 1001 Arabian Nights or something like that......did anyone remember crossing the Shindaga Tunnel in the late 60s ? that and Al Maktoum bridge was only way to cross the Dubai Creek those days......

[brakedwell]

We didn't mix with the locals at Sharjah because there was nowhere to mix. Over a period of two years I must have visited Dubai a couple of times. The only locals I got to know slightly were the TOS officers who travelled regularly in our Twin Pioneers. I enjoyed more contact with villagers on the Jebel Akhdar and the Bedouin who lived around Ibri, where we used to be invited to drink tea and eat vermouchelli (with lots of flies) during our nightstops there.

[quebec]

Love the bedouin hospitality as well...
I can't wait to be fluent in arabic so I can enjoy even more the visits.
About Ibri....I been through that village a few times...what was going on there at that time?
I think I might just go for a drive again soon in thhat area.
At that tine, we u aware of the stories of spirits in the wadisof nizwa and surroubds ?
It is still a strong belief today.....

[Cornish Jack]

brakedwell -
Sharjah food was ... interesting!!! On my first night stop('55) I assumed that the bread rolls at dinner were made with some exotic local seeds incorporated. The 'seeds' were weevils, as I noted when we delivered several bags of flour on my next visit - the outside of the bags was constsntly on the move as the little inhabitants wandered around. Possibly, given the awful standard of the Mess food (multi varieties of corned beef), the extra protein in the bread was an advantage.
An Army sergeant who had done continuous tours there for IIRC ELEVEN years, had a stash of tinned stew in his room which he heated up on a paraffin stove - Someone or Other's Ready Meal. Tried it one night and very tasty it was too

[captain_salman]

Brakedwell,

that would mean the style and culture would have been different from Egypt I suppose.... because I have known that during the 20s till late 60s there was quite an interesting ways of entertaining people in the desert or near the Giza pyramids ... I am talking about "hooka" or shishaa (hubble bubble) and a feast of Arabian style in the tents along with female belly dancing .... quite a hospitality! Entertainment rather.... it would not be wrong to say in this case that the Gulf Arabian lands were not entertaining at all compared to Egypt which was closest most entertaining land in the Middle East ? Sharjah had very little to offer in terms of Arabian entertainment to the visitors back then ?

[brakedwell]

that would mean the style and culture would have been different from Egypt I suppose....

You can say that again, Egypt has had a developed, sophisticated culture with a large educated class which has welcomed tourists from the early 1900's. The Gulf States, apart from Bahrain, had hardl with no facilities and effectively closed to Europeans until the mid sixties when the oil taps were opened. Progress has been amazing, but I think I still prefer Sharjah as it was

Sharjah had very little to offer in terms of Arabian entertainment to the visitors back then ?

There was none, apart from public floggings outside the Sheik's palace at the end of Ramadan !

quebec
Ibri was strategically placed to intercept camel trains smuggling weaponry and land mines from Yemen and Saudi Arabia to supporters of the deposed Imam. A squadron of the Northern Frontier Regiment, Sultans Armed Forces, had a permanent base in Ibri, which we supported. The SAS also had an annual six week camp from which they carried out long range patrols deep into the desert searching for rogue camel trains. We kept them in water fuel and food with our Twin Pioneers. (Photos att.)

I never heard any spirit stories in Nizwa because, (a) It was still an unfriendly place and the roads were often mined and (b) I alway night stopped at Saiq, 6000 feet up on the Jebel Akdhar and much cooler than Nizwa/Izki. The villagers there were very friendly and always welcomed us.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/152%20Squadron%20Bahrain/TPSASOman.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/152%20Squadron%20Bahrain/TinpinSOman.jpg

[JW411]

JJ;

Were the last two photographs taken at Ibri? If so, it must have been raining at some point in the recent past.

I threw the Argosy at Ibri on quite a few occasions and it was as hard as a brick.

I never got down town in Ibri but I remember being told that it was known as "the town of thieves"!

[alisoncc]

Re: comments relating to Sharjah/Dubai road. Early '66 it was three to four hundred yards wide, being a flattened area of the desert. Late '66, oil was sprayed on a narrower width to provide a bitumen like "road". To stop people driving on it whilst the oil soaked in and dried, 44 gallon drums were set up across it at intervals with armed locals sitting on top.

This was taken early '66 during the floods:

http://users.on.net/~alisoncc/DubaiRoad.jpg

Sisemen wrote Tom Shepherd had just left by the time I got to Sharjah

Was a regular member of Tom Sheppards bundo-bashing group whilst there. Haven't had so much fun since.

[ricardian]

Re: comments relating to Sharjah/Dubai road. Early '66 it was three to four hundred yards wide, being a flattened area of the desert. Late '66, oil was sprayed on a narrower width to provide a bitumen like "road". To stop people driving on it whilst the oil soaked in and dried, 44 gallon drums were set up across it at intervals with armed locals sitting on them
Same setup in 1963-64. On the Sunday after payday a 3 tonner drove us from Sharjah to Dubai to visit the only shop that sold electrical goods (and was air-conditioned). One memorable view was of a young lad sat in the street with a Calor gas-fired oven (dome of baked clay about 3 ft in diameter) baking chapatis - one crate of condensed milk, one big bag of flour; mix flour with milk to form a flattened circle of dough, remove previous now cooked dough with a stick, deftly flick the new dough onto the inner roof of the oven. Next to him was a pile of cooked chapatis, it was black with flies!

[Aerials]

Poking around in my loft this morning, I came across some long-forgotten memorabilia from my time at RAF Sharjah during 1969 to 1970. Among the items were 7 (not consecutive) issues of a newspaper, the Gulf Mail. The following is an article from one of them in March 1970.

"GLIDING AT SHARJAH

The Gulf Services Gliding Club is once again in operation after an inactive period, mainly due to the lack of a QFI. The club is now back in business thanks to the arrival of Terry Stator (QFI) and a lot of hard work by members. Terry took eighth place in the British Sports Class Nationalsof 1968 and is qualified on no fewer than 36 types. He will soon be joined by Norman Wilkinson, another QFI, whom Terry describes as "More experienced than myself".

The club has three gliders, a Sedbergh, an Olympia 2B and a KA8B. Terry dismisses these as "mere medium performance machines", but these are fit for soaring and are sure to keep average club members happy.

Club target for the year is 5,000 launches and 400 hours, more than enough for twenty ab initio students to solo, and plenty to spare. An indication of progress was the achievement of 85 launches and three new soloists on the first weekend of the new regime.

Places are available for new members, both flying and social. Flying membership costs 5 QDR per month, however, there is an additional fee of 2 QDR per launch. A club room with 'refreshments' offers a change of surroundings for those who feel that flying is for the birds. Social membership costs 2 QDR per month.

The Chairman, Flt Lt Carter or secretary, Cpl Armstrong will be pleased to answer your enquiries."

[goudie]

Australian eggs that were sealed in cellulose and tasted like http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/censored.gif
Iodine! The first time I broke the yoke of a fried egg the smell made me gag. Apparantly they were injected with iodine to preserve them. The permanent staff guys said one got used to them...eventually.
Does anyone remember the civilian (airfield maintenance etc) bar. I was invited there one afternoon for a session...I didn't last long!
IIRC the town was out of bounds on Fridays because there was probably an execution and chopping off of hands!
Bought some nice gold broaches etc. for Mrs G in the town.

[brakedwell]

Jock
The photos were taken in the empty quarter, about two hours flying southwest of Ibri. We refuelled in Masirah before returning to Ibri, where we used to land on a track close to the SAS camp, park amongst the tents and sleep in the aeroplane during the two week detachments. The surface might look rain spattered, but I'm sure it hadn't rained for a very long time.
The SAS thrived in those harsh conditions as long as we kept them supplied with fuel, food and water. The trick was finding them.
One patrol reached the coast near an isolated fishing village and inherited a swarm of man eating flies which followed them all the way back to Ibri!

[alisoncc]

Re: Tom Sheppards bundo-bashing trips

On one occasion we drove as far north as it was possible to go, passed Ras Al-Khaimah to Al Rams and on. Was commented upon at the time that the only European/Caucasian to have previously visited there was an American explorer called Wendell Philips. Don't know how true this was, but it seemed quite likely.

[captain_salman]

There is a beautiful golden desert dunes and a small village of Falaj Mualla anybody remembers to have paid a visit there? Dune bashing in their L'and R'overs ?? There is a proper road leading to Falaj from Sharjah now but I doubt it existed in the 60s... the village would be been accessible through desert only I suppose :rolleyes:

[quebec]

Ur so funny with ur satellite dish and dune bashing questions
:p
Its like u constantly tune urself back in time but forget to tune to the decor....

[JW411]

Aerials:

GLIDING AT SHARJAH

I am most grateful to you for posting that article from the Gulf Mail dating from March 1970. That fits perfectly with my memories of helping out with the Sharjah Gliding Club. I have it my mind that it was Terry Slater (not Stator) who got posted in.

I was not very good at keeping my gliding log book up to date but arrived in Muharraq for my third Ardet (I did five of them) on 08.01.70. The last Sharjah entry in my gliding log book is on 14.02.70 when I did solo checks on "Davies and Jones" in T-21b 404.

I also remember a chap called (I think) Terry Perry at the Sharjah Gliding Club. He was a Cpl policeman at Benson when I joined Chilterns in 1963 or there abouts. I think he became a loadmaster and was serving as a Wessex winchman at Sharjah.

[Aerials]

JW411:

I had been a gliding enthusiast before being posted to a non-gliding station on the tour before Sharjah and I didn't feel like taking it up again. (I did though but some years later!). I suspected it was Terry Slater who was known to me from a couple of years previously, but not at Sharjah. I typed exactly what was written in the newspaper. I'm afraid that none of the other names you mention ring any bells either.

There is another longer article in the July 1970 issue but I think it is perhaps too much to place here. If there is sufficient interest I'll type it otherwise I can pm you with the contents.

[captain_salman]

I beg your pardon ma'am

but I did not quite understand what you meant by "but you forget to tune in to decor"

I must say indeed it is true... anyone who respects history and understand the value of bygone time he or she would certainly want to compare the (then and now) of everything :)

our friends here have seen and lived a very different a valuable time here in Sharjah... a time which is precious because what UAE is today relates to what UAE was back then......

[teeteringhead]

Gulf Mail! That rings a few bells. I was their "Motoring Correspondent" for a while in 70/71. Got all the embargoed info on new vehicles - ISTR Mk 2 ?Vauxhall Viva for one - and cobbled together a report which may have completely unintentionally :rolleyes: been interpreted to suggest I'd actually test driven one .....

"You cannot hope to bribe or twist.
The honest British journalist.
But seeing what (unbribed) he'll do -
There's never any reason to!"

[brakedwell]

captain salman - as promised here is my youtube offering made up from 8mm film clips I shot in 1959. Starting with a flyover of the frigate HMS Loch Fyne, then shots at the main gate at RAF Sharjah, which was still locked and prevented us from reaching our Twin Pioneer. With us was a Valetta crew from Aden. Dubai speaks for itself and it ends with what the middle of Sharjah looked like!

Dubai Sharjah Buraimi Tarif - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhDZ0bJin6I&feature=youtu.be)

[JW411]

Thanks for that JJ; it brought back quite a few memories.

[captain_salman]

Sir this video of your's certainly transformed me back in those days once again, and this time with a musical effect! Feels strange how you have captured a piece of time in your 8mm hand held camera! :ok: Was that Caucasian man on the boat in Dubai creek was you? at 3:33 video time :) Did you also filmed RAF Sharjah fort ?:rolleyes:

[brakedwell]

I was behind the camera, the other two Europeans seen in Dubai and Sharjah were RAF officers stationed at Sharjah. The Equipment Officer and the Accountant Officer, I think. I seem to remember Sharjah Fort was then used as the TOS Officers Mess and I only went there at night.

[Herod]

On one occasion we drove as far north as it was possible to go, passed Ras Al-Khaimah to Al Rams and on.

The "coast road" for what it was worth, ran out at Ras. This was taken early in '68, and was as far as we were able to get. I guess going inland would have got us further.

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/Ras-al-KhaimaEndofroadatMuscatborder.jpg

[ricardian]

There's a web page for the Sharjah RAOB (http://www.sixgolds.com/sharjah.htm) which has some interesting bits of information plus several photographs

[Mearns Loon]

Just caught up with this thread. I visited RAF Sharjah on a Friday late 1969. It was deserted . I worked on a field geophysical crew which surveyed in Sharjah, Umm al Quwain and Ras al Khaimah from Sept 1969 to Jan 1970.
The black top from Dubai to Ras al Khaimah was not finished until after I left. I also did the drive along the beach North towards Oman until there was no longer any beach. And it was possible that Wendell Phillips had also driven along the beach as he was a consultant to many oil companies. Shell Oil had the onshore oil exploration licences and Union Oil Company of California operated offshore. Mearns Loon.

[captain_salman]

Nice to know you explored this area in 69/70....... do you have any photographs to share with us from your experience during the that era? I would love to see specially RAF Sharjah if you have:rolleyes:

[Mearns Loon]

We were not encouraged not to take photographs just in case that upset the sensitivities of the Bedouin. Regretfully I do not have any photographs of my time there nor also my time in Oman and Dhofar which I left in June 1971.

[Westcoast cactus]

My Father pretty much followed the Brit through Starways,Eagle,Monarch,Invicta and finished his flying career with a very dodgy outfit called Gaylan air cargo out of the ex-RAF Manston.Have not managed to find any entries for Sharjah in his log books although I'm convinced he flew the MOD charters there in British Eagle Brits?

[brakedwell]

I doubt if you will Westcoast cactus, Sharjah only had the sand runway when British Eagle had Britannias. However, they were used on the trooping flights to Bahrain. I returned home in one at the end my tour in September 1961 and went out with one of the hosties for the next two years.

[fantom]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/minlgw/Sharjah1970.jpg

[ricardian]

My Father pretty much followed the Brit through Starways,Eagle,Monarch,Invicta and finished his flying career with a very dodgy outfit called Gaylan air cargo out of the ex-RAF Manston.Have not managed to find any entries for Sharjah in his log books although I'm convinced he flew the MOD charters there in British Eagle Brits?
I flew British Caledonian (a Britannia) from Stanstead to Bahrein in 1963 then took a Beverley to Sharjah. I don't think any trooping flights flew direct to Sharjah

[Westcoast cactus]

Brakewell,you are correct and confirmed via elderly mum(ex-Eagle training hostess) that Eagle never operated into Sharjah.However did find a trip Milan-Sharjah later in the old mans log book,Invicta Brit G-ANCF feb '77.
Many stories of amorous RAF types including a recently found note written to Mum on Eagle notepaper signed Murph,"H" Squadron,5 RTR(or RIR.hard to read).Dad got the thumbs up as they got engaged at the 'Tatty Cat' in Colombo on the Singapore run in '64.
Funny stories of the beaches being cleared in Gan and reserved only for Eagle girls,except for the local Padre!

[brakedwell]

I have just been looking at my log books. During eight years on RAF Britannias. (66-74) I never went to Sharjah. My first visit in a Britannia was on 4th December 1974 in G-AOVS and the last time (shortly before it closed) was in G-AOVF on 17th October 1976. My next visit to Sharjah was on 21st April 1977 when I landed at the new airport in a DC8-55F, G-BDDE.

[navstar1]

99 or 511 ??:)

[brakedwell]

99 of course :ok:

[navstar1]

I was a Nav on 511 1968-70. Trained with Rod Cassidy who was on 99.:O

[brakedwell]

I flew with Rod a few times.

[navstar1]

He was a very good friend of mine unfortunately no longer with us. The good die young! Only two years on the Britannia force but as a young navigator a wonderful experience :O

[brakedwell]

Sorry, I didn't know. Very sad.