RAF Sharjah

[Herod]

Yes, ken, it was Neddy. Simplythebeast, yes there were Sioux at Sharjah. I've got a couple of pictures, but for some reason photobucket won't let me link them. if I can sort it out, I'll post.

[Simplythebeast]

"Sandup Park" raceday, RAF Sharjah c1966/7.......

Someone may remember this?


PICT0008 (9) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0005 (9) by 1979Bree, on Flickr

PICT0003 (10) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0004 (9) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0011 (9) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0012 (8) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0012 (9) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0013 (8) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0013 (9) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0014 (10) by 1979Bree, on Flickr

[Airey Belvoir]

Good to see this thread alive and kicking.


Sisemen promised pics when he returned - unfortunately he had a run in with a mod on the cabin crew forum and appears to have been permanently banned so I will pass on the pics.


The old tower





Inside the fort





ditto





Entrance to the fort and tower



Entrance to the museum





Entrance to the fort



Fort



View from the old runway



On the old runway!!

[friendlypelican 2]

Donkey Derby Xmas '67

Fine days!
I remember it well and on PICT012(9), the bone-dome wearer is Mark (Quincey) Gilson wearing a bright yellow bathrobe for the 84Sqn Team. I have a colour version of this somewhere in the archives - will try and dig it out.

[Simplythebeast]

I noticed in the negatives for this event a few pictures featuring families, I dont know if they are RAF,TOS or civilians?


PICT0006 (10) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0002 (10) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0003 (9) by 1979Bree, on Flickr


PICT0004 (10) by 1979Bree, on Flickr

In an earlier post someone mentioned flying in some female entertainment staff? This may well be them.......


PICT0007 (13) by 1979Bree, on Flickr

[Herod]

The chap falling off the donkey is Ned Sparks. Neddy falling off a neddy?

[captain_salman]

Thought of sharing some relics of yesteryear's Sharjah







Gentlemen I would highly appreciate those using Instagram on their smartphones or tablets visit my page at : isight_moments for some exquisite UAE photography just from an iPhone!

[captain_salman]

this thread is hibernated again.

[Robert Cooper]

No, we'll keep it going! I only passed through once, but it is a very interesting thread steeped in history!

Keep it coming!

Bob C

[SAROSKEETERMAN]

Hi everyone I'm back!!

I had looked on the thread at the beginning of last year and thought it had stagnated. Due to moving and having lots of aviation stuff to sort out(we have 'downsized' as they say) I only managed to get the odd look here and there and was pleased to see 'simplythebeast' had come up with a photo' of the Sioux airborne - thanks stb.
During my clear out I came across a two page printed form, titled "Official Notice of Rehabilitation." It is stamped "RAF Sharjah, Orderly Room" with the date of mine, 23 April 1966. Indeed, to the untrained civilian eye it looked 'official' to start with but soon one would guess it was a bit of a wind-up! This was sent to my fiance's parents and suggested such things as "Lock all females up" and advised that "if he is surprised or frightened by the following objects" please explain to him in "pidgin English" - a double decker bus, green grass, a train etc. Item 12 says, "Never mention the following - sand, a lovely sunny day, a holiday at the seaside" amongst others. Anybody else have one of these little 'gems?' It must have taken a few nights in the bar(or an hour at work!) to come up with this!
I like your photo's capt salman, of the road/runway. May dig out some more of my aircraft photo's if anyone is interested.

[l.garey]

Hello Saro. Glad you looked at the thread again. Although it looks stagnant there is still life in the Sharjah thread! Yes please: let's see your photos.

Laurence

[SAROSKEETERMAN]

Fire practice aircraft.

Here's one for starters then Laurence. This photo' was taken by my 'late' friend Derek Hine who was on the fire section. The original pic shows it to be a Venom FB.4 WR412 of 8 Sqd. the only info' I have on it that it was SOC(struck off charge) 4/5/61 as Cat5(c) at Eastleigh, Kenya. It was allocated the maintenance serial 7640M but ntu(not taken up) So presumabably it was airfreighted to Sharjah at some stage.It was dumped on the Dubai side of the airfield and was visible from the operational side, but I never got to see it close up. How long did it last in that state I wonder.
Anymore info' as to it's accident it must have suffered, Laurence?

[l.garey]

Thanks for the photo Saro. Not the happiest of scenes! Apparently there were plenty of Venom wrecks at Sharjah anyway, as the accident rate was rather high (due to sandy runway or perhaps other reasons). I wonder why they imported one from Kenya. No, I haven't found any details of what happened to WR412.

Laurence

[captain_salman]

Yes please! My all means do add any photos of yesteryears about Sharjah, how it looked and the planes obviously.... this thread is becoming like a time capsule!

I am glad to know a fellow researchers who is in quest to find more after all this curiosity is what takes us places and brings us surprises of knowledge and wisdom.

[etimegev]

Good to see this thread re-appear again. One plea .... if you have posted photos please leave them in existence on the media from which they were referred; the pics from Captain Salman appear to be no longer available for instance.

[JW411]

The mention of Rehabilitation Forms reminds of the story of one of our navigators on 105 Sqn in Aden. He was filling-in the official form for his return to UK. One of the standard questions on the form was "Nearest Railway Station" (presumably for the issue of a travel warrant). He put down "Djibouti"!

[brakedwell]

Venoms

Fate is a funny thing. I was at Sharjah when an old friend, who was a pilot on the ferry squadron at Benson, got stuck when his Venom went unserviceable and he was left behind by his three oppos.
When my navigator was carted off to sick quarters with a severe dose of squitters Bill A offered to act as second crew member on a one day Firq - Saiq airlift.
i was supervising the team of local villagers unloading 15' long wooden poles (Chargles?) on the last rotation of a very long day. Bill was sitting in the right hand seat of the Twin Pioneer parked on the end of Saiq's SE strip with the engines running, configured for take off, when one of the loaders lost control of his wooden poles, almost smashing them into the lowered flaps close to the rear door. I rushed up to the flight deck and retracted the the flaps to avoid damage.
Following an early morning two hour flight from Sharjah to Firq we had completed six round trips to Saiq and refuelled twice from four gallon flimsies in 40C when I started the last take off run. Two thirds of the way down the 500 yard strip I pulled back on the control column at 50 knots. Nothing happened and we were running out of runway when Bill shouted FLAPS and pushed the flap lever into the first notch.
We staggered of the end of the strip with no room to spare, the port main wheels passing between a line of large rocks running along the cliff edge next to Suraijah village..
I completed the two hour flight back to Sharjah feeling very chastened, aware that if my navigator had been in the RHS i might not have been around to tell the tale!

[India Four Two]

Following an early morning two hour flight from Sharjah to Firq we had completed six round trips to Saiq

That's all very well - saved you from crashing, etc., BUT did Bill A get the tie?

[brakedwell]

It happened in 1960, before the Firq Saiq tie appeared.

[captain_salman]

My apologies for the pictures not appearing on the forums, I will try to upload them again and post the links. There are some more relics of TOS era still untouched in some of the areas around Al Mahatta Museum.

I will post them very soon!