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 ??
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!!
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... BTW, the Comet's cockpit smelt like heaven.
Thank You Mr. Laurence Garey. Your article on the Jebel Akhdar War is amazing!! 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.
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
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.
RAF Sharjah - do you remember it in the 50s and 60s?
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 davejohncox@yahoo.co.uk
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!
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).
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!
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!
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
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
RAF Sharjah in 2012
... BTW, the Comet's cockpit smelt like heaven.
