Our night flying training would have included full and restricted lighting (ie no VASIs/PAPIs, no Approach lighting, and limited/omni r/w lights). What the lighting config was at the time of the incident I cannot remember, but suspect that the restricted lighting would not have been a factor or I would have associated that with what happened. Those who have operated at night at El Adem would know that the only lights visible were in the main at El Adem itself, so no horizon or surface orientation available. You might just as easily have been practising night carrier landings, with the added advantage of the lack of surrounding hills or dunes.
