We were tasked to fly to Riyan, collect a letter and a W/T Operator and take them to Socotra Island. The letter, addressed to the Sultan, was dropped in a weighted mail sack with parachute, on what appeared to be the main square in Hadibo, the capital. It was hoped, that the letter would reach the Sultan safely and transportation sent to collect the W/T operator. The W/T operator was to reinstate the failed communication link at Hadibo.
After the mail drop we flew about 10nm west to the airstrip at Ras Karma, a disused WW2 field. No ATC here and after a low pass to check the runway for goats and debris, landed safely on the rough surface. Here we left the W/T Operator with food and water in the hope that the letter had been read and transportation sent to pick him up.
I never heard the outcome save the intelligence summary shown below which states that the W/T operator had repaired the radio and was not left to die in the desert!
A/C flown by F/L Williams and F/L Locke 233 Sqn RAF Khormaksar
Ras Karma airfield. Constructed in WW2
Intelligence report
WW2 buildings at Ras Karma
WW2 buildings at Ras Karma and our Valetta VW195
WW2 a/c wreckage. Far one possibly a Lockheed Lodestar. Ppruners will let me know?