Old Hairy
Sad to see the last of your Sunderland tales, but doubtless you’ll find some more interesting anecdotes to keep us entertained!
Your mention of Car Nicobar brought back a few memories as it was a regular refuelling stop for the Changi-based 'Pigs' (Valettas) and RNZAF Bristol Freighters employed on the regular Changi – Negombo (Katunayake, Sri Lanka) run. They routed Changi – RAAF Butterworth – Car Nicobar – Negombo, and later when the crushed coral runway had been constructed at Gan, continued down there as part of the Negombo – Gan airbridge, when the frequency was upped to three a week. Until the WW2 crushed coral runway had been re-built at Gan, 205/209 Sqn Sunderlands detached to China Bay were responsible for keeping the initial contingent of RAF staff and Royal Engineers runway builders supplied with the essentials of life, mail and fresh produce etc. This meant two trips a week China Bay – Gan and return (Operation “Ships Flag”) and with the coral runway at Gan opening in January 1958 the twice weekly (later three times weekly) run to Gan was flown by Valettas and the occasional RNZAF Freighter detached to Negombo for this task. When RAF China Bay closed and the facilities were handed over to the Sri Lankan Air Force, the Sunderlands returned to Seletar.
I went through Car Nic a few times between 1956 – 1958 and don’t recall seeing or meeting any RAF Brits based on the island, refuelling was done by the locally-based Indian Air Force personnel. There was no terminal as such and on arrival pax disembarked and just hung around the aircraft to stretch their legs whilst it was being refuelled. Once refuelled we were off again ASAP.
Last edited by Warmtoast; 21st Jul 2008 at 22:39.