Doug, As a 99 Sqn Hastings 2nd pilot, I was detached to RAF Nicosia from June to Sept 1958. Initially we were there to fly arms and ammunition to Amman, Jordan, but when the first wave of Hastings, Valettas and Beverleys was turned back by Israeli fighters on the first night the USAF took over the airlift and we reverted to practicing large night formations of Hastings and Beverleys, ending in night para drops. The navs were given a fuel figure for a secret operation and told they would not be returning to Nicosia after the drop. Years later a reliable source told me the operation involved dropping Paratroops near Teheran to support the return of deposed Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and that we would have ended up in Bahrain.
In the event it never happened and I had plenty of spare time to fly the Levant Comm Squadron Meteors!
Last edited by brakedwell; 11th Oct 2014 at 09:56.