It is 30 years ago today, 3rd Nov, that the RAF arrived in Addis Ababa for the start of Op Bushell.
I found this report about the start of operations in Ethiopia and although it from the MAMS perspective, it might of interest.
Operation Bushel – Initial relief Efforts
Within hours of getting the go-ahead, 3 mobile teams complete with full field equipment, water and rations, were ready to move on the 3 activator chalks which would effect initial relief efforts.
Careful planning was necessary at this stage as the said activator aircraft also had to carry a self sufficient detachment, including Engineering, Operations and Catering staffs along with their associated equipment. Upon arriving at Addis Ababa in the early hours of 3rd November priority was given to establishing a tented Base Operations Camp from which the Royal Air Force task could be co-ordinated. This camp was to be located on a site, agreed by the 1 Group Liaison Staffs, adjacent to an Ethiopian Airlines servicing hangar and thus offering a covered storage facility.
As a field capable unit, UKMAMS personnel quickly established the base camp and were ready to operate within 3 hours of arrival. An initial reconnaissance sortie was mounted shortly after this, and a Movements team was deployed to assess possible problems with loading at forward airheads. As a result of this sortie, it was decided that due to the high winds, and exposed terrain of Assab, it was not feasible to establish a forward UKMAMS element at Assab on a permanent basis.
At 0700 hrs on 4th November, the first effective missions were mounted. The concept of operations was to operate two airframes into Assab to uplift grain which would then be flown to the feeding centres at Mekele and Axum. Mobile teams of 4 men flew with each sortie, with additional personnel being deployed to Assab airhead for load co-ordination with relief workers.
At all times a UKMAMS presence was maintained at the Addis base camp to advise on any ‘spec’ loads which may arise. Three sorties per frame per day were achieved in this way, due largely to the quick turnrounds by loading teams, which resulted in a total uplift of between 150 and 200,000 lbs of grain per day. The importance of such figures is appreciated when it is considered that 100 lbs of grain will feed a family of 5 for one month.
In later weeks the Movements task diversified, and UKMAMS personnel began to deploy tentage, blankets and foodstuffs into additional airheads such as Asmara and Gonda, as well as heavy earthmoving machinery for improving the rough strips on which all operations were mounted.
The efficiency of operations in Ethiopia is evident, in that during the first 4 weeks of the detachment, the 18 men of UKMAMS element were responsible for moving 3,600,000 lbs of relief supplies.