1956 - Suez
The Tangmere wing of Hunter F5s (Nos 1 & 34 Squadrons) arrived at Akrotiri and spent a month in pretty basic conditions. The pilots lived in new MQs but no water of electricity on safari beds. After a month of this we moved to Nicosia where we started operating a "battle flight " system with all the aircraft pooled and the squadrons working from midday to midday alternately. It soon became obvious that the station was still on a peacetime footing, i.e. everything closed at 1200 and off for Egyptian PT. Our officers were in tents opposite the mess entrance. At the station execs' meeting attended by our wingco he forcefully made the point about lack of support from the station for the operational units. He also complained of the accommodation for the pilots vis a v the station staff and was facetiously told by O.C. Admin that the only permanent accommodation available was the squash courts. The S*** hit the fan that afternoon when a visiting army team arrived to find the off duty squadron had moved in. Paddy Chrisham, the AOC, had his ear battered by the chaps in the bar and very soon proper rooms in the mess were found, admittedly doubled up, and the equippers had to open all day etc.
But it seems that attitudes never change!