Any United Nations rotary experience here?

[Tiger_mate]

Having regreted not asking for assistance sooner on these pages with my Whirlwind helicopter project:
http://home.btconnect.com/aeroartist/HAR10.jpg

I thought I would 'get in early' with regard to a new painting depicting United Nations operations conducted by the UK military. I was fortunate enough to visit Nicosia Airport last October and get some good pictures of the Control Tower. Those to whom this is familiar will know that it is quite a picturesque art-deco building which would provide a good backdrop to an oil painting depicting a BritMil aircraft; probably a helicopter. I have in my mind for it to be a Sycamore as I believe the present UN hangar, near to the tower, was the home of RAF Sycamores at one time. Not to say that other aircraft such as Sioux, Beaver could not be included assuming that they were colocated at Nicosia at the same time. Any thoughts, photos or dits most welcome.

[Fareastdriver]

When the UN first started operations in Cyprus 1563 Flt were the only RAF helicopter unit on the Island. They were 103 Sqn until July/August 1963 and I cannot find out when they moved to Akrotiri or when they converted to Whirlwinds. They may well have continued with internal security flights as previously during the Cyprus troubles but whether they were finished in a UN colour scheme remains a mystery to me. I cannot remember any past references to them when I was there in 1968.

[Shackman]

The Whirlwinds of B (UNFICYP) Flt of 84 Sqn had a blue UN stripe around the tail/fuselage strake with the letters UN in white in place of the roundel. It was the last SH Whirlwind squadron, and the rest of the aircraft was 'standard' cammo, as distinct from the yellow ones of A flt down at Akrotiri.

3 years on the sqn from just after the invasion - a great place to start rotary ops.

[Herod]

During the late '60s/early '70s the UN force was provided by 72 Sqn Wessex. Here are a couple of pictures, which show the colour scheme and a typical pad.
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/Cyprus69WessexPadinBritishZone-1.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/Cyprus69WessexPadinBritishZone2Robbie.jpg

I've probably got several more pictures of the landing pads, which were taken from the air, if they're of any use to you.

[Tiger_mate]

I've probably got several more pictures of the landing pads, which were taken from the air, if they're of any use to you.

Any photos of this nature will be very welcome. Of interest, I checked every HLS in Cyprus last October, but I cannot recall that one. I assume from the terrain that it is on Troodos?

[Fitter2]

For a brief while in '65 a Whirlwind was on loan to the UN in Sarawak during Confrontation. Sprayed mostly dayglo orange with a blue band and UN in large letters. Reverted to RAF standard FE camouflage after about a month.

[D120A]

Tiger mate please see your PMs.

[Fareastdriver]

For what it is worth I cannot recall ever parking or picking up at the terminal. The UN element os the AAC with their Bell 47s lived over there. Our space was on the eastern side of the airfield. You can find it by looking for the H circles in front of a hanger, now demolished, with the tie-down base, now with a shed on it, just around the corner of the perimeter track.

Wessex pictures may be have taken in the Kyrenia hills; there was a UN pad just to the east of the road going through the valley. Even now there are the tell-tale blue roofs of a UN post on the site.

[Herod]

A few more to give the atmosphere.

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/HilltopPad2300ftJPG.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/SaddleJPG.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/ApproachtoTjiklosCancunresupplyJPG.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/ApproachtoHilltopJPG.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/WessexatStampedeCorralJPG.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/WaterbowserHanleysHillJPG.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/UnknownpadCancunJPG.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/UnknownpadCancun2JPG.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/SaddleStHilarionJPG.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/RAFTroodosJPG.jpg

With the exception of RAF Troodos, most of these are (were) in the Kyrenia Range. Remember, this was pre-1974.

[Tiger_mate]

Its official: I'm envious of you boys. I have some Wessex time under my belt; in fact the last 12 months of 2FTS and I did like operating it. To have been employed on her in this role at that time must have been awesome. Thank you for the photographs and if my PM inbox is anything to go by, there are many 'shy visitors' to this forum that also enjoy the nostalgia that goes with these threads. Was the transition from Whirlwind to Wessex a staged overlapping affair or WW endex coincidental with Wsx startex. ie Does scope exist to have both airframe types on task at the same place and time.

[Fareastdriver]

Was the transition from Whirlwind to Wessex a staged overlapping affair

It wasn't Whirlwind to Wessex; it was Wessex to Whirwind. 230 Sqn flew their Whirlwinds out to Cyprus from Odiham and when they arrived the Wessexs were flown back to the UK. The changeover was only days.

[Shackman]

Apologies for the quality, but this is a painting done in '77 of a UN Whirlwind to show the markings correctly. Somewhere I also have loads of photo's, but finding them is a bit difficult. As stated below, the only time (I think) that the Whirlwind replaced the Wessex!! It was also the last SH Whirlwind Sqn, only going when the Sqn pulled out of Nicosia completely in 1981.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j264/a_205_guy/UNWhirlwind.jpg

[lauriebe]

Quote:

When the UN first started operations in Cyprus 1563 Flt were the only RAF helicopter unit on the Island. They were 103 Sqn until July/August 1963 and I cannot find out when they moved to Akrotiri or when they converted to Whirlwinds. They may well have continued with internal security flights as previously during the Cyprus troubles but whether they were finished in a UN colour scheme remains a mystery to me. I cannot remember any past references to them when I was there in 1968.

1563 Flt was formed at Nicosia on 1 Aug 63 initially with 7 Sycamore HR14s. These were replaced by 2 Whirlwind HAR 10s on 1 Nov 63. The move to Akrotiri seems to have taken place on 4 Nov 67. The Flt was redesignated as 84 Sqn on 17 Jan 72.

This info is from the Air-Britain book "RAF Flying Training & Support Units since 1912".

The same source quotes two aircraft used by the flight:

Sycamore HR 14 XG517/D
Whirlwind HAR 10 XP399/U

No dates given though.

Sorry, but can't offer any help with colour schemes.

[Bill4a]

As I remember it the UN Whirlwind was from 225 at Kuching, it was white Emulsion with a blue band and a sods job to get off! I don't think we ever got all of it! :ok:

[Riggerz]

I was detached into 84 Sqn Nicosia, as an engine fitter, on Whirlwinds in '76, from Tern Hill. At the time, the UK RAF were working med hours (07:00 to 13:00) because of the hot summer - I missed it!

[reynoldsno1]

NEAF disbanded in 1976. I was in the flypast that involved a Nimrod & Canberra from Malta and an 84 Sqn Whirlwind. It got a bit convoluted getting those three past the saluting dais at the same time ...

[Herod]

It got a bit convoluted getting those three past the saluting dais at the same time

Why? Couldn't the Nimrod and Canberra keep up?

[ericferret]

The Alouette 2 replaced the Sioux and at least one Scout flew in UN markings. Seem to think there was a photo of that on Pprune recently.
At the time I think all the surviving Alouettes went to Cyprus, I wonder what replaced them?