RAF KHORMAKSAR

[Herod]

I arrived in May '67, and I was told a woman had lost a leg to a shark a few weeks previously. I gave up on Tarshyne for two reasons. 1. I swam out to the shark net one day, with a face mask. The net only went down about three feet. 2. The bus, full of officers, took the same route at the same time every day. Not long after I stopped going, it was attacked. I believe the only casualty was the driver, who stopped a bullet somewhere not too serious. Could have been a lot worse.

[Herod]

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/peter46/Wessex%20Load_zpsg5f3el2o.jpg

And now a picture of the REAL workhorse.

[DeanoP]

JW411
Thanks for the lovely pictures of Tarshyne.

I was at there in 1962/3 and when not flying would go on my air-conditioned Lambretta scooter to Tarshyne. For me it was wonderful to 'cool off' in the sea and meet my girlfriend there. Very evocative.
The shark net was taken out in the summer to prevent damage from the waves. When the waves were surfable I would spend hours trying to catch suitable waves from about 50 yds out along with 3 or 4 others. We saw fins once, they turned out to be dolphins, but it was a rapid swim towards the shore and involved a change of trunks. We were soon back in, working on the totally unproven theory that sharks don't like to swim in the surf, of course forgetting that our legs were dangling in the clear water beyond. In retrospect, it was a stupid thing to do and we were lucky to get away with it.
My only problem was wading out to sea and when at chest height, walked in to a Portuguese `Man of War. Intense pain, I could not see from the shock, and so put my back to the waves and headed for the shore and the hospital. The pain soon wore off, but I can see how different it could have been 50 yds further out.

[Tankertrashnav]

JW411 - I had a similar experience as your friend on Tarshyne beach after falling asleep after a 24 hour stint on duty. Fortunately someone woke me after about an hour but I was in agony for days. I have had an aversion to strong sunlight ever since and wouldnt give you tuppence for a two week holiday at Sharm el Sheikh!

ICM re your bar price list - I was telling someone recently that I used to buy 20 Rothmans for a shilling (5p) in Aden and they didnt believe me. There's the proof! I've just Googled the current price - £9.50 in Tescos! I make that a 19,000% increase.

[Fareastdriver]

And now a picture of the REAL workhorse.

Why on earth are they underslinging a Gnome engine for? Three blokes could lift it with its stand and throw it in the back.

[brakedwell]

ICM re your bar price list - I was telling someone recently that I used to buy 20 Rothmans for a shilling (5p) in Aden and they didnt believe me. There's the proof! I've just Googled the current price - £9.50 in Tescos! I make that a 19,000% increase.

I remember being given 200 free fags every Christmas both in Aden and Bahrain, courtesy of HM Customs who were disposing of their confiscated stock. Can you imagine the shock and horror in the faces of the PC/Health Police if this happened these days!

[Rosevidney1]

A great link, Smudge! I think it must have been filmed early in 1965 as when I got to Aden (actually Bir Fuqqum better known as Little Aden) later in the year the Belvederes had gone. No sign of the slit trenches at Dhala either.

[Exrigger]

Could I ask is Tarshyne, what we called 'Elephant Bay', we were there either 61/62 or 62/63 and the photos look familiar.

As an aside, I was at the open day with my dad who had gone from RAF Eastleigh to RAF Khormaksar with 8 Sqn and saw the accident of the 8 Squadron FGA.9 XE607 on 30 March, 1962, sad day all round.

[Dougie M]

Elephant bay from the obvious rock formation was the next bay round from tarshyne and was where the water skiing fraternity hung out.


http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag76/dougiemarsh/a1d21482-039a-420c-bde5-beec4b7d852c_zps4vfgrkkq.jpg

[Exrigger]

Thanks Dougie M, I remember now, it is another bay that had a net to keep the sharks out, and of course the rock formation is a give away really, felt a tad safer in the Lido with the metal fence around it.

[Cornish Jack]

"Dhala airstrip was regularly visited by 233 Sqn Valettas".
Not in the50s - the only aircraft then able to use Dhala were the Pembrokes, later the single Pins and , of course, helos.The problem was the length of landing run available. The original solution was to introduce a 'bend' at the end of the longest straight bit, so "left (or right) hand down a bit was the order of the day during takeoff.
The strip was used for the hot and high trials for the Bev but the cranked runway apparently permanently 'bent' the rear fuselage and, Bev aerodynamics being what they were, that airframe thereafter had a couple of knots speed ADVANTAGE over its brethren!!:confused:
Special visitors to Dhala (Harry Secombe with his CSE party) were awarded the Dhala Star (got a photo of that somewhere). This was the purple side of a Ben Truman's beer can cut out with the ubiquitous 'can spanner'. Well merited that one too as he insisted on doing the show in spite of a nasty dose of 'Aden Gut'.
The dates mentioned for the luckless Wg Cdr's wife's shark attack must be wrong 'cos we were told about it on arrival in '55. Saw more than enough of them during my 3 months or so on the S&R Sycamores. Our first intended wet winching session in the upper harbour was cancelled when the selected spot was seen to be a bit crowded with sharks and rays - jungle (marine) drums announcing that fresh supplies were on the way??

[Fareastdriver]

Looking through these pictures one can see who used Kodak and who used Agfa. All my Middle and Far East memories are on Agfa; now sadly faded and blued.

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/4Tonner.jpg

Here is today's question. Can anyone remember what we called these vehicles? I seem to remember that they were based on a Bedford 4-ton chassis and had locally produced armoured plating.

[RAFEngO74to09]

According to this source, the armoured version of the Truck Bedford 4x4 RL was known as "Pig" - same as the smaller Humber later used in Northern Ireland. The first examples were produced by REME in Singapore for use earlier in Malaya & Borneo. They were also used by the NZ Army in Malaya 1955-1960.


WarWheels.Net- Bedford RL "Pig" APC Index (http://www.warwheels.net/BedfordRLpigAPCindex.html)


http://www.warwheels.net/images/BedfordRLpigMoD1.jpg

[Herod]

Elephant Rock Photo by peter46 | Photobucket (http://s494.photobucket.com/user/peter46/media/Aden.%20Elephant%20Rock%20approaching%20Command%20Hill_zpsgu j8jiys.png.html)

Elephant Rock from the other side.

[JW411]

RAFEng: I am most grateful. "Pig" was indeed the name that we used.

Fareastdriver: I used both Agfa and Kodak and you are right, my Agfa slides have definitely got the blues.

[brakedwell]

The dates mentioned for the luckless Wg Cdr's wife's shark attack must be wrong 'cos we were told about it on arrival in '55.

I was told about the incident as if it had happened recently on my first visit to Tarshyne in 1959. Another one of those long running sagas!

[Fareastdriver]

There must have been a lot of Wing Commander's wives.

[deltahot]

"Why on earth are they underslinging a Gnome engine for? Three blokes could lift it with its stand and throw it in the back."

I think that Gnome was a Nimbus. The Scout it belonged to was probably already in the back ...

[deltahot]

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag135/dave-hurley/Aden332_zpsycsyeud5.jpg


Another of Tarshyne . The deck chair in foreground gave endless entertainment for several months ... it had been assembled with the notched bars reversed, and was impossible to erect. White-skinned newbies were the participants.

[deltahot]

... and one of an 84 Sqn Bev at Habilayn. Poor quality slide, but still so evocative. I had a lift back to Khormaksar in an empty one from Riyan where I had been with our 78 Sqn Wessex, and was happily flying the beast (actually delightful to fly) along the coast while the entire crew were in back playing cards (yes, honestly, these were long ago days) when I picked up on the radio something about "under mortar attack" ... so vacated my seat. It was indeed Khormaksar on the receiving end, and we were diverted to Djibouti, where we enjoyed French hospitality, a good dinner with wine, before rtb later that night.http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag135/dave-hurley/Aden337_zpsibpkjrcb.jpg

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/DhowBeach.jpg

Found today; the Dhow Beach taken from somewhere near the Marine Craft Unit. Maalla Straight in the background.

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/JEJ.JPG

This was taken at a Family Day at Khormaksar in 1966. I just love the squadron code on the miniature Spitfire. There is nothing like a bit of self-salesmanship!

[larssnowpharter]

Thanks for posting the photos of Tarshyne. I can recall as a 12 year old watching 'Summer Holiday' on that beach one evening and thinking it was the height of cool.:sad:

Other memories include:

A flight in a Twin Pin with a bunch of other Air Scouts who spent the trip throwing up.

Shack trip and lying in the prone nose position watching sharks and manta rays seemingly sharing the air space with us the water was so clear.

Launching 'cracker balls' (with a bait catapult!) from the roof of the flats we lived in in Crater at demonstrators in the street below.:ooh:

Seeing a shark though a wave at Tarshyne during the surf season and completing the distance to the beach in an Olympic record time.

Lazy days at Gold Mohur listening to AFBA.

Going through the suqs in Crater before the troubles and being confounded that 'Bazaar' was often spelled as 'Bazar'.

Seeing an amazing display of flying by an Aden Airways DC3 doing an air test.

Holidays in Mombasa; an Argonaut struggling to get in and visibilty balls on a cable going past a window in, what seemed to be far too close a fashion. Anxious father (Shack pilot) sitting next to me.

My recollection is that it was an amazing place for a kid of my age back then.

[Dougie M]

Every now and then, to relieve the boredom, a grey funnel cruise ship would heave into view. Their programme would then include "Baron Bashing" - getting themselves invited to every function going for free - and chasing every piece of skirt ashore. A cocktail party was held aboard Victorious invitations to which were "accompanied". At the top of the gangway, one team would lead you to the quarterdeck bar while another team separated your wife/girlfriend off to see the Golden Rivet.
Having fought off several dozen other suitors to win the fair lady I was loath to lose sight of my girlfriend and struggled back through the throng to prevent her going below to a fate worse than me. It was only the breeze blowing across the quarterdeck which kept the testosterone levels bearable.
Fortunately the ships never stayed too long.


http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag76/dougiemarsh/f6b26f87-42a0-4e9d-86c0-53e2a8f4de7f_zpsmxx2wdrz.jpg

[DeanoP]

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1307/pict0028_2__d64d5ed9793021513b526d638326bb25bfde91ba.jpeg
Ocean going dhow in Aden harbour. 1962
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1351/pict0018_1__1768adfe6f57a1de39203d754b687c19fb8850f1.jpeg
Ocean going dhow in Aden harbour 1962
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/pict0088_29a0fcb56b795b4f366f4a124de8e794f841d70f.jpeg
Ocean going dhows in Aden harbour 1962
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/pict0090_008064bcc8368999ba02dae8c42116ca07839d0c.jpeg
Ocean going dhow in Aden harbour 1962

Street scene Crater Aden 1962
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/pict0093_63307aaa53b56076898afe0e5ea9f4c4ee38864e.jpeg
Street scene Crater Aden 1962. Always felt very sorry for the blind man




https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/pict0039_bc46f6914343aa34541c2664689acb6e1ad9662b.jpeg
Street scene Crater Aden 1962

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/Shoat.jpg

Here is one of my passengers with his hand baggage. I think he was returning to his Federal Army unit in Aden from Beihan. This would be the local equivalent of fast food.

[R4H]

My father-in-law served in Khormaksar, Nav, on ground tour and my brother-in law was born there. Just in the process of going through his slides and converting them. Will post anything interesting that I find.
As an aside, while in Belize, the Army lads referred to all soft drinks as stims. I'd never heard that term used before. In the slide box I found a RAF Khormaksar Open Day mag and there it was, an advert for Stimms, presumably a local softie.

[CoffmanStarter]

R4H ...

I believe 'Stim' was/is the Brand Name used by the 'Nile Soft Drinks Factory' ...

[Dougie M]

You can see the ad for said drink near the camel's head in #276 above along with its translation in worms backwards. I only ever found it in Aden, mostly as tonic water in my gin.
R4. I was a nav upstairs at Khormaksar.

[brakedwell]

The shark net at Tarshyne.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/Tarshyne%2065_zpsprjjxtft.jpg

Security
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/Adrian%20at%20Tarshyne%20Officer%20Club_zpsc5ku4tv5.jpg

Western end of Maala Straight
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/Maalla%20looking%20West%201966_zpsrzw7p2ml.jpg

[DeanoP]

I was lucky to have been there in 1962/3. You could wander around with impunity then and I did not have any knowledge of trouble brewing. I believe the troubles started about mid 1964. There were some tremendous bargains.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1400x2000/pict0040_26114281e86a53db523cca2e89f03415ad756b1e.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1325/pict0041_c54b9858a3b75f44aa99004069156fe91de2981f.jpeg
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https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/pict0037_1__91197cb176ed70685d0c196e54aa91ce58d2d630.jpeg

[olympus]

Anyone remember BASCO? Brothers' Air Service Company or something similar I believe. IIRC they operated DC-3s in parallel/competition with Aden Airways. Around September 1970 I flew in one of their aircraft from Khormaksar up to Taiz in Yemen Arab Republic (as was; Aden by this time was PDRY-Peoples' Democratic Republic of Yemen). I wasn't too thrilled at having to make the flight in the first place but my eyes were really opened when I saw all the wrecks littering the strip at Taiz. :eek:

After a few days in Taiz I flew up to Sana'a but I can no longer remember who with but I'm fairly certain it was in another DC-3. I remember seeing a YAR Air Force MiG-15 (I think possibly Russian- or Egyptian-flown) getting airborne at Sana'a - a real curvature-of-the-earth job. IIRC Sana'a is something like 7000' asl but on a plateau. Taiz is not quite as high but is in/surrounded by mountains. When I went back in the 80s the airline had become Alyemda (later still Yemenia) and the aircraft DHC-7s and Airbus 310s!

[JW411]

Aden Airways (which was a BOAC associated company) finally gave up the unequal struggle at the end of June 1967 having suffered several of their aircraft being blown up. I can remember seeing two DC-3s in BASCO colours at Khormaksar before we finally left Aden in November 1967. I don't think the two companies were ever really in competition. My memory is that Aden Airways were quite happy to get out of there and probably wished Brothers all the luck in the world.

[Rosevidney1]

Anyone remember the bus service? They had to be long as the name Salem Ali Abdou Little Aden Bus Service was painted on the sides. They probably carried as many animals as human passengers!

[brakedwell]

When I used to fly DC8 freighters into Sanaa during 1976/78 those MIG 15's were rotting away on the edge of the ramp. At 7000' the altitude kept us on our toes because we always arrived overhead at max landing weight, so the brakes had to be used with extreme care to avoid over heating the tyres and blowing the fusible plugs. Fortunately I managed to maintain a clean sheet, but would have much preferred to have landed at Khormaksar.

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/Buick.jpg

If I might be permitted to go back to Kamaran for a moment; I unearthed this slide yesterday. The old car was lurking underneath a basha just to the left of the airport buildings. On my visit, it had a cardboard notice on the radiator which stated "First car on the island in 1925 by Capt. G Welch (I think)". My memory tells me that the car was a Buick but I could well be wrong. I wonder what happened to it when Archie left?

[Pontius Navigator]

We wondered about in blissful ignorance in Sep 64 and I remember Sycamore or Whirlwind doing night perimeter cover. It was said the week we were there saw a low spot in the troubles.

Interesting what a little bit of deterrence can do.

PS, the GSM was issued from 1 Aug 64

[Dougie M]

Here are the Khormaksar Mountain Rescue team, ready to go.


http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag76/dougiemarsh/ec16f0ff-ca19-453a-a264-e8c17297a4fd_zps9edih6xn.jpg

[brakedwell]

I guess this must be the leaky VIP Andover parking next to our RSM Argosy. Was it in Masirah for a spot of fishing?

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/aviation/VIP%20Andover%20Masirah%20466_zpsib1wp0ky.jpg

[TCAS FAN]

Brakedwell

Not Masirah, no hills there, possibly Salalah.

[brakedwell]

You are right, a senior moment I'm afraid. We must have been outbound on a Ryan - Salalah - Masirah schedule. Maybe the VIP had just been fishing at Masirah. :}

[jindabyne]

A truly excellent thread, with equally wonderful images. But where are the 8/43 fraternity? They must surely have something to contribute? Come on chaps ----

[brakedwell]

Perhaps the jet jockeys were going too fast to notice anything :(

[DeanoP]

Valettas had a milk run, probably 3 or 4 times a week to Riyan Salalah and Masirah. On this occasion we carried the Salalah football team to Masirah for a match


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1325/pict0033_1__6ae8f0efdb37128cf1fb552a7d994bd4128049b8.jpeg
30's Style Control Tower


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1307/pict0042_1__3ccaf472e45dcf12ec39b6887f3292959d2a6c4f.jpeg
Quick march (Well, more of a shuffle)

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1299/pict0041_1__7a0243509b0a9c204267774340a1e4be963241e7.jpeg
Piped on

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1320x2000/pict0039_1__f625a98d00a417e2a7ee801325153c8fb96dcbc2.jpeg
Keen supporters
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1282/pict0040_1__f13820b9f8bcbe1d612df412c21d361d5abb170f.jpeg
Meet the Station Commander

[oldpax]

For a lot of really good images visit www.Radfan (http://www.Radfan) hunters website!!!One or two of me on there but much much younger!!

[CoffmanStarter]

Oldpax ...

Someting not working with your URL Link ...

Radfan and the Hawker Hunter (http://www.radfanhunters.co.uk)

[oldpax]

www.radfanhunters.co.uk (http://www.radfanhunters.co.uk)

[AARON O'DICKYDIDO]

But where are the 8/43 fraternity?

Don't forget No.1417 (FR) Flight.

Aaron.

[Fareastdriver]

IIRC I was told during a Far East flight refuelling briefing that the Whatever of Masirah had offered to sell it to the British government. His offer had been turned down as the preference was to rent it.

Could have been useful, nowadays.

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/SOthman.jpg

Another favourite occupation for me was to go gliding at the Aden Services Gliding Club which was based on the old WW II airfield at Sheik Othman (about 4 nms north west of Khormaksar). We had a fleet of 5 gliders which we kept in an old hangar on the south side of the airfield. Our security consisted of a pack of pi-dogs which lived in the hangar. We fed and watered them on a daily basis and they would not let the locals get anywhere near.

To get there was a bit convoluted. We would drive to the Sheik Othman roundabout, park up and then get into the back of a Bedford 4-tonner with sandbags on the floor (in case of mines). (Driving through Sheik Othman town was considered to be bloody dangerous). We would set off down the road towards Little Aden and at some point when south of the airfield, turn north across the bundu avoiding previous tyre tracks where possible. We normally had one Sterling LMG with us but it was never used. One small explosive device had gone off at the western launch point before my arrival in Aden but it didn't cause any damage.

Once out there, we were left in peace to get on with our gliding. When we used the southerly runway the kids would come out from the local village and watch. Sometimes we would take one or two them for a flight which they seemed to enjoy.

The only other use for the airfield was as a practice DZ and I can remember going over there on a couple of occasions and throwing 1-ton containers out of an Argosy.

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/PiDogs.jpg

Here is a shot of one of our Slingsby T.21 2-seat gliders. If you look closely you will see that the two camel wagons are being closely escorted by some of our pi-dogs who would make sure that the occupants departed peacefully.

Talking of camels, there was local herd of milking camels which used to cross the main east/west runway twice a day (north in the morning then south in the evening). We launched the gliders using a couple of thousand feet of Kenya fencing wire towed by Nissan Patrol 4x4s. The camels had worked out that the wire could cause them a nasty injury so each camel would stop at the edge of the runway, look both ways and then cross only if it was clear!

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/Fleet.jpg

Here are four of our five gliders. From the left: Slingsby T.21 (403), the one and only Eon Olympia 401x (401), Slingsby Swallow (400) and in the background just about to touch down, the other T.21 (404).

The missing glider is Slingsby T.31 (402) which spent a lot of its time in the hangar (probably the best place for it)!

[zetec2]

When I was there we had 2 T31's and my Chevrolet Fleetmaster as tow & winch car, I had my Silver C (5 Hours on the ridge at Dunstable in an AV36 !, rest around Bicester in Grunau & Oly 2B) so although only 18 years old seemed to be most qualified and licensed there and only an SAC as well, didn't go down well with the "Rodneys" who apparently knew it all, did have a couple of good soaring flights in the local area but got peed off with the them & us attitude so left, shame really as thought it was for every ones benefit, still such was the way the system ran, got even sillier after I left as was invited back "and bring your mates and your car" only because they wanted airmen who would tow and spend the day doing the mundane with very little chance of actually flying, seem to remember "CFI" was a Chris C**ter from down the sharp end on Hunters. not sour grapes just a wasted opportunity, Paul H.

[JW411]

Well, I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't get there until 1966 and it was then just like the RAFGSA, Christian name terms only applied on the airfield.

I spent 17 years involved in running an RAFGSA club and Nigels and Rodneys were not welcome. I can remember one famous day when I had an Air Commodore driving the tractor and a Wing Commander driving the winch.

Both of them were happy to be there.

[zetec2]

JW411, thanks for the reply, my time was 62-64, I had come from earlier as a Brat gliding at Bicester being treated like a human (Ron Newall, Ted Simpson, Jamie Jamieson etc) then it all went to pooh at Sheik Othman, anyway fleet looks good, as before we had 2 T31's real exotica but quite soarable,, easy after I had started life airborne on Primary's at Bicester, the Khormaksar thread is superb and how many of us "erks" can say - we swam at Tarshyne and were welcomed ? I can, was much better than the Lido, we just behaved ourselves but often went as guests of the 105 crews whose children we babysat , suppose being mobile helped. still had a good time out there. PH.

[smujsmith]

Jaw411, nice shots of the Sedburgh and Swallow, both of which I was lucky enough to fly in the early 80's on my way to Silver C. What was the thermal situation in the area, did anyone stay aloft for a decent time ? Obviously, my experience of RAFGSA doesn't reflect that of Zetec2. I did most of my gliding with Four Counties at Syerston, where even an erk like me was welcomed. I had a great mate who I enjoyed flying the two sweaters with, his name was Andy, and I only found out that he was a Phantom pilot in those days, when I met him later as a Hercules Captain when I was a GE. Times did change it seems.

Smudge :ok:

[zetec2]

Hi Smuj !, seem to remember "soaring" the T31 usually about half an hour in the local area was usual as there were loud voices from the ground as to "there are others who want to fly" fair enough as the fleet of 2 trainers was all we had at the time, seems we were a backwater out there as even places like St Athan for the BE's to glide they had T21, T31 Prefect and a Swallow, unable to give exact times as I lost my log books etc , they were in my deep sea boxes and the freighter carrying them home (Alacrity I think) floundered in a storm off Alexandria and went down, when the cargo was recovered many years later after it was raised (what else was on board ?) majority was destroyed through salt water so never did get anything back. such is/was life, PH

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/SOthman2.jpg

Smujsmith asks what the soaring conditions were like in Aden. The summers were not wonderful. Apart from the heat and the humidity (which made life a bit trying) there was usually a marked inversion at about 2,000 feet so that was about how high the thermals went. There was a rubbish dump to the south west of the airfield and we used to watch the ****ehawks charging about in the weak lift over the dump. When they started to thin out and head off towards their own thermals then it was time to get going.

I can remember one day when it was decided that Stu Hoy should have a go at a 5-hour duration flight to complete his Silver C. He got in the Olympia 401 with lots and lots of water bottles etc and off he went. The rest of us spent the day marking thermals so that he would have somewhere to go if he ran out of ideas. He landed after about 5 hours and 15 minutes exhausted. I think the highest he got was about 2,100 feet but he made it. I don't think anyone else ever managed a 5-hour duration flight in Aden?

Conditions in the winter were much better and cloud base around the airfield was usually around 3,500 feet and the thermals were plentiful. Cross country flying would definitely have been fun if the security situation had been different. As it was, landing out was not an option and it was certainly possible that the retrieve crew (if you could ever find one to volunteer) would probably have found you with your testicles neatly stitched up in your mouth by the time they got there.

The only cross country flights that I can remember were when we flew the Swallow and one of the T.21s (404) back from Khormaksar to Sheik Othman after annual CofA inspection. It was considered too dangerous to take them back by road so we launched them from one of the old sand runways at Khormaksar one afternoon. It did not go entirely smoothly and I can remember one broken cable ending up in the bomb dump. In the end, Stu Hoy and AN Other got back to Sheik Othman first in the T.21. They then had to stay airborne local soaring until somebody got there by road with a gun to protect them when they landed.

The above photograph shows Sheik Othman town from the top of a thermal at around 3,000 feet.

[Rosevidney1]

Never had the opportunity to try gliding but I seem to remember one site where a religious group used to lay their dead on raised platforms and the vultures would congregate there using the thermals. My memory is shaky these days but I feel it wasn't a million miles from Khormaksar. Can anyone confirm this?

[Tankertrashnav]

You are talking about what I believe is called a tower of silence, as used by Zoroastrians and Parsis. I never actually saw the one you are referring to (it would have been out of bounds on the ground anyway) but it was marked on the topo map we had in our ops room - somewhere near Crater as I recall.

[Rosevidney1]

Thank you for that, TTN. I wish I had kept maps from my tours overseas.

[Fareastdriver]

a tower of silence, as used by Zoroastrians and Parsis

When we tanked a bunch of Javelins to India in the 60s we stayed for a few days in Bombay (that's what the Indians called it then). There was an avoid area which encompassed their Towers of Silence. We went there on an escorted tour close up to these miniature cooling towers and the park was thick with roosting vultures.

Apparently there was a grid on the top and as the vultures progressed the bones would fall through to be collected at the bottom.

[JW411]

I am given to believe that Freddy Mercury was a Zoroastrian.

[zetec2]

FarEastDriver, when tanking the Javelins through we had 2 Valiants at Karachi and we stayed in "Min" Wallers hotel, wasn't it the Air India Hotel ? big entrance hall with double winding staircase up to first floor, think aircrew went off to the BOAC Speedbird hotel, didn't want to mix it with us erks !, went back later when tanking the Lightnings through to Far East and stayed in a fleapit in Karachi, just dreadful !, one Valiant went into Rawalpindi (I think it was, place with big pink fort ?)with a dead engine courtesy of a ****e hawk, went up there to do an engine change, travelled up by decrepit DC3, replacement engine bought in by Beverley with all the change kit, those B** great bomb winches we had to lug up on the wing, at least it was cooler on the top than below tucked up in the bay disconnecting and connecting, Oh what fun I had as an 18 year old fitter, kids today just wouldn't believe the war stories. PH

[Herod]

Specially for Rosevidney1

Aden Map 1 Photo by peter46 | Photobucket (http://s494.photobucket.com/user/peter46/media/Aden%20Map_zpskbdyashu.jpg.html)

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/Milkerz.jpg

Here are some of the southbound evening milkers having just crossed the runway. I think this one quite fancied me.

[CoffmanStarter]

What's their VNE ;)

[Rosevidney1]

Unlikely to be above 3 kts at MSL.

[smujsmith]

Zetec and JW411,

Thanks both for the reflections on soaring conditions in the area. As my only gliding experiences were in England, the thought that winter might offer the better conditions is strange to say the least. Landing out, I'm sure, would have been of serious concern given the final resting place of ones gonads, but, did you not consider a "gooley" chit as an inducement to a more welcoming retrieval :eek:

Smudge :ok:

[ian16th]

Zetec2

Were you on 90 or 214 Sqdn?

I was on 214 from Feb 59 - Oct 62, we 1st used Karachi (Mauripur) in 1960. This was a 3 week detachment when we had tankers in Cyprus and Karachi to refuel one of our Valiant's doing the 1st non-stop flight to Singapore, and return.

We ground crew flew out in a Hastings. It took 3 days, with night stops at El Adem and Khormaksar. We stayed in a dump called the North Western Hotel. The orficers were in the Pak Air Force mess, it turned out that we had the better deal!

But, we ALL got dysentery.

On the way back we stopped for 2 nights at Khormaksar, porportedly to rest the Hastings crew, and our MO told us to rest and drink lots of liquid. At this point some wag calls out; 'does that include beer Doc?' To which the MO replied 'Yes, beer is fine.'

So we all spent our day off on the beach with the fenced off piece of sea. Alternatively drinking beer and cooling off in the sea. In my memory, the 'club' on the beach was referred to as some sort of NAAFI establishment. We all thought it luxurious after Karachi.

But thankfully I never visited Khormaksar again. As after that trip, Transport Command always supplied us with a Britannia, which had the range to reach Karachi in 2 days, via Akrotiri.

For my sins I visited Karachi another 4 times :E though the RAF used a slightly better hotel, The Palace. The orficers also stayed there, no more PAF Mess for them.

My last visit was in slightly humorous conditions. After my almost 4 years on 214, I was posted to Akrotiri, there I assigned to the Green Satin bench in the Electronics Centre. A very different existence to on the line with a Sqdn.

73 Sqdn were going to Mauripur for a 1 week CENTO Exercise in the 1st week of December 1963. But one of their Radar Fitters was tour ex in December, and he might have to go home in the 1st week. So they asked the Signals Squadron to supply a replacement, and I got lumbered.

I was told to report to the Sqdn with my passport. So this nice clean moony from the air-conditioned 'gin-palace', gets a lift to the dispersal and arrives at the Flt. Sgts desk and hands over my passport. He looks up at me while opening my passport and says, 'You know we are going to Karachi, don't you?' At this point he looked down at my passport, he had opened it where it had two pages covered with Karachi in and out stamps!

It turned out that I was the only person on the detachment that had been there before. I immediatly had credibillity and I became the Sqdn Guide!

As for the 'whore's draws' on the Valiant, even as a fairy, I did my time on those bl**dy winches.

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/Goollie.jpg

We were indeed issued with goollie chits. Here is part of mine (the original is about A3 size and it won't fit in my scanner). For fun, I used to carry it with me when I went cross-country in a glider in UK. If I landed out I used to present it to the farmer and it raised many a smile.

[Pontius Navigator]

JW, I had pads of these all copy numbered. As they promised an adequate reward to the holder on handing over a complete aircrew they had monetary value.

I never had any instructions on when to issue or how to account for them. Logically each should have been issued against name and signature. I wonder if mine would still work today.

[zetec2]

Ian16th, 214 Sqd, engine then HDU fitter.from December 1960 to March 1962, were you there when the bog blew up ? frozen Ascot vent pipe if memory serves, Al Smith wrote "an Ode to a Bog" which even appeared in Air Clues, I had a blue Isetta bubble car, any help, Paul H.

[brakedwell]

I never had any instructions on when to issue or how to account for them. Logically each should have been issued against name and signature. I wonder if mine would still work today.

You could always take a nostalgic trip to Aden :O

[Fareastdriver]

Valiants at Karachi and we stayed in "Min" Wallers hotel,

The Mini Wallers Hotel.

Each room had two cold and two hot taps on each sink. One produced water and the other running slime. The theory was that they had decided to change the plumbing but hadn't taken the old lot out.

There were two lift shafts. There was only one lift. Beside the gates was a unguarded void which was the other lift shaft.

The kitchen was fully fly-screened. That was to stop the flies coming into the dining room.

All our aircrew and ground crew stayed there, I shared a room with a flight sergeant, but the detachment medics stayed in the Speedbird.

[BEagle]

Pontius Navigator wrote:I never had any instructions on when to issue or how to account for them. Logically each should have been issued against name and signature. I wonder if mine would still work today.

I'm surprised that you haven't already tried to flog them on eBay, along with your old aircrew socks and shreddies......:rolleyes:

[Lordflasheart]

Did any of you local Aden heroes have any business or social contact with the inestimable and allegedly invaluable Mrs Maria Theresa ? I haven't seen her mentioned yet, so was she ever allowed into the Tarshyne Club, for instance ? ........ :E ..... LFH

[Warmtoast]

Lordflasheart - you're not by chance mistaking Maria Theresa for Mrs Thaler?

Latter is familiar to me (and my wife). Mrs T opened many doors in the souk if you flashed her to the locals.

Mrs T's from my collection below:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/FourTogether2_zps03c7237c.jpg

[R4H]

Some pics from father-in-law slides. Guessing 1959 or 60. Slowly working through slides, converting and trying to clean up.


http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss136/r4hc130/Aden/aden1959%202_zpsqhhs6lyg.jpg


http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss136/r4hc130/Aden/aden1959%204_zpsgh8lvtlu.jpg


http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss136/r4hc130/Aden/aden1959%201_zpsiz0yclwe.jpg


http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss136/r4hc130/Aden/aden1959%203_zpsg6yhym3s.jpg

[R4H]

Some more.
Guessing same time period.


http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss136/r4hc130/Aden/adenparade%201_zps5fwp8crt.jpg


http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss136/r4hc130/Aden/adenparade%204_zps9bdwuddi.jpg


http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss136/r4hc130/Aden/adenparade%203_zpsdnglmyu8.jpg


http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss136/r4hc130/Aden/adenparade%202_zpsqa5cla0s.jpg

[John Purdey]

Fareast Driver. The hotel I sayed at in Karachi in 1954 was Mrs Minwallahs Grand Hotel. Grand it cetainly was not, but is this the same one?

[JW411]

MT Dollars:

I can well remember taking boxes of MT Dollars to Riyan and Salalah. The local workers would not accept being paid with anything else and certainly would not countenance paper money. I believe Maria Theresa died in 1780 so any dollar minted after that, still carried the date of 1780. They were also replicated in quite a few other countries other than Austria but the one common denominater was that they were 11/13ths fine (in old measurements). In other words, each coin had a silver content of about 85%.

[brakedwell]

We used to deliver ammunition boxes full of MTD's to the Sultan's Armed Forces spread around Muscat and Oman. They were dumped in our twin pins with no covering paperwork or signatures required. i remember one box being forgotten when a roll of borasti slipped and covered it during heavy turbulence. Returning the MTD's to their rightful owned was a hell of a palaver.

[Dougie M]

On a stop over in Salalah I once helped to "count" several ammo boxes worth of MT dollars we had brought in with a mate of mine who was the "Fallous Man" on the strength there as a punishment posting. He said that one in a thousand was a genuine minted MT dollar from 1780 and all the rest were copies valued at a third of a pound each. I don't remember finding any genuine ones and we turned up at the mess with hands black as a miners from the silver. It cost him a lot of gin and tonics before the mortars started coming in from the Jebel. At that stage we couldn't care less with a couple of mil of wriggly tin above us to keep them out. Scared the little birds in the aviary though.

[ian16th]

I attended a conference in Vienna, C1974, all of the attendee's were given a MTD as a keepsake.

Yes it is dated 1780.

SWMBO promptly had it mounted to wear on a chain.

Looking at, it needs a clean :(

http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz108/ian16th/MTD%20BS%201.jpghttp://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz108/ian16th/MTD%20BS%202.jpg

[pzu]

Mid '72, was in the workshops of the GM Dealers getting my 'Pontiac Acadien' (a Canadian built Chevy Nova!!!) serviced and this wizened old Arab appeared

Apparently he was there to purchase his 'boycotted' Jaguar XJ 6 (or 12), he had a 'Dick Whittington ' style poke on a stick over his shoulder which he proceeded to empty onto a workbench

Yes you've guessed it, the complete purchase price (probably about £3K in those days) in Gold coin - £5 & sovereigns plus MT dollars!!! :ok:

As mentioned this was a 'boycotted Jaguar', apparently there was a list of approximately a dozen pre boycotted orders and every time one wa imported a small fee ensured that the outstanding balance remained the same!!!!:hmm:

PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)

[AnglianAV8R]

Who remembers the shanty town on the mountainside overlooking Maalla ?
We lived on the South side of Maalla in a penthouse hiring. My memories from there were of looking out the back at Slave Island and seeing the ancient art of building dhows. I also recall a big fire in shanty town, it swept right across the mountainside and I think it was all but over by the time fire engines got there. My dad said he reckoned that most of the houses were built from MFO boxes and suchlike.

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/SPT1.jpg

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/SPT2.jpg

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/SPT3.jpg

Here are some more shots of Steamer Point. I love the photographs that R4H is posting. They obviously show the beginning of Maalla Straight etc as we knew it. As for the shanty town referred to by AnglianAV8R; I also lived south of Maalla Straight and I think you can see the shanty town in my posts 212/213.

[Warmtoast]

As I commented previously in another thread:

Thalers bearing the date 1780 are not worth much, too many were made including many made by the London Mint. They were made in London until 1962 when production ceased.

FWIW the Maria Theresa thaler bearing the date of 1780 is a "protected coin" for the purposes of Part II of the UK's Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. Among other things this Act makes counterfeiting legal as long as it's done by the government!

[Tankertrashnav]

I dealt in coins for about 30 years and MT thalers were a standard stock item, coming in and out all the time. As has been mentioned they have been minted at various locations other than the original Vienna, including Birmingham, Bombay, Calcutta, London and other mints I have forgotten.

Contrary to normal practice, collectors often preferred them in somewhat worn condition, believing that these might be "original" ones, although as the design never altered from 1780 I dont know how you could tell an original one from a later strike. Shiny proof versions were struck for the jewellery trade.

One small correction, the standard of silver always was, and remained at, .800 fine

[DeanoP]

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1765x1218/scan_7_2_83a55e88909ef7088bd42ad81e7c3697b0df3384.jpeg
Intelligence Report of our drop


The Intelligence report above is referred to in 'Radfan Hunters' on their website as follows:
' A local ruler reported being besieged by rebel tribesmen in a fort in the Hilyan area of Upper Yaffa. The Hunters provided top cover for supply drops but live cannon attacks were carried out on the 9th on targets occupied by the dissidents, resulting in a truce called for by the dissidents'.

I took part in one of the supply drops from a Valetta. The very small drop zone was on the top of the jebel and some of the stores went off the DZ and down the steep sides of the hill resulting in the death of one of the Amir's soldiers whilst trying to recover some of the stores. Luckily the Valettas involved did not sustain any damage from small arms fire.

This is where a 'goolie' chit might be useful, particlarly in a single engine Hunter!! but I doubt whether it would have helped!

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/FlyPast1.jpg

About 2 weeks before the end, I found myself parked alongside the leaking Andover ready to take over if it went sick. The occasion was the departure of the AOC, AVM Sir Andrew Humphrey. A fairly ambitious flypast had been arranged and it must have taken some organising considering the speed range of the participating aircraft. It all went remarkably well.

Just before the AOC was about to depart, an RAF Land Rover pulled up at the bottom of the Andover steps and an RAF Loadmaster got out and took up position there. We did not recognise him as being one of the usual VIP ALMs. Sir Andrew and Lady Humphrey duly arrived and set off up the steps. The Loadmaster saluted smartly as they went past and then there was a bit of a confusion. The ALM was actually the C-in-C, Admiral Sir Michael Le Fanu in "fancy dress". (He had a bit of a track record for pulling such stunts).

The Andover duly departed.

(Having checked my log book, the date was 29.10.67).

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/FlyPast2.jpg

I'm not entirely sure where the two Twin Pins were in the flypast but I think they were behind the Beverleys and ahead of the Hunters.

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/FlyPast3.jpg

And here are the trained killers.

[JW411]

http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/FlyPast4.jpg

And that was nearly that.

[Ivan Rogov]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-ymRuo_Z8

[AIRENG84]

I saw this crash. I was on guard duty near 37 Sqn dispersal at about 4 am that day. The two Invaders took off in line astern and just after the rear one was airborne, the No 1 engine started backfiring and obviously losing power. The crew pulled up the gear but it was too late, the Invader sank onto the runway and careered all the way down towards the causeway. I saw two crew members get out the top escape hatch and run like hell just as the whole plane burst into flames. The other Invader did one circuit and went on its way to the Congo.
http://www.frpilot.com/Dad/B26.JPG

And here is the man himself examing the B-26 which landed at Khormaksar with a faulty undercarriage on its way to the Congo. It resided on the fire pit on the north side of the airfield by the bomb dump.

[Shack37]

Not long to go now for the 50th anniversary of closing. Happy days.:sad:

[oldpax]

I am on holiday in the UK and as I walked about the city bumped into a stand for the Aden vets assc!Had a nice chat with some ex marines etc about Khormaksar days!!This was in Plymouth.

[Fareastdriver]

Judging by the propellers on the B26 when it touched down No1 was under power and it was No2 that had failed. It's possible that the photograph has been reversed but the rotation direction doesn't back that up.

[Herod]

Yep, 50th anniversary of the ending of a nasty little war. 30th Nov. 78 Sqn (Wessex) have a reunion planned.

I didn't know there was an Aden Vets Assn. Must look into it.

[JW411]

The photograph has not been reversed. That's the way I took it. The aircraft concerned was B-26B 44-35822 and the accident occured "on or about 21 August 1964.

[Danny42C]

JW411,

AIRENG84 (#348) attributes his nice pic of the recumbent B-26 to you. I'm a bear of only little brain myself, can only copy stuff already on PPRuNe for my submissions to "CapCom" (in the rare event of my winning one - but, it has been known to happen).

Might I have your permission to use it sometime as my entry if lightning should strike twice ? Needless to say, attribution will be given, and of course will not use it without your express permission !

Danny42C

[Danny42C]

AIRENG84,

Welcome aboard - I'm a stranger here myself; my normal stamping ground is on "Gaining a R.A.F. Pilot's Brevet in WWII". It is the Prince of Threads on this Forum (and is a Very Wide Church indeed, as you'll see - currently there is a Poster (Geriaviator), who enjoyed a villainous life as a "service brat" in Khormaksar long ago. Worth a look !

Thank you for reproducing JW411's pic (see above).

Danny42C

[JW411]

Help yourself Danny.

[Cornish Jack]

JW411 -if that was a part copy of the 'goolie chit' the whole thing must have been ENORMOUS! The ones we were issued with were closer to A5 on card and the reward offered was 5000 MT thalers. Very reassuring ... until you heard that the 'other side' were offering 12000 similar, 'dead or alive'! I think my copy went to destruction courtesy of the North Sea and the 2013 'surge'. 60 years ago and I can still 'visualise' that awful, awful, all-pervading smell!! http://cdn.pprune.org/images/smilies/pukey.gif

[JW411]

You will be astonished to learn that I don't have my Goolie Chit immediately to hand (there's not much call for them in Sussex) but it will no doubt turn up soon when I remember what I did with. Suffice to say that it is about A3 size and printed on some sort of parchment.

[brakedwell]

Obviously you haven't hit Worthing on a Saturday night Jock :E

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c32/sedgwickjames/General%20Pics/OldLadyonWorthingPier.jpg

[Herod]

Now THAT is more frightening than a half-dozen angry dizzies.

[Danny42C]

JW411 (#356 and 358),
Thanks ! As regards Goolie Chits, this is what I said about Burma (in WWII):
...It also held leaflets in Burmese, for villagers you might meet and whose help would be vital. In translation they read, so I was told, something like this:

Dear Friend,
The bearer of this letter is a British soldier come to save you from the hated Japanese who have caused so much sorrow in your land. If you treat him well, hide him from the Japanese, and help him to reach the British Army, you will be very well rewarded by Government.
This was all very well as far as it went, (and the Burmese were generally well disposed to us, particularly the Naga and Kachin tribes in the north), but I couldn't help feeling that if I floated down in or near a village that we'd just blown off the map, it wouldn't go down too well with "Dear Friend" - always supposing I could find one who could read...
Danny

[Pontius Navigator]

Looking at JW's goolie chit, I have a copy at home in mint condition. Copy numbered so, I presume, it could be reconciled with the issue ledger.

Note the word SUFFICIENTLY, another word which might be on mine is ADEQUATELY, however we always thought it should be LN10 LAVISHLY rewarded.

I also record the Desert survival pamphlet - sit cross legged feet tucked in, eat the sheep's eyes, don't make eyes at the sheikhe's daughter and only eat with the clean hand.

Actually surviving in the desert was given less prominence. Having seen the dozens of fires in the empty quarter I suspect being found was the least of one's problems.

[adenvet 524mick]

It felt the same as Khormaksar without the humidity during a quick turnaround. Agreed Aden was a dump. I suffered it for two years!
Me too I was on 1st and 2nd line servicing "Twinpins" as an airframe fitter from January 1965 to January 1967 lousy dump. But was honoured to serve with some great guys.
In my 79 year now, Great site.

[Lee Howard]

Are there any ex-78 Sqn Wessex guys on here (either Khormaksar or, later, Sharjah)? Spent a couple of days thumbing through the 78 Sqn ORBs at Kew over the past few weeks.

[Herod]

Lee. pm me. 78 Wessex driver, May '67 to May '68 Khormaksar and Sharjah.

[Dougie M]

I would be interested to learn of the health of a Wessex driver of the time. Steve George. Photos are baulked by photobucket at present. Thanks guys. Dougie M.

[Herod]

Dougie, check your PMs. Herod

[racingrigger]

I'm a bit late in adding to this thread but for what it is worth, I was a "rigger" at Khormaksar from May 65 until May 67 involved with SAR Flight initially on five Whirlwinds (can only remember XL 111 & XJ 726). Two returned to UK when the yellow painted Wessex XT 601, 2, 3 & 4 arrived in boxes. When assembled and declared serviceable it soon became apparent that they were not ideally suited to SAR work at that stage - no waterproof flooring and the winch had a tendency to "run away" when under load, only way to stop it was to select UP when the cable usually broke! The winch hook at that time was a fairly small affair with a spring loaded "keep" which could open of its own accord if a harness "D" ring twisted around the hook. Along with another member of the Flight I designed a Command Mod to remove the original hook and replace it with the well proven Whirlwind hook which remained fitted to the very end of the Wessex SAR role.

[Lee Howard]

Good stuff racingrigger. Presumably thats why at least one of them languished at 131 MU until the New Year before being air tested?

[GIGFY]

Not a dragonfly, matey, but 4 sycamore mk14s - they were replaced with whirlwind HAR10 in 1964. I had the enviable task of doing a double tour for during the change over. There were also a squadron of wessex.

[racingrigger]

Further to my previous post it may be of interest to note that the 4 yellow Wessex XT 601 to 4 were the first RAF versions with a folding tail. All previous RAF Wessex were delivered with non-folding tails and subsequently modified by MARTSU then based at RNAS Fleetlands.

[Tankertrashnav]

I see The Last Post the new BBC Sunday night offering is set in Aden in the last year or so of the British presence. Although it's centred on an army unit (RMP) it might be worth a watch, if only for annoying people like me to spot errors. In the trailers families are seen arriving in a BOAC VC10 painted in a peculiar shade of blue. Think I'm correct in saying that BOAC never did trooping flights to Aden, in fact the first VC10 I ever saw was a BUA aircraft which I had a look around at Khormaksar - I was so impressed! Wouldn't have been too hard to get that right but I don't suppose many people will notice, or care.

I'll give it a try anyway.

[Herod]

TTN.

Since most people didn't notice or care about Aden while we were there, I doubt they will now. I wonder how many people in Britain could even find Aden on a map? (Herod 78 Sqn Wessex 1967)

[Shack37]

Posted by Herod

Since most people didn't notice or care about Aden while we were there, I doubt they will now. I wonder how many people in Britain could even find Aden on a map? (Herod 78 Sqn Wessex 1967)


Well, I know at least three:uhoh:

[esa-aardvark]

Having sailed (power) past it in 2012, I at least know where it is.

[brakedwell]

I will never forget where that dump is :E

[Fareastdriver]

On one of my trips to Khormaksa when I was on Valiant tankers there was a Ladies Night in the mess. We weren't invited so we stayed outside on the veranda. There was a magnificent green mantis which was just about to be mated by the small drab brown male of the species who had to hang on upside down to perform.

Some of the ladies came out for some fresh air (?) and observed this little carry on. I had joined the RAF in Rhodesia so I knew what the score was going to be, there being stacks of manti there.

'He's going to eat him when he has finished", quoth I.

"Don't believe you, she wouldn't do that".

With that he finished the deed, the female looked down at him, screwed off his head and then started pushing his body into a more convenient place to finish him off.

Best divorce settlement on the planet.

[Dougie M]

I've seen the trailer to The Last Post. I know the army used to favour little Aden rather than Tarshyne but nobody was sweating. Blokes used to be wringing wet and even the women used to have sweat stains on their clothing. This lot might as well have been in Cleethorpes.

[brakedwell]

Think I'm correct in saying that BOAC never did trooping flights to Aden, in fact the first VC10 I ever saw was a BUA aircraft which I had a look around at Khormaksar - I was so impressed! Wouldn't have been too hard to get that right but I don't suppose many people will notice, or care.
I'll give it a try anyway.

My wife and young son flew to Aden in a chartered BOAC Britannia in January 1965. The routing was Istanbul-Bahrain-Aden.

[Tankertrashnav]

I also flew out in a Brit courtesy of Transport Command via Akrotiri and Bahrein - complete with orange squash and ham salads! But the civvie VC10s were certainly BUA.

[brakedwell]

Initially the RAF Brits routed El Adem - Aden then switched to Akrotiri Bahrain when El Adem closed. I remember the BUA VC10's when I was on 105. TBH I can't remember how I got to Aden in 1964, must be getting old.:eek:

[Herod]

I went out 2.May.67, BUA VC10 G-ASIX, via Teheran.

[Tankertrashnav]

You must have been there at the death then Herod. I got out in Oct 66 before it all really kicked off.

[brakedwell]

You must have been there at the death then Herod. I got out in Oct 66 before it all really kicked off.

I escaped in Aug 66 only to return the following year when I was on Brits, spending too many nights drinking too much beer in Merrifield House when night stopping on withdrawal flights. :ouch:

[Dougie M]

My last trip out of Khormaksar to Muharraq was on the 17th Nov 67. All that month we were hauling trash around the Gulf. I once had a load of engine drip trays and pallets of baked beans (in 7lb tins). Movements were running out of things to load. We still left all our M.T. in parade order for the "incoming administration" which I believe ended up with fuel tanks full of sugar.
A couple of years later, on an Ardet we were called up by an "Aeroflot" callsign who asked if we had anybody on board who was in Aden. After a cautious affirmative a heavily accented Russian voice said "We now know why you left".

[Herod]

Yes, there right until the plug was finally pulled. We had already transferred the Wessex to Intrepid, and were operating from there. We saw the fireworks going off at midnight, which was, I believe, the point at which we left territorial waters.

[Fareastdriver]

One of our AEOs had retired from the Air Force and had gone out to Aden as an officer of the Federal Army. He was there at the withdrawal watching the general exodus. Two Landies pitched up with a couple of squaddies.

"Short of transport, mate?"
With that they tossed the keys over to him.

For some reason he didn't stay in that job very long.

[oldpax]

The government should have withdrawn before they sent me there!!!!

[ICM]

From the ARDET website - 30 years after we'd gone a former 105 Sqn pilot did a turnround in Aden and found the ex-MRT Wing hangars in splendid condition, with lots of serviceable aircraft parked outside:

http://www.argosy.org.uk/Aden98-5.JPG

[jindabyne]

Great first tour there 64-66: flying and social life.

As for the Last Post. Given that it was filmed in South Africa, I thought that they made a pretty good fist of making it 'seem'' like Aden. Not fazed about the plot.

[Cornish Jack]

"Think I'm correct in saying that BOAC never did trooping flights to Aden,"
Not so, TTN - posted to K'sar in November '55. Went out in a BOAC Argonaut, routing Rome, Cairo. It was the first BOAC trooping flight and I'm not sure if there were any further. Repat via British United, 2 years, 7 weeks, 4 days, 17 hours and some seconds later ... not that I was keen to leave, you understand!!:yuk:

[brakedwell]

Great first tour there 64-66: flying and social life.

As for the Last Post. Given that it was filmed in South Africa, I thought that they made a pretty good fist of making it 'seem'' like Aden. Not fazed about the plot.

Not bad, but 2 men in a single Landrover routing through an "Arab" village in those days would never have happened. Army patrols, even along the Maalla Straight, had multiple vehicles and were armed to the teeth.

[jindabyne]

And the 'rovers' usually had cages to deflect incomings. But hey, it's a BBC drama, not a historical piece. Dishy female lead- that'll get BEagle going :ok:

[MReyn24050]

I guess the Lightnings would have been staging through.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/sabamel/Last%20Post_zpskhjyfvko.jpg

[Herod]

How things changed though. I passed through as a child in late '52, along with my mother, en-route to Oz. She told me we had walked through Aden at night. I presume Ma'alla, rather than Crater, but a lone woman, with a six-year old child, and felt safe. Again in '64, coming back to UK. We disembarked and shopped for duty-free goods, but never left the port area. The fighting then was more in the Radfan. Going back in '67, as a helicopter pilot, as Brakedwell says, multiple vehicles and armed.

And a lovely shot of the Queen of the Skies near the beginning of the series, along with a VC10, Vulcan, Belvedere and Lightnings.

As to the Times report today, those fans wobbled frighteningly, even without the physical exercise.

[Fareastdriver]

I guess the Lightnings would have been staging through.

They would have had a bit of trouble taxiing on that surface.

[brakedwell]

The disembarking passengers were far better dressed in those days. (And better looking too :E)
Herod, I guess your mother took you to the Crescent shopping area.

[Fareastdriver]

The ground crew are looking the wrong way; they should be mentally stripping the talent.

[brakedwell]

The ground crew are looking the wrong way; they should be mentally stripping the talent.

Perhaps they were fond of each other.

[Herod]

Herod, I guess your mother took you to the Crescent shopping area.

Not sure, Brakedwell. I only have hazy memories. I turned six as we sailed down the Red Sea, between Suez and Aden. No stylish flying for us £ 10 migrants. An old ship, 12,000 tons or so, no air-con, no stabilisers. It took 6 weeks I believe, to Sydney. Coming back on Oriana in '64 it was 18 days from Fremantle to Southampton. Much more comfortable, even in steerage.

[CharlieJuliet]

Re the Lightnings - I wonder if they were either Saudi or Kuwait aircraft as I don' think the RAF ever took Lightnings to Aden. Anyone know better?

[melmothtw]

Re the Lightnings - I wonder if they were either Saudi or Kuwait aircraft as I don' think the RAF ever took Lightnings to Aden. Anyone know better?

Pretty sure they're CGI.

[MReyn24050]

Pretty sure they're CGI.
I would agree. Why did they not research it more accurately and produce a line of Hunters as I believe 43 Sqn RAF were based at Kormaksar from 1963 to 1967 with Hunters FGA9s?

[zetec2]

Plus a BOAC VC10 with a probe ! can remember (1963 ?) when the BOAC VC10 came out to then go on to Nairobi to do "hot and high", got a ride K/Sar to coast near Karachi and return, luxurious after flogging around by Argosy and Bev, Paul H.

[brakedwell]

8 Squadron (Hunters) was THE resident fighter outfit at Khormaksar. The Lightnings might be real as there were several in South Africa which were flying until relatively recently. I suspect the VC10 could be a museum piece with the BOAC blue faded by the African sun.

[Trumpet_trousers]

Pretty sure they're CGI.
Agreed. The missiles are positioned too high up the fuselage compared to the real thing, and, whatever they are, Firestreak or Redtop they ain’t!

[brakedwell]

Agreed. The missiles are positioned too high up the fuselage compared to the real thing, and, whatever they are, Firestreak or Redtop they ain’t!

You are right. They only had one T5 and that crashed!

[MReyn24050]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/sabamel/Medals_zpsb4mppbzt.jpg
Another point of accuracy, two of the medal ribbons worn by the incoming and outgoing Captains do not seem to match the period. In the scene of the farewell party they seem to be wearing the same medal ribbons but in reverse order. The left hand ribbon is possibly a GSM (1918) i.e. pre 1962 GSM and could indicate service in Malaya or Cyprus which does match. The right hand ribbon looks to be the UN Korea Medal (1950-1954). However the middle ribbon looks like the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal? Surely not.

[brakedwell]

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/sabamel/Medals_zpsb4mppbzt.jpg
Another point of accuracy, two of the medal ribbons worn by the incoming and outgoing Captains do not seem to match the period. In the scene of the farewell party they seem to be wearing the same medal ribbons but in reverse order. The left hand ribbon is possibly a GSM (1918) i.e. pre 1962 GSM and could indicate service in Malaya or Cyprus which does match. The right hand ribbon looks to be the UN Korea Medal (1950-1954). However the middle ribbon looks like the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal? Surely not.

The pre 1962 equal width purple green purple GSM looks a strange colour, service in the Arabian Penninsular would also tie in with his age. He would also be entitled to the thin green wide purple thin green post 1962 South Arabia GSM, although I can't remember when they started dishing them out :8

[The Oberon]

The pre 1962 equal width purple green purple GSM looks a strange colour, service in the Arabian Penninsular would also tie in with his age. He would also be entitled to the thin green wide purple thin green post 1962 South Arabia GSM, although I can't remember when they started dishing them out :8

With a UN Korea medal surely he would have had a Queen's Korea Medal?

[Dougie M]

The "Easy Three" as they were known for service in Korea would have been the pre 62 GSM, the Queen's Korea medal and the U.N. Korea medal as sported by Prison Officer McKay in porridge. The Radfan or South Arabia bars were on the post 62 CSM and tankertrashnav will probably affirm or correct this statement.

[brakedwell]

The "Easy Three" as they were known for service in Korea would have been the pre 62 GSM, the Queen's Korea medal and the U.N. Korea medal as sported by Prison Officer McKay in porridge. The Radfan or South Arabia bars were on the post 62 CSM and tankertrashnav will probably affirm or correct this statement.

I qualified for the post 1962 GSM South Arabia bar due to my time on 105 in 1964 - 66 and the Arabian Peninsular bar on the 1918 GSM when on 152 in 1959 - 61

[Tankertrashnav]

The ribbons are GSM 1918-62, Coronation Medal 1953 (the QDJM ribbon is based on this) and the UN Korea.

The 1953 Coronation medal should be at the end as it comes after campaign medals. In spite of the UN Korea Medal being a UN medal, it counts with British campaign medals for the purpose of order of wear. In fact my son wears his UN Bosnia at the front of his group of seven.

BTW Oberon it was quite possible to receive the UN Korea Medal without the Queen's Korea Medal, and indeed this was quite common among naval recipients, although less so for the army.

Quite correct Dougie, those clasps belong to the 1962 GSM. To answer brakedwell's question, the 'South Arabia' clasp was authorised in mid 1966 as I was at Khormaksar at the time. We were allowed to put the ribbon up straight away, and as a 19 year old pilot officer I was chuffed to death to have a medal! Never thought that 51 years later my medal count would still remain at one.

[Herod]

TTN.
I think it reflects the fact that we were serving in a more peaceful time. I did two tours on Wessex, and ended up with the GSM (two bars, Northern Ireland and South Arabia), and a UN medal (Cyprus). When I joined a Hercules squadron as a co-pilot, my two ribbons were unusual, not just among the young lads, but in the squadron generally. I gather now that the mess at Odiham (?) is full of DFCs, several with bars. Different world.

[Tankertrashnav]

Absolutely Herod. On the squadron in the 70s we wore woolly pulleys most of the time, so that on the rare occasions we donned number ones I would get asked where I had got my medal. Even my squadron boss had nothing, and that was not unusual. But then we were just Cold War Warriors as some of our younger members disparagingly call us!

[MReyn24050]

The ribbons are GSM 1918-62, Coronation Medal 1953 (the QDJM ribbon is based on this) and the UN Korea.

The medal ribbon is definitely not the Coronation Medal 1953
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/sabamel/8ebc7fb0-231b-4f63-b87b-964efbd5c042_zpsph0jm4ic.jpg

but is I believe the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/sabamel/89ab9752-78c9-410f-95a7-e0c643897e30_zpslkyeori9.jpg

They possibly meant it to be the Coronation medal.

[oldpax]

There were two Lightnings on 8 sqdn dispersal doing tropical trails (no missiles!)this was late 1961,they left by ship in the December1961.

[Tankertrashnav]

Mreyn - looking at your enlargement you are correct, with my eyesight I didnt pick that up from the original photo. It is probably the closest they could get to the 53 Coronation medal, but considering you can get this from any number of sources for a quid or so a length its pretty slack not to have got it right.

[ArthurR]

I remember a friend of mine was supposed to be tour-ex early in 67, he was a sprayer, but they kept him there to spray a Bev, so duty done he returned to UK, but on one side of the aircraft he had sprayed "Royal Air Farce Muddle East" it was quite a while before one of the zobs spotted it.

[MReyn24050]

Mreyn - looking at your enlargement you are correct, with my eyesight I didnt pick that up from the original photo. It is probably the closest they could get to the 53 Coronation medal, but considering you can get this from any number of sources for a quid or so a length its pretty slack not to have got it right.

Thanks no problem they also seem to have picked the Northern Ireland Home Service Medal a long service medal awarded to members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and its successor the Royal Irish Regiment. Established in 1992 for his supposedly General Service Medal. He must be a time traveller.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/sabamel/Medal%203_zpsoxkbz8wb.jpg

[Geriaviator]

https://s1.postimg.org/51fmupv4cf/Camelcart.jpg

Herod, the shopping area you visited with your mother was the Crescent in Steamer Point, pictured above. In faroff days before air travel the liners and troopers would anchor in the inner harbour and passengers/tourists would go ashore by launch. Along the arcade on the right are the big shops of Cowasjee Dinshaw and Shilay Yehuda.

I've just found this very interesting thread and can offer a few more pictures of Aden/Khormaksar where my father was stationed in 1951/52. They have been posted before, but Photobucket demands $400 a year for hosting so I'm gradually reposting them. Aden was an unforgettable experience for a small boy, even though he had been to India already.

Like all Service families our journey began 12 weeks ahead with the inoculation parade. The queue of National Servicemen stretched all the way round RAF Binbrook’s SSQ, waiting for the jabs for yellow fever, smallpox, tetanus and the dreaded TABC, a cocktail against typhoid and typhus which laid out mother and myself with flu-like symptoms which lasted a week. On the previous day the medical orderlies were busy sterilising their big glass syringes and sharpening their needles on whetstones, for use-once needles hadn't been thought of yet.So began our great adventure. Our group of 10/11 year olds were collectively known (and often dreaded) as the Khormaksar Kids, and that was in polite circles. Adults hated the place but we greatly enjoyed the posting, and an account of Aden through 10-year-old eyes runs every couple of days from post #3515 p176 at http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/329990-gaining-r-f-pilots-brevet-ww-ii-176.html (http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/329990-gaining-r-f-pilots-brevet-ww-ii-176.html)

https://s1.postimg.org/56eeyi0uxb/Khormaksar_1951.jpg

The aerial photo was taken overhead the Officers' Married Quarters which were on the opposite side of the Sheikothman Road from us hoi polloi. The Kids were dissuaded from entering therein for reasons we could not understand, though looking back perhaps young Graham's insertion of Qty 4, Locust size 4", via the window of OMQ No. 27, Adjutant and Lady for the habitation of, might have had something to do with it. :8

[zetec2]

The "Native Compound" became the 69 Club, I lived in one of the low huts marked as NAAFI, there was a NAAFI shop between the Guards accomodation and teh barrack blocks though, isn't that the paper shop at bottom center ?, I was there in 62-64 so hasn't change much. Paul H 105 Sqn.

[Rosevidney1]

Love the camel drawn vehicle in the photo. Anyone remember the Salim Ali Abdou Little Aden Bus Company? It needed to be a full length vehicle to get the full company name on!

[oldpax]

The 69 club was much better than the NAFFI!!Great steaks!Incidentally for those not familier with the place the 69 club ,69 refers to B.F.P.O. 69 !!!!

[Saint Jack]

I arrived at RAF Khormaksar in March 1965 on a direct flight from Gatwick Airport. I believe the aircraft was a British United (?) Britannia. As an SAC Airframe Mechanic with absolutely no helicopter experience I was naturally assigned the Rotary Wing Support Section (or whatever it was called) and found myself taking care of a couple of bright yellow Whirlwinds and a handful of silver and white Belvederes. A little later, these were joined with a squadron of Wessex in European camouflage colours. They had been shipped-in on either HMS Albion or HMS Bulwark (I can never remember which).
I found the daily routine interesting and learned a lot by working on three different helicopter types simultaneously. But my off-duty times were also very interesting, I enjoyed exploring Aden (except Crater which was out-of-bounds to us) and found many interesting places. One location in particular still brings back happy memories. It was a small hotel in The Crescent (if I remember correctly) which had a small roof-top bar that was decorated in such a way that it wouldn't be out of place in an old Humphrey Bogart movie (think Rick's Bar on a smaller scale). Clearly it wasn't well known as there was never more than two or three customers present. But boy, did they make a fresh lime drink that was do die for.
On the camp I got a job as a part-time waiter at the Sergeants Mess, usually for bigger functions, and I would turn-up with my long black trousers, pristine white shirt and cummerbund in RAF-colours. The job was up-paid but of course that was immaterial as the tips more than made up for it. Plus it was something to do to stave-off the boredom and boozing that was so common.
Then someone found out that I was a baby-sitter on my previous station and that opened-up another way to beat the rather hum-drum social life. Baby-sitting is a great way to pass the time and earn some pocket money.
Towards the end of 1965 we learned that the Belvederes were to be transferred to 66 Squadron at RAF Seletar in Singapore. In due time they were flown on to either HMS Albion or HMS Bulwark (I can never remember which) and together with some ground-crew, set sail for Singapore. The remainder of the ground crew, myself included, flew to Singapore via Manama, Bahrain (Hastings to Manama then Comet to Changi).
A week or so prior to the Belvederes leaving Khormaksar, a handful of Wessex from 848 NAS arrived at our dispersal, but I really don't know their task or how long they stayed.
Looking back at my time at RAF Khormaksar I believe I rather enjoyed it, I found things to do that kept me from lying on my bed all day - as many did - and saw different aspects of daily life in this large base, and in Aden as a whole, that others hardly knew about.

[zetec2]

Guess the roof top terrace and bar was on top of the Rock Hotel, shirts and ties, supposedly out of bounds to airmen, oh no it wasn't !.

[Tankertrashnav]

Saint Jack I remember that hotel in The Crescent well and although I don't ever recollect visiting the rooftop bar I agree the fresh lime squash was amazing!

I relented and watched the first episode of The Last Post on catch-up and continued with tonight's episode. Thus weeks puzzler was one of the NCOs ringing home from Aden to speak to his dad in Scotland. In 1965? I don't think so!

(I mean, did they have phones in Scotland in 1965? ;))

[Herod]

TTN.

I think people have forgotten what it used to be like back in the sixties/seventies. I've not watched last night's episode yet, so can't comment on that. I never tried calling from Khormaksar back in '67, but I suspect it would be close to impossible, and would probably need authorisation from on high.

In 1974 I was stopping over in Townsville, Queensland, with a Hercules, and wanted to ring my wife back in UK. After contacting the "international operator", it was a wait of nearly thirty minutes before the call was connected.

[Pontius Navigator]

On medals, he would not have qualified for the post 1962 GSM as he had only just arrived in theatre. TTN should remember at what point you were qualified and could thus put up the ribbon.

[brakedwell]

I stayed at the Rock Hotel in April 1958 when I was on Hastings, shuttling the Para Regiment from Nairobi to Aden, then we returned to Lyneham via Bahrain and Nicosia. These photos were taken from the balcony off my room.

[Pontius Navigator]

Shot in South Africa explains one missing feature; the unrelenting heat. Those lily white bodies would have been baby pink in a few hours, everyone, not just the Sgt in episode 2, would have been drenched in sweat. The officers' uniforms would have been board stiff from starch.

Sunglasses would probably have been far more in evidence. The BP man in a shirt, tie and trousers would have been dressed colonial style not in evening rig. He would have been in KD shorts, long white socks, desert boots and a shirt. The latter probably white and short sleeved and maybe with a tie but more likely not.

Only there for one week in September but we would retreat to the Merryfield air con at the first opportunity and then neck down a couple of pints of squash. The groundcrew and eng offs were billeted in the Red Sea Hotel.

Down the pools at Tarshine (sic?) beach we needed flip flops to walk on the concrete pool surround. The intensity of the sun meant I could only swim in that part of one of the pools shaded with the brushwood umbrellas.

I recall many 'locals' would sleep on the verandas of the blocks and not indoors. The beautifully equipped barrack room in episode 2 was ott appearing to have a carpet and blankets on the beds.

PS:

Where would they have got that much ice to fill a bucket in 1960s?

PPS:

Who would trust an officer with a machine gun?

[brakedwell]

ISTR most of the wives made their own cotton dresses on bargain priced Brothers sewing machines purchased in the Crescent. Some looked good in them, a lot of them did not :E

Episode 2 was over the top. I doubt the RMP would have been involved with an operation like that and I suspect air cover would have been standing by. Unless of course 8 Squadron were having a piss up in the Jungle Bar :E:E

[Dundiggin']

I was at Steamer Point living in the block on the hill with the longest walk back (and up!) from the airman's mess. I moved out of the rooms in this non air conditioned block on to the veranda to escape the bed bugs in the rooms. Horrendous bed bugs inside the rooms but none outside. The veranda was perfect. We had bed bugs despite the Middle East Pest Control Unit being only 100 yds down the road from the block!!:\

[Dundiggin']

I was at Steamer Point 65/67 living in the block on the hill with the longest walk back (and up!) from the airman's mess. I moved out of the rooms in this non air conditioned block on to the veranda to escape the bed bugs! Horrendous bed bugs inside the rooms but none outside. The veranda was perfect. We had bed bugs despite the Middle East Pest Control Unit being only 100 yds down the road from the block!!:\

[Pontius Navigator]

Dundiggin, you can say that again :)

I also recall seeing a fair number of officers who went native (PC?) and wore sarongs or whatever rather than PJs.

[Pontius Navigator]

brakedwell, and doing the insertion in full daylight. I don't know what they did in those days but surely a night time insertion, layup, dawn recce to ensure they had the right target. I missed the point of having a 'stranger' RMP Sgt in the party.

[Geriaviator]

https://s20.postimg.org/uqoqj0ve5/Jebel_and_barrackblock.jpg

Phone calls home when we were there in 1952 were virtually unheard of, would have cost a week's wages and had to be booked a week or so in advance, even then could take an hour or two to set up. Families used telegrams, welcome if a happy event was expected, dreaded when unexpected as it was usually bad news.

The Last Post gives a good idea of up-country Aden though no way would the Services have taken a civvy on patrol, still less a woman. A real-life patrol is pictured above; imagine the heat in the cab of the Bedford QL, with its engine between the seats. (As a 10-year-old in those innocent Fifties, Geriaviator cannot comment on the authenticity of the bedroom manoeuvres. All the mummies and daddies I knew were too exhausted for such gymnastics, though on second thoughts ...)

Khormaksar was normally quiet in the sweltering afternoons, adults taking to their charpoys, we Kids plotting mayhem around the swimming pool a mile away on the east of the airfield. Except for the afternoon when P/Off Gurd flew his Brigand between the group of three airmen's barrack blocks shown on the aerial pic above. The twin-Centaurus thunder awoke the Patch and most of Maala as well, while one of my father's airmen on the third floor said he had looked down on the top of the Brigand. We Kids thought it was terrific, the OC did not, and Dad said afterwards that the offending P/O had a further eight months added to his Aden posting. This was reckoned to be worse than the Glasshouse.

[MPN11]

Just finished watching Episode 1 on iPlayer ... I have no idea about the accuracy of the portrayal, but it certainly gives me a sensation of not wanting to be posted there back then. Singapore was much nicer.

[Dougie M]

PN
"Trusting an officer with a machine gun". As Junior Officer of the Guard I was bo**ocked on my first duty for not wearing the "pin on" GSM on week one. Depending on currency one was offered the choice between the trusty rusty .38 revolver or the Sterling SMG. Being alone at night in an open top landie with a mesh cage over the top when checking the sangars out on the Sheikh Othman perimeter it was the Sterling every time.

[Pontius Navigator]

Singapore was much nicer.

And probably MUCH more dangerous - Bughis Street!

I remember the shops down towards Steamer Point all with Union Jacks, British names, English welcome etc to get the cruise ship trade. And up at Crater doing their level best to kill you.

I remember one instance, reported in the UK press,when the soldiers were only allowed out when carrying their personal weapon. One squad in the paras had been challenged and responded that the 2 inch mortar was his personal weapon and he could fire it from the hip. It said they had no troubles in Crater.

Then there was the Battle of Crater:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Mitchell

Mitchell would have been of the same vintage as the RMP Major. The latter w
could most likely have seen war service and had rather more medals that he originally sported.

[brakedwell]

We had to guard our block of flats on the Maalla Straight at night. Can't remember whether it was all night, but it was a pain in the ar*se. We were rostered by the block commander, a Squadron Leader Education Officer from Steamer Point, who was not fit to carry a catapult. The block had one Smith and Wesson 38 revolver with five rounds of ancient 1940's vintage bullets, which would have struggled to reach the end of the barrel when the trigger was pulled. I spent a lot of time away on the Argosy, but still had to complete my number of guard duties when I returned home. Our esteemed block commander had a near miss one night when he mistook a Cameronian night Patrol for a terrorist assault and fired the said revolver into the darkness from car parking area on the ground floor of the flats. Fortunately it was lit up, so the patrol saw him plainly and did not retaliate.

[Herod]

I have to agree Dougie, the Stirling every time. I didn't drive in those days, so when JOG, some poor driver was detailed. At least it meant the Stirling was ready for use. IIRC, it could be loaded and cocked, then the safety catch applied?

[MPN11]

And probably MUCH more dangerous - Bughis Street!
Bugis Street was pretty harmless, as long as you looked after your wallet. :cool:

However, during my time there was a bit of 'local unrest'. One one occasion I was driving back from Nee Soon Range with half a dozen .22 rifles in the back of my roof-less Sprite when I encountered a small mob in one of the villages on the way. A quick 'pedal to the metal' resolved the situation!

[brakedwell]

Bugis Street was pretty harmless, as long as you looked after your wallet. :cool:


Speak for yourself :eek:

[Pontius Navigator]

PN
"Trusting an officer with a machine gun". As Junior Officer of the Guard I was bo**ocked on my first duty for not wearing the "pin on" GSM on week one. Depending on currency one was offered the choice between the trusty rusty .38 revolver or the Sterling SMG. Being alone at night in an open top landie with a mesh cage over the top when checking the sangars out on the Sheikh Othman perimeter it was the Sterling every time.

SMG yes, but a Browning M2 Machine Gun or whatever they mounted on Land Rovers in those days! Sounds a lethal combination. As for the GSM, I was referring to the fact that the Captain, unless he had a previous qualifying appointment between 1962 and the day would not have been entitled on day one or indeed week one.

[Pontius Navigator]

Bugis Street was pretty harmless, as long as you looked after your wallet. :cool

Not that easy. I can picture the theft even now.

The drunken officer on 44, whose name escapes me, was sufficiently alert to place his wallet on the table rather than a pocket. Placed one hand over wallet, second hand over first, and head on both hands.

The good news was the locals were so annoyed with the young tealeaf (about 12) that they caught him, leathered him, and returned the wallet.

The other danger, to which Brakewell no doubt alluded, was faulty target recognition. A risk now present in Aden.

[MPN11]

Well, if I may continue to digress, there was the occasion when a group of us took a newly-arrived chap from 45 Sqn to Bugis Street for his first night out. He had been cautioned in detail about looking after his valuables. As soon as we parked, we were surrounded by a bunch of the local lasses. He held on to his valuables, they grabbed hold of his other valuables, and in the blink of an eye ... we had to buy him food and drink for the rest of the evening. Fortunately his F1250 was in a different location.

There was a strange morality down there. Our group always used the same little makan place (Hi, Mick, if you're still around). We got known to the local crew, including assorted Shims, and were not seen as potential clients. But 'Christine' occasionally sat and joined us for a chat, and even stood his own round of beers. Funny old place!

[Shack37]

I arrived in K´sar May 1966 and departed brokenhearted on Oct. 22nd 1967.
My time there was made less unpleasant by regular detachments to Sharjah, occasionally to Bahrain and one short but memorable one to Majunga (thank you Mr. Smith).
The link below is a copy of the Aden Closure Op Order which may be of interest to some readers. Thanks to ex comrades of 37Sqn Chris Dance and Dave Mcandless.


Khormaksar rundown and withdrawal plans (http://www.radfanhunters.co.uk/Khormaksar%20Rundown%20-%201967.htm)

[Warmtoast]

Bugis Street was pretty harmless, as long as you looked after your wallet
I have fond memories! Witness this photo taken of one of the "Ladyboys" looking for custom.


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Far%20East%20Trip%201979/Image5%20Blurred_zpsfjlvaxdv.jpg

[brakedwell]

I was in Bugis Street with my (Britannia) crew when the comedian Dave Allen asked to join us after his guides, a couple of QANTAS stewards, had gone back to their hotel. He was on his way to OZ and was having a short break in Singapore. It was a very amusing night with no noughts and crosses!

[Herod]

Shack37.

Interesting Op Order. Didn't quite work out that way though, did it?
"Total RAF complement remaining on 31st December is estimated at 350." AFAIK, nobody was there after independence; 30th November. Brave men if they were.
What is a specially equipped Wessex 10, which will take on IS duties? My logbook shows I flew a night IS sortie from "Intrepid" on 25th November, and that was a Wessex 2.

As I believe MacMillan said "events dear boy, events"

[ICM]

As I read it, the Op Order text includes some of the changes that "events" forced upon us. For example, I was there on 105 Sqn (Argosies) for which the original plan was a move to Muharraq at the end of 1967, with a reduction to 6AE and a Sqn Ldr command. I did a ferry back to the UK at the end of June 67, shortly after the Crater revolt. I got back around 21 July to discover that local events had brought the move forward, with some aircraft and crews already gone, and that I should pack and clear my room as I was going on the next day. As I recall, that was just the start of an early rundown and redeployment of Khormaksar-based aircraft.

[Herod]

For anyone who has been following the TV series "The Last Post", there is a thread going on History and Nostalgia. After lots of discussion of the VC10 in the opening sequence, I contacted the film company. This might interest some people. A bit of trickery.

https://www.facebook.com/blackgingertv/?hc_ref=ARSK3HNFz4MLThpZzBNsRlWlRqJ5SMkFGg8ydRV0KgMX9YMwCHsr sX0JLjSfVpu-xNg&fref=nf

Clever stuff.

[Tankertrashnav]

As for the GSM, I was referring to the fact that the Captain, unless he had a previous qualifying appointment between 1962 and the day would not have been entitled on day one or indeed week one.

I arrived at Khormaksar in April 1966 and at the time the clasp 'South Arabia' for the GSM had not been authorised, this did not happen until around June or July as I recall, at which time we were all able to put the ribbon up. We did have one officer on our squadron who already had the GSM, possibly for Borneo, and he already wore the ribbon on his bush jacket.

[Lord Riot]

Pretty sure they're CGI.

Those Lightnings definitely look fake don't they. The roundels are too big as well, and slightly too far forward. Plus, they're in low-viz grey, yet the programme is set in the '60s; they should have been silver! And how would they taxi on that dusty, rutted surface?

[Herod]

Agreed, Lord Riot. Don't forget though that they were making a drama and most things like that pass the average viewer by. Generally, having seen two episodes, not a bad series. The Dhala Road; I'm glad that got a mention. Somewhere in among my collection of squadron, aircraft etc ties, I think there is a Dhala Road one. IIRC, three diagonal stripes Light brown for the desert, blue for the sky, and in between grey for the road.

[Geriaviator]

In the early 50s Khormaksar's roads, runways and movement areas were packed gypsum. We had a rain shower one year and surfaces became slippery for all of 10 minutes until they dried out. Brigands, Varsities, the occasional Hastings, Aden/Ethiopian Airways Daks, BOAC Argonauts and Hermes, and elegant TWA Constellations often trailed a plume of dust as they became airborne.

[Geriaviator]

Thanks Jenkins, Valetta it was, memory tricks again. In our time this chubby product of Vickers was always referred to as a Pig. :hmm:

[Geriaviator]

https://s20.postimg.org/6tkftgwdp/Hastings_Khormak.jpg

Early 1953 and Geriaviator checks over his Hastings for next day's long trip home. In fact it was two days, we night stopped at (I think) Castel Benito. Resident Pig in background. Back to freezing England at Lyneham, then a night at the old Navy transit camp at Clyffe Pypard, then five months in the ghastly camp at Croft near Warrington. I see from Google that the site with its wartime single-skin brick huts has been cleared to become a housing estate.

[zetec2]

Noticed the Argosy (hurrah for 105 !) but no serial numbers on the tail and a poor attempt at Kenya Cold, frozen chickens (turkey - yes it was ) in plastic picnic boxes, that's not the way I remember it from our runs, Paul H (105 Sqn 62-64)

[Herod]

I guess CGI again, but someone else can ask this time. If they're delivering to HQ, which seems to be in Aden itself, that should have been Khormaksar.

[Dundiggin']

I know the Aden program (The Last Post) has been criticised for irrelevant medal ribbons. But I was in Aden for two years 65/67 and was one of the very last servicemen to leave Steamer Point. In its' defence I find the program is spooky and worryingly realistic. It fills me with the same sinking feeling of discomfort I had the whole time I was there. The scenes are IMO entirely accurate and exactly as I remember the place.. The only thing missing is the smell of camels! I expect the next episode will have a wife dangling by rope off a balcony in Maala or the laundry basket exploding having had a jumping jack mine planted within. :eek: Bloody awful place and without doubt the ar@sehole of the World.

[Herod]

Dundigin'. I agree with you. I was also there to the end. If you were airlifted out by RAF Wessex, it could have been me. Yes, the series is frighteningly realistic, within the bounds of having to produce drama. You probably saw my posts regarding how the VC10 scene was produced. Clever stuff. Of course, South Africa could never be Aden as was (thank goodness), and to recreate Khormaksar for a few scenes would have been very expensive, and not worth it for the average viewer.

[Pontius Navigator]

I thought the scenes where the RMP officers entered dens of iniquity were wholly improbable. Likewise the exposure of the journalist in a Muslim den.

[Herod]

Not so sure Pontius. The young Squaddie going in, and the female journalist, yes, but the officer in civvies? Lots of odd things happened in Aden, as in any war zone (sorry, police action), but I suspect not so soon after arrival, and he would have a bit more about him, like a knowledge of Arabic. Shukran, Effendi.

[brakedwell]

If these "dens" were in Crater they would have been too dangerous to visit at that time. Last Post lost the plot with the arrival of the glamorous American reporter. TBH I was waiting for a bomb or hand grenade at the BP Club, much more realistic, but it never happened.

I remember a grenade being thrown by an Arab waiter during a Steamer Point Officers Mess dining in night. When it landed on the table everyone dived to the floor. The only injury was a WRAF Officer, who was a bit slow and ended up with shrapnel in her derrier :eek:

[AnglianAV8R]

I know the Aden program (The Last Post) has been criticised for irrelevant medal ribbons. But I was in Aden for two years 65/67 and was one of the very last servicemen to leave Steamer Point. In its' defence I find the program is spooky and worryingly realistic. It fills me with the same sinking feeling of discomfort I had the whole time I was there. The scenes are IMO entirely accurate and exactly as I remember the place.. The only thing missing is the smell of camels! I expect the next episode will have a wife dangling by rope off a balcony in Maala or the laundry basket exploding having had a jumping jack mine planted within. :eek: Bloody awful place and without doubt the ar@sehole of the World.

Was there too, 64-66. Dad was a pongo at 15 Sigs Regt, Khormaksar. I remember school bus runs from Maala with a squaddie on board. Northumberland Fusiliers. I travelled in a signals despatch LandRover from Little Aden to Khormaksar... real adventure for a five year old. Dad used to exceed 90 hours per week in the Comcen, then take his turn on stag outside our flats, with SLR + 10 rounds. I remember being sternly warned to not pick anything up for obvious reasons. I still vividly recall the enormous whoosh and bang as an RPG type weapon was fired at the red Sea Hotel, next to the first flats we lived in which were called Elbaz Buildings. Then we moved to Maala, to a block called Columbo A or B. Arsehole of the world ? No, I say not so. It was what you made of it and we had a fantastic time in spite of the security situation. Such as all heading out to Elephant bay for a BBQ. I had to share my toys at Christmas, as we had a bunch of single lads at ours. It is tragic to see the state of the place now, and it isn't down to the locals either. They really had made something of the place, but somebody decided to start a war.

[Pontius Navigator]

Brakedwell, it was suggestive of a bomb as the maid was warned to leave, then the missing son was a perfect excuse to get the principals away from they party while a few of the extras were blown up. Kidnapping the boy was entirely opportunistic.

That journalist would have been there at

[Danny42C]

Very late in the day, and tucked up in bed this morning with my tablet, waiting for my morning "cuppa", and looking for something to see on iPlayer, came across "Last Post", which I had never previously watched, being inherently allergic to 'Redcaps'. Now it struck me that, as this Thread seems to have strayed in that direction, that an input from Geriaviator (qv) might be a good idea, as he does not appear (after very cursory flick through nearly 500 Posts) to be aboard this Thread so far. But he is a busy man, so I've taken it upon myself ..........

Of course he's here ! Mea Culpa ! (Danny pleads Senile Decay)

After (predictably) drawing a blank with "Pilots Brevet - Search this Thread", I fell back on Google, which did the business and turned up these two 2013 Posts from Geriaviator. Now I am defying all normal conventions, and reprinting (without having previously asked his permission - but he is a good chap and I'm sure he won't mind) them in their entirety. I think that the majority will find them as hilarious as I did - and still do. (The first is necessary to fully understand the second).

And I beg the Moderater's infinite forbearance !

Danny.

Geriaviator.
19th Feb 2013, 12:56
https://s1.postimg.org/7yn7hgkr27/Dunera_and_75_W.jpg

RAF KHORMAKSAR in 1951 is a wonderful place for a precocious 10 year old, with lots of exciting things to discover, not least in the Medical Officer’s surgery which I am visiting for an ear infection. On the wall is a huge poster bearing the interesting legend: GUARD AGAINST VD!

“Mum, what’s VD?” I pipe up. “Just be thankful you haven’t got it, son, you’ll find out soon enough”, she replies. “Yes, but how can I guard against it if I don’t know what it is?” Mother looks imploringly at the MO, Flt Lt Powell, who has bowed his head and is shuffling papers on his desk. “That’s right, you don’t have to worry about it. It’s something that only affects grown ups”. “How do you catch it, sir?”, I persist. “Is it something like the flu? Why don’t children catch it? Do you get it at home, or just out here in Aden?” “Well, it’s not quite like flu, but you don’t need to worry, only grown ups catch it”. “Have you had it, sir?” I ask.

Then I notice that the MO is in some distress. His face has turned red, his eyes are watering and he has his hand over his mouth the way my little sister does when she’s going to throw up. That’s enough, says mum, show the doctor your sore ear. No swimming for another fortnight, he says, exchanging glances with my mother. There’s something going on here, I think, but there’s no further discussion as I am marched schoolwards at the double despite the heat that hits us like a wave as we emerge from the cool sick quarters.

Our house is on the corner of the married patch, overlooking the RAF school and only 50 yds away. This can be a mixed blessing, as my best friend David Brindley and I found last week when re-enacting She Wore a Yellow Ribbon after its premiere in the Astra Cinema. We gallop into our livingroom ahead of the Seventh Cavalry to find Miss Buckle our teacher has popped over for tea with my parents. Miss Buckle is very old, I overheard Mum tell Dad she was about 38. Like a cobra, she reacts instantly to any sudden movement by small boys and impales us with her basilisk stare before she remembers where she is and bares her teeth in a terrifying smile instead. It gives me quite a fright while David is so shaken he doesn’t come near our house for a week.

Mum leaves me to the classroom door, I slip into my seat and tell Miss Buckle that I won’t be able to swim in the school contest. “That’s a pity, is your ear still sore?” Yes miss, but mum says I should be thankful I haven’t got VD”. “She said WHAT?” I wilt under Miss Buckle’s terrifying glare, and fear I’ve said something wrong. “Please miss, it says about VD on the MO’s wall and when I asked him what it was he said it’s a grown up problem and I’m not to worry because children can’t catch it”.

Miss Buckle’s face turns red, her mouth twitches, she lifts her desk lid and rummages around inside it, head down. What’s wrong, I wonder? Miss Buckle is not well, maybe she has caught ... an awful possibility crosses my mind. I hope that Graham hasn’t caught one of the four-inch locusts that drift across from Ethiopia. He likes to hide one in her desk so it flies out with a mighty whirr when the desk is opened, because Miss Buckle gets very excited when this happens and while it’s most entertaining to watch in normal times we are in an unstable situation here. Robert pokes me in the back with a ruler and asks what it’s all about, while David is muttering something from across the aisle. We don’t notice Miss Buckle racing down the classroom until the crack of ruler on close cropped head and yelps of pain end further discussion.

When school ends at lunchtime we head for the pool and spend our afternoon discussing this mysterious illness. We can’t think of the answer ... but we know a man who can.
Tomorrow: our mystery deepens as the Khormaksar Kids fall under the icy shadow of the Cold War. :ooh:
c

Geriaviator
3rd Mar 2013, 16:44
https://s20.postimg.org/92s21sgbx/church.jpg

1. In the beginning the Lord created the Heavens and the Earth, and the light, and every living creature that moveth. And He created that place which is called, Aden; and for some it was heaven, and for some it was hell.

2. And the Lord created His servant which He called, Padre Ashe; and He made his servant’s voice of the booming thunder, and the people feared the voice for it boometh for many hours. Or so did it seem to the people.

3. And it came to pass that the Padre Ashe did summon to the House of the Lord all people that did dwell in the place that was called, Khormaksar. And the people did enter the House two by two and in their proper order: behold the Group Captain in his Great Headgear of Gold, his Officers, their Ladies, the Sergeants in their raiment of Best Blue, their wives, their Kids, and all manner of lesser creatures, yea, even onto the lowly Erks that did creep upon the airfield.

4. And the Lord’s servant Padre Ashe gazed upon the assembled multitude, and it was good in his eyes; and he boometh on and on and on and on before them, yea, even above the mighty blasts as of a brazen trumpet; for Flt Sgt Smith did partake of the juice of the grape the night before, and the mirth of the people did fall upon him as he slumbered.

5. Now the child Graham was of the Kids, yet not of the Kids, for he was of the Israelites and so attended not the Church Parade, and he did wander abroad that Lord’s Day morning. And lo, the devil appeareth before Graham and sheweth onto him that portal in the House which they calleth, Emergency Door. And the child Graham fell into temptation and did open that portal, and did place therein certain of the Lord’s creatures, that is to say, the locusts which destroyeth the land, and his great land crab which he had named, Abdul; and the child Graham closed that door and crept away as a thief in the night.

6. Then did the twenty and two locusts rise as one to perform low-level circuits at full boost and max revs, and the House was filled with the mighty whirring of their wings, and the Ladies cried out in their fear. And beneath them the great land crab which the child Graham had named, Abdul, did run across the bare toes of the Ladies, and they called out in their terror, and Mrs. Edwards did fall to the ground with the vapours.

7. Now the tumult awakened Flt Sgt Smith from his slumbers, and he cast his hymnal upon the great crab which was named, Abdul, and did smite him thereon: and in his alarm the great crab named, Abdul, did seize the toe of Mrs. Evans, and in her fear she leapt up and did spill the Communion wine upon her finest raiment of Dior white, and her cry of woe rose to the heavens, where all the while the twenty and two locusts did orbit in furious formation. And the Padre saith Behold, the plague of locusts is upon thee for thy sins, and the people milled about in disarray.

8. Then did the Padre’s voice of thunder arise above the tumult, saying, Suffer the little children. And the people replied, saying, Thou bet they will suffer. And the mummies and daddies seized the Kids by their necks and bore them from the House while in vain the Kids piteously cried out their innocence; for well the people kneweth whence came all pestilence in their midst.

9. And as the weeping Kids were borne past him, the Group Captain did turn from them his countenance, for it was red as of the setting sun, and his eyes watereth, and his hand was before his mouth, and he uttereth a gasping noise. And thereby the Kids did learn that the dread Russian plague of VD had fallen upon their station commander, for he guardeth not against it as the MO did warn.

10. And behold, the wrath of the Lord did fill the right arms of the daddies, and verily the Rod of the Lord did fall mightily upon the backsides of the Kids, and they were cast into the darkness of their bedrooms without any supper: and the Patch was filled with wailing and lamentation.

NEXT THRILLING INSTALMENT: In a little-known chapter of Cold War history, RAF Khormaksar converts to Judaism.

[Herod]

Keep it going, Danny. It beats the pants off the BBC news at the moment. Thanks to Geriaviator.

[FODPlod]

Bleddy hilarious. Please keep it coming.

[Wander00]

that's anther bl@@dy keyboard almost soaked in coffee

[Geriaviator]

https://s20.postimg.org/92s21sgbx/church.jpg


Geriaviator has no doubt that the departure of the Kids from RAF Khormaksar 65 years ago (picture, #461 above) was welcomed by the long-suffering residents of that terrible place. As fellow Pruners seem to enjoy Danny's resurrection of the Khormaksar Kids stories, here is an account of how the station almost converted to Judaism, and the long-suffering Padre Ashe faced redundancy.


RAF KHORMAKSAR CONVERTS TO JUDAISM

WE’RE ALL confined to quarters following the Church Parade incident, and during my ample time to meditate I experience a wondrous conversion. I’m going to become a Jew like Graham.

No more Sunday School, great. No more Padre Ashe droning on in church, even better. Leaving class and heading for home when Padre Ashe conducts the religious instruction, best of all. On our release from confinement the Kids join up in jubilant agreement and at the pool all our friends on National Service think it’s a great idea, they will convert too. The news goes round our little station community like wildfire, and now Dad says all his airmen want to be Jews as well.

We knew who caused the church uproar as soon as we spotted Abdul, who when not attending Church Parade lives a contented life in a box at Graham’s back door, eating kitchen scraps and seizing the odd cockroach as a delicacy. Graham commiserates on the grievous injustice we have suffered, listens with satisfaction as we describe the ensuing chaos, and tells us that he retrieved an indignant Abdul after Padre Ashe had ejected him with a brush. He has already rebuilt his stock of locusts, you never know when they’ll be handy for annoying somebody. Graham keeps a pocketful of locust fuselages for his pet, and we feed these tasty morsels to Abdul as Graham begins our instruction into the Jewish faith.

We learn that the Jews have a rabbi not a Padre, or rather they don’t have one at RAF Khormaksar because his family are the only Jews. A major benefit is that Jews do not go to church, instead they go to something called a Sinner-gog. But Graham has never been to one, and there isn’t one in Aden because the Arabs might object, we can’t think why but hey, it’s all good news. Robert says that Padre Ashe is always talking about sinners being washed clean of sin, so we conclude that the Sinner-gog must be some sort of theological laundry.

Graham tells us about the Ark, the bar mitzvah and some sort of candlestick they bring out on a Saturday night. The Ark is no problem, we can launch it at Steamer Point Lido as long as it fits in the gharri, and we could sail it round the harbour. I recall that mum has a bra thing as some part of her underwear, and we fall about at the idea of wearing a candlestick as a vest, we don’t wear vests in Aden anyway because it’s too hot. These are but minor details, and clearly Judaism is the way to go.

We announce our decision to our parents, who have met at Graham’s house for lunch. They are very encouraging and agree that the benefits make our decision a no-brainer, for Judaism requires only one teensy weensy thing in return. We listen with mounting horror as the contribution which Judaism requires of its male members is gently but fully explained to us.

Shortly afterwards three committed Christians and a solitary Israelite set out for the swimming pool.

[Danny42C]

Geriaviator,

I'm pleased to see that my exhortations have taken effect,* and you've graced this Thread with your matchless tales of Old Aden and its fauna and inhabitants !

Thik hai, chota Sahib,

Danny.

Note * above, see my Edit on #471 ... there's no hope for me ! - sorry,
Geriaviator

[Wander00]

Geriaviator - another bl@@dy keyboard, almost!

[Herod]

Wander00. You've been on this forum long enough to know that you don't drink coffee at the same time. Says he, with a cup just here.

[oldpax]

On the post about houses of ill repute,there were some of Malla straight!!

[Pontius Navigator]

Oldpax, one shudders at the thought.

[Wander00]

Herod - too true. I have chastised myself

[brakedwell]

On the post about houses of ill repute,there were some of Malla straight!!

I wonder where they were.

[Rosevidney1]

The song 'Malla Mary' doesn't summon up a vision of a Salvation Army worker to me.......

[Danny42C]

On "Last Post", how do they manage to keep their KD so parade-fresh all daY ? - must have a damn fine "dhobi-wallah"!

[Dundiggin']

Danny...

As I said in an earlier submission I was at Steamer Point living in the highest airman's block up the mountain. Sweaty or wot! But I am sure there were similarities between the two Bases. Anyway, the 'dhobi-wallas' (DW) we had were unbelievable! Daily we would leave our dirty clothes wrapped in a towel on our beds. The DW (females) would pick up the bundles wrap them (about 50 odd bundles!) in a sheet and then balance them on their heads and carry them further up the mountain to the DW 'laundry' :ooh:. They would mark every thing with an individual 'dhobi-mark' on the labels of each individual item of laundry and then wash the clothes and hang them on the line to dry. Bloody great lines of dhobi out in the sun!

They then collated it (matched the dhobi marks mostly!), starched and ironed the shirts and shorts and then delivered the lot down the mountain in the afternoon! There was hardly ever a mistaken dhobi-mark.

I was in awe of this organisation it was brilliant!! and dead cheap! :D
That's probably why the rozzer's kit looks squeeky clean !! :ok:

[Pontius Navigator]

And that is an error in the programme, the uniforms are not starched. As we were on a no notice standby our batties in Merryfield, at a cost, could do a one hour service. When we moved to Malaysia the DW there, Chinese apapted the Aden laundry mark that had already been modified in Gan.

[Fareastdriver]

We had a similar dhobi arrangement in Belize though the laundry marks could be quite big.

Friday collection wasn't returned until Monday. Sometimes you would see the dhobi girl's boyfriend wearing your shirt on a Saturday night.

[Dougie M]

The KD for officers at Khormaksar was made from "Dacron" at the behest of the Air Commander , Johnny Johnson I believe. This man made fibre kept its crease and looked the part but it didn't absorb any perspiration. I have seen guys bathed in sweat where it ran in rivulets down their legs to be absorbed in their long socks but not a spot on the KD. It might have looked good but it gave you prickly heat under the arms and tinnia in the crotch. Thanks Johnny.

[Dundiggin']

JJ had a lot to answer for in Aden ;)

[brakedwell]

JJ had a lot to answer for in Aden ;)

Tons of Nairobi earth for his garden, His boat transported to Masirah by Beverley for a fishing trip, original David Shepherd paintings belonging to the Ksar officers mess sent off to be cleaned.

I flew JJ down to Eastleigh for an AOC’s inspection. When we parked on the allocated spot the guard of honour was lined up behind the station commander waiting for him leave the Argosy via the rear passenger door. JJ left through the round crew hatch in the nose, came up behind the welcoming party and said in a loud voice: “Got you, you bastards”, which I thought was quite amusing at the time.

[NRU74]

brakedwell - dunno about 'his' boat but we took the Air Sea Rescue launch by Beverley to Perim for one his fishing trips.
Actually, later in life, he turned over a new leaf. He retired to the village of Wormhill near Buxton and set up the 'not for profit' Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust. That organisation now has approx 5000 properties in the North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire areas which are let to 'deserving' people.

[brakedwell]

NRU74
I understand the MOD billed JJ for the Beverley when he retired soon after leaving Aden. I hope he enjoyed his fishing.

[oldpax]

Wos a rumour that the governor of Gibralter received bales of fodder for his milk cow from shacks of coastal command!!

[DeanoP]

Kamaran Island was a fishing destination from Khormaksar. I flew both JJ and his predecessor FER there. On one occasion we had to spend the night there sleeping in a very basic, derelict hut on rusty iron bedsteads. It was so hot in the hut we had to drag the beds outside and slept under the stars. We carried water and some provisions for the night stop.
I am sure the AOC had better accommodation and food. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience though.

[eko4me]

Danny42C (471) reprising Geriaviator in Aden


“In the beginning the Lord created the Heavens and the Earth…”

Now my father, an unenthusiastic RE conscript at the end of National Service had discovered that, according to Queen’s Regs, Church Parade was voluntary. He was a posting clerk, and there was a copy of the National Service Act in the office that he had digested deeply. It was to help him greatly in a financial sense later, much to the consternation of HMG, when he discovered that married men, and their wives, were not to be out of pocket …

He deeply objected to the military’s version of Church Parade – not least because he was, at the time, a Methodist Sunday school teacher. In his own words, and from his army memoirs ‘Brown Job’ …

-----

Church parade was held on Sundays. The whole regiment, one thousand or so, was assembled on the square and marched into church. Finally, the Brigadier and his entourage would arrive from Dowton Abbey, and enter. The whole congregation was brought to attention by the RSM in fine booming voice, but without testing his [f-ing] speech impediment, in deference to the stained glass and gothic interior of St George’s.
I was outraged.
I went to the RSM and asked to be relieved from the church parade.
‘Are you a f-f-f****** Roman Catholic?”
“No”
“A Jew?”
“No, Methodist”
“That’s f-f-f****** C of E”
“You’re on my f-f-f****** parade”
So I drew this cartoon…

It depicted groups of soldiers, bent over and carrying large cross, being whipped into the garrison church. I pinned it on the COs notice board. Sod it! Everyone but 2nd Lt. Pratt knew what I had done. They couldn’t believe it. We waited. The phone rang. It was the Adjutant; the second in command. I could see him across the yard through his window. He had his phone in one hand, my drawing in the other. In my ear, he ordered me to come over. Through the window he beckoned me urgently. I put on my belt and beret.
And walked through the Squadron Office. All eyes were on me. Every knew what I had done. The unsaid words were, “Bye-bye!”
“What possessed you to do this?” the Adjutant demanded, as I stood to attention in front of his desk, looking straight ahead, over his head and though the window behind him. I could see my colleagues’ white faces watching the drama unfold from where I had been a moment before.

“I feel strongly Sir, that the Army has no place in the church.”
“It is God’s house. It is nothing to do with the Brigadier, Sir”

“If the CO had seen this you would be on a charge. Do you understand? Don’t be such a damn fool”.

He tore up the cartoon and put the bits in his bin.

“Dismissed!”

But that wasn’t the end of it. The phone rang again. This time it was the RSM. He wanted to f-f-f****** see me - NOW!.

So here I was again.“Regarding my Church Parade. You will be on my f-f-f******parade, but you will stand at the f-f-f****** church door and rejoin my parade when we come out. Is that f-f-f****** understood, Corporal?”

“Yes Sir.”

I would stand outside the church door. I would be there when the Brigadiers party arrived from Downton Abbey. They would ask me why I was there. What would I say?

I decided I would tell them the reason, and to hell with it.

The day arrived. It was sunny. The Regimental band played. I really liked that. They were extremely good. The moment came.

Then the RSM’s voice rang out over the square.

“If any man here, is intending to stand at the church door let him step out of ranks now.”

He didn’t expect me or anyone to respond. I stamped several paces forward and came to a crisp, smart attention… Silence; then…“You… stand still! Regiment. Right turn. Regiment, by the left, quick march.” The band played some fabulous march which eventually was for my benefit alone. A drill sergeant marched over to me from about a mile away, and came to attention directly in front of me, his drill cane pointing at my chest. From under the peak which hid his eyes, he shouted

“The RSM says, that you will no longer attend a church parade. Understand? Dismissed!”

According to the Squadron Office, I was a ‘jammy bugger’

[Herod]

Wander00. No coffee, or another keyboard?

[Wensleydale]

Interestingly(?) there is a very readable auto-biography of a chap who flew Hunters with 8 Sqn from Khormaksar entitled "Fall Out Roman Catholics and Jews". (He had declared himself a Catholic in order to skip compulsory church parades).


Available - usually second hand - from all good book retailers (and a few rubbish ones).


https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51odpkjsAcL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

[Wander00]

Coffee cup banished to side table


I will recall, again, the fine words of an order issued by the CWO at the Towers one fine morning -"Roman Catholics and other non Christians, fall......out". Long, pregnant pause

[DODGYOLDFART]

On posting to my first operational Squadron in the '50's and having a Jewish Grandmother I changed my religion from C of E to Jewish. This worked fine and got me out of all sorts of parades and caused neither the RAF or me any unnecessary hassle. Then I was posted to RAF Germany and had to have the usual medical on arrival. The SMO carried out the inspection very thoroughly and then said, "I note from your records that your religion is listed as Jewish, how come you have not been circumcised?" He then offered to send me to RAF Wegberg to have the matter corrected. A couple of weeks later I quietly and without wishing to draw attention to myself changed back to C of E.:)

[k3k3]

Circumscribe? Was the SMO suggesting he should draw a line around it before chopping a bit off?

[DODGYOLDFART]

Circumscribe? Was the SMO suggesting he should draw a line around it before chopping a bit off?

Spell checkers are a God send to some and a persistent irritation to others. Thanks for pointing out the latest stupidity of my spell checker. Now corrected.:)

[Herod]

Quite amazing really. Considering that Khormaksar closed nearly fifty years ago, and the original post on this thread was concerning the SAR flight, here we are, two and a half years and five hundred threads down the line, still keeping it going. Great stuff.