RAF Sharjah

[JW411]

And finally (for today anyway) here is another Salalah visitor. As far as I can remember, it was doing exactly what it says on the tin!

[brakedwell]

Shall we start a Salalah thread Jock? In 1975 I flew 150 full size milking cows to Salalah in an IAS Cargo Britannia. Flying Tiger delivered them to Muscat in a DC8 63. Our first two trips went like clockwork, but the buggers escaped on the third run. By the the time they were rounded up it was dark and Salalah had closed. We stayed in the officers mess, but that is another story!

[JW411]

Brakedwell:

John, I'm not sure that I have enough un-posted material left to support a Salalah thread.

[brakedwell]

You have done very well Jock. I only have three photos taken at Salalah as I rarely carried a camera. I regret not photographing the IAS Britannia at Salalah. Not only did I fly in the means of providing fresh milk, I also delivered a TV transmitter on a later trip. That must have moved it forward a century or two.

[SAROSKEETERMAN]

Have just found two postcards that I aquired during my time at Sharjah. Whether I purchased them at the airport on one of my "mail pick-ups"(see post505) or in Dubai I can't remember. I know whenever I visited there it never seemed to be that busy, although I did see the odd "Iran Air" Dakota from time to time.
Sorry for the sizes but having a problem uploading, clicking on them will enlarge - I hope.
Dubai, old airport(1).jpg
Probably a later photo' as the airport building now proudly shows its name.

Dubai, old airport(2).jpg
The C-47 is registered G-AMSJ and according to the CAA "G-INFO" site was registered to the Iraq petroleum Co from 10/54 to 1/59 then again 7/59 to 5/61. Although it has no titles it does have a logo on the fin. Couple of nice Bedford fire tenders in the background!

[Abdulla85]

Originally Posted by brakedwell

captain salman - as promised here is my youtube offering made up from 8mm film clips I shot in 1959. Starting with a flyover of the frigate HMS Loch Fyne, then shots at the main gate at RAF Sharjah, which was still locked and prevented us from reaching our Twin Pioneer. With us was a Valetta crew from Aden. Dubai speaks for itself and it ends with what the middle of Sharjah looked like!

Dubai Sharjah Buraimi Tarif - YouTube

Hello, unfortunately the video does not work. could you kindly upload it again. I am very interested in watching it.

[brakedwell]

If you sign in to Youtube it should work, it does for me.

Or this may work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhDZ...ature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq39EiUvvL8

[Abdulla85]

Originally Posted by brakedwell

If you sign in to Youtube it should work, it does for me.

Or this may work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhDZ...ature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq39EiUvvL8

thank you for your reply, the video does not work even when I sign in, I tried from several computers. however, the other video titled " Firq - Saiq airlift in Oman Twin Pioneers 1959 - 61" does work.

sometimes the owner of a video restrict the viewing ability of the video to certain regions, this could be the reason!! you could try and ask your contacts in UAE to view the video and give you feedback.

[brakedwell]

A85, Try it now, I have changed it from private to public. Don't know how it went private!

[Abdulla85]

Originally Posted by brakedwell

A85, Try it now, I have changed it from private to public. Don't know how it went private!

Great video, thank you very much

[captain_salman]

Wow its been a while and I can see this post is still alive the recent update is that the shj govt paved a new asphalt over the old runway making it smooth. They've however left a portion of starting taxiway as a relic to the glorious times RAF SHJ. The tarmac airfield is slowly disappearing with new erecting buildings in Al Mahatta area.... there is a group on Facebook called "Dubai The Good Old Days" please join to see some rare and old photographs of Dubai Sharjah randomly.

If there's any more precious pictures of Sharjah during the RAF era please do share them!
Cheers.

[Cows getting bigger]

I regularly fly into the current airport at Sharjah, staying in the nearby Centro Rotana hotel. In the main atrium they have two large murals of the old RAF control tower; I find that rather humbling.

[Quietplease]

16/04/60

http://www.pprune.org/attachment.php...1&d=1494941850

[leesaranda]

Sure, I took the secondary duty of OIC "Radio Sharjah" on when I arrived in early '65. My predecessor was the Education Officer, "Jake" Timms(?). We used the spare ATC transmitter to broadcast to the southern Gulf. We even had advertising to fund the operation. I recall a Corporal who was a keen member of FRS going to the Sheik (of Dubai) with a proposal to start a TV station in Dubai. Never did hear if he was successful.

Nice to see the thread active again.

[Chipkalis]

Hello Everyone!

Very interesting Posts!

I am currently doing some research along with l.garey on the second world war related to the RAF and their time in Sharjah during 1942 till 1944 particularly with 244 squadron. We have discovered some interesting incidents with regards to Blenheim V's (Bisleys) and hope to publish these very soon! Seems they were highly unreliable and prone to Engine failure.

Would anyone be able to assist in pictures from that time period as i want to spruce up the article. There are a few pictures about on the web and in numerous archives but wanted to see if anyone had a personal collection from a parent or Grandfather who served in 244 squadron.

Many Thanks,

Ali

[captain_salman]

One can embark on a beautiful yet thrilling imaginary journey by going through this post right from page one till the last.... been so many years now just want to keep this post alive so thought of saying hello to the aces of yesteryears. Any new (rather old) aerial Sharjah picture to regale and cherish the bygone days sirs?

[l.garey]

Hello Salman. Just to send greetings and say thanks for reviving this thread. Re the post no. 695 by Chipkalis, above, we have now published details of the crash and wreckage of Bisley BA101.

Laurence

[percyprune]

Summer annual visit to the museum. The groundsman still remembers my boys from their first visits going back 16 years to the eldest now!



VC 10 Gulf Air nose


VC 10 cockpit

[percyprune]

Not Sharjah but nice stamps on display at the Dubai Etihad museum plus photos

[Herod]

Two sets of nice pictures, Percy. Thanks