Old airfield at Masafi, UAE?
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Seem to remember that at either Khor Fakhan or Fujeira (can't remember which) a Beverley came in to do some sort of supply drop. landed and then discovered that there was insufficient runway to take off again. Much moving of oil drums, rocks and other assorted debris (I was on the Sharjah MDRT at the time) enabled the Beverley to taxi past a ditch and then commence it's take off run. It was fun to watch it surmount the ditch and eventually it got off.
I had the photographs but they were ditched when wife No 1 ditched me!
I had the photographs but they were ditched when wife No 1 ditched me!
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JW411: Dibba looks to be 900m long on Google Earth (I have not been there), while Daudi was 2000m. Daudi, BTW, has now completely disappeared under housing, since last year.
Siseman: were there two airfields, at both Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, or was it the same one that is now Fujairah International?
Laurence
Siseman: were there two airfields, at both Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, or was it the same one that is now Fujairah International?
Laurence
More thread drift alert!
Hasn't it just! This is a picture of my Landrover, although in the hands of its previous user.
Credit to David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.
Changed a bit, hasn't it!
Credit to David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.
Gentleman Aviator
And this is most definitely "my" Wessex....(well, I had signed for it!)
Edited to add: Just checked logbook - was January 1971! (blimey, that's 40 years ago......
)
Edited to add: Just checked logbook - was January 1971! (blimey, that's 40 years ago......
)
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I've got to be allowed a bit of thread drift on that one. The last time I flew 675 was 22 Apr '68. Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Mirfa, Sharjah. It was also the first aircraft I flew from Sharjah, three days after we arrived from Aden. Area famil. with Jim Blain, Reg Wargent and Steve George; all names to be conjured with. 
Nemesis of the Proot Dynasty
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I remember flying into Masafi in about 67 or 68 in a Twin Pin, whilst on a 51 squadron detachment to Sharjah.
Couldn't definitely identify it from the photo, but it looks like the place. The main thing I remember about the flight, was that there were no seats in the TP apart from the pilot's. Had to stand all the way there and back behind the pilots. Talk about Flight Safety!!!
Couldn't definitely identify it from the photo, but it looks like the place. The main thing I remember about the flight, was that there were no seats in the TP apart from the pilot's. Had to stand all the way there and back behind the pilots. Talk about Flight Safety!!!
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Thanks luke: helps me fix the dates it was in use.
It is great to see your pictures, old not bold and teeter. That is the sort of thread drift I welcome! Just think, a week ago I was standing on Jahili tower, but the Wessex had gone, and the camels and Land Rover.
Laurence
It is great to see your pictures, old not bold and teeter. That is the sort of thread drift I welcome! Just think, a week ago I was standing on Jahili tower, but the Wessex had gone, and the camels and Land Rover.
Laurence
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I'm afraid that it's some moderators twisted idea of a joke. They obviously had a l a n d r o v e r which gave them trouble and this is their revenge.
It's just bloody childish and annoying.
It's just bloody childish and annoying.
I have extracted this clip, taken soon after I joined 152 Sqn in 1959. It opens in Sharjah with my Nav (wearing the red and white TOS shemagh) smoking his foul pipe talking to an Aden based Valletta crew. As usual the gate was locked and the Works and Bricks passengers couldn't get onto the airfield! We flew them down to Buraimi to assess the state of the fort and any maintenance required. Then on to Tarif or Mirfa with a load of TOS officers and a few cans of beer!. The end of the clip was shot months later. I'm not sure if it is Manama or Al Khatt. Anyway enjoy.
YouTube - britannia312's Channel
YouTube - britannia312's Channel
Pembroke accident Buraimi
If it was it wasn't called Masafi then. I wonder if the name of the old Manama strip was changed to Masafi.
Anyway, here is another clip taken at the original Buraimi strip. On his first trip to Buraimi newly arrived 152 CO Sqn Ldr Cafferata failed to notice the nose gear hadn't lowered. He didn't last very long! The aircraft was repaired on site, which involved fitting a new fuselage section forward of the wings.
YouTube - large
Anyway, here is another clip taken at the original Buraimi strip. On his first trip to Buraimi newly arrived 152 CO Sqn Ldr Cafferata failed to notice the nose gear hadn't lowered. He didn't last very long! The aircraft was repaired on site, which involved fitting a new fuselage section forward of the wings.
YouTube - large
I never heard of Masafi when I was on 152 despite doing more than my fair share of Sharjah detachments. It must have come into existence after 1961.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Amazing the things we hold on to! If this uploads, it's an old map from my days on 78. You will probably have to zoom a bit, but Manama is at the intersection of the coordinates, while Masafi is just to the east, right on the crease line. Brakedwell, the two are only about nine miles apart, so it may well have not been there in your time.
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Trucial Oman Scouts
You may like to see more photos of the times and places at
Flickr: The Trucial Oman Scouts
By the way the Land Rover in the David Shepherd painting was Jim Stockdale's.
Flickr: The Trucial Oman Scouts
By the way the Land Rover in the David Shepherd painting was Jim Stockdale's.
Last edited by Cornewall; 27th Apr 2011 at 12:43. Reason: Clarity
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From Masafi
I'm from Masafi. If you have historical information about Masafi please contact.
[email protected]
Thank you
[email protected]
Thank you
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I recall the name 'Masafi' but, checking the log book for 1965, apparently never visited it by air. I suspect that there was no airstrip active there then. We used a very dangerous strip closer to Tayiba to take people up there. Very rocky with a steep drop into the wadi at either end. We had a rock jam between the TP wheels on take-off one time there and only Tony Bebbington's quick reaction saved us from nosing in.
