Laurence

G-AOPL departed complete with rudder, as I recall from waving it good-bye with a glad heart.

I did manage to break the starboard wing-spar near the already upturned tip when landing at the Al Ayn strip; the aircraft was sharply rolled about 80 degrees to the right by a dust-devil as I crossed the threshold, and the wing hit the ground first. Luckily it fell back on to the wheels rather than its back; I decided to make it a touch-and-go, and flew gently back to Sharjah. A friendly RAF fitter put a fishplate across the crack, new bit of skin and it was as good as new.

That was the only damage that I knew about, so where the bits of rudder in the museum came from I cannot imagine. Bizarre coincidence, though.

Bet you were surprised to see photos of it turn up here. Incidently the rudder was still attached to the rest of the aircraft when I took the photo.

The sun didn't always shine at Sharjah! When these photos were taken in Feb 1961 the sand runway was waterlogged and the only dry area available for me to operate my Twin Pioneer was in the southwest corner of the airfield. At that time the flaps and slats were locked up due to a failure of the chain drive mechanism, which extended the take off run considerably. The tents were erected to house aircrew from a Canberra and a Hunter (208?) squadron due to take part in an exercise which was cancelled because of the weather!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...rjahJFlood.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...viation/61.jpg

78 Squadron Sharjah 1968
 

Found this along with another picture which I have written on he back "50th Anniversary RAF flypast March 1968"
I presume this was a squadron picture to mark the occasion.
Some names to faces. far left front row,
Garth "Horse" Parfitt, 4th left front row Phil Carter, 9th left front row Peter Faid?
Back row far right myself.

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...g?t=1269442842

Ken, I think your date is slightly out. I'm in contact with the current Squadron Historian and he sent me a copy of that picture dated June 68. Since I'm not on it, and I left at the beginning of May, that would make sense.
Lots more names I could add, PM me if you want them.

Old, not bold: Noted re the rudder.
I am fascinated to know you flew down to Al Ain (as it is now) in the Prentice. I wonder which of the two airfields that was, at the time. They were both called Buraimi, the oasis next door. One was Buraimi Daudi and the other Buraimi Hamasa. The RAF used Daudi, which was to the south.east of the town. The other, across the border in Oman, a couple of km north of it. Hamasa is still in use by the Oman Police Air Wing, while Daudi disapperared under a housing estate last year. Forumites like JW411, brakedwell and capot knew the area well. Daudi was notable in that finals to the western end of the runway was in line with the "new" Hilton hotel, which was a worry.
See the post at http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...d-airport.html

Laurence

Laurence,

I took the Prentice to Al Ayn several times; the strip was certainly to the SE from the Murabba'a, which itself was out on its own and serving as the Police station. But I don't think we called it Da'udi, or indeed anything else apart from "the strip", as in "I'm off to the strip to collect the beer from the crabs".

old,not bold

How long were you with Gulf Aviation please?

Fokkerwocker

11 years; Herons and DC3s to L1011s

I probably carried your navbag for you then....give us a clue!

Sadly Peter Faid was killed in an accident in Ghana back in the late sixties or very early seventies, flying for Bristow Helicopters..

Yes, I had just started at Bristow in March 1970 when we were told of the accident and that the pilot was Peter Faid.
He had been flying a Bell 206 in Ghana but I also think he had been flying a Wessex 60 in support of early North Sea oil exploration prior to that.

And Garth Parfitt IIRC "departed the fix" a year or so ago after a heart attack in retirement in France......

Sharjah in the war
 

Does anyone have any data, or even pictures, of activities at Sharjah during WW2 or just before and after?

Laurence

I have just been sent a couple of photos apparently taken at Sharjah. The first is Wellington W5675 (E on the engine cover), and the second a bunch of Ansons and a Valetta. I cannot make out the serials of these last ones. What is the badge on the Wellington's nose?
Can anyone date and give units for these two scenes? Thanks
Laurence

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...llington-1.jpg



http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...acansons-1.jpg

I tried to enhance the photo above of the Ansons and Valetta. The Valetta might be VW822. Anyone remember it? One of the Ansons seems to be VM...
Laurence

The Ansons are almost certainly from 1417 Flight, which was based in Bahrain. They were replaced by Pembrokes in the mid fifties. In October 1958 1417 Flt became 152 Squadron when four new Twin Pioneers were added to the fleet.

Thanks brakedwell.
In the same batch of photos are 2 of a Twin Pioneer. Both coded M, so presumably the same one. Was it from 152 Sqd? What is the badge on the nose?
There is also 30 Sqd Beverley XL152 in the background, if a Beverley can ever be in the background. Makes it 1965 or 1966 I presume. The other photo seems to be out in the desert, rather than in SHJ itself.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...avmacbev-1.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/c...inpincamel.jpg

Did you know the chap in the picture (or the camel)?

Laurence.

Laurence, In between solving all above, cracking web site here if you haven't already seen it. :ok:

mainframeset

Wow, hadn't seen it, but have now, and will more over the next days. Thanks.
Trust you are well!

Laurence