I've got a couple of photos from a friend who was in Sharjah/Bahrein in 1969. The first one has been posted on here before, but I think this is higher resolution and seems to show signs of flooding, which may have been the reason for the pic in the first place. I left Sharjah in Dec '68 and I know that an Andover and a VC10 suffered significant hail damage shortly afterwards. Anybody confirm or remember?
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/9...1722f764_z.jpg

For the 2nd photo, the question is simple:
Which Fort and where?

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2819/9...c2f02f_z_d.jpg

Looking forward to replies.

I don't think Ibri. I'll give it some more thought tomorrow!

Laurence

I have gone through all my pictures of Arabian peninsula forts and can't find that one. I have tried UAE, Aden, and Oman: no luck. Is there any identity on the Hunter, or a date? Do you have a higher resolution of it? Could it be from 8 Sqd in Aden?

If you have any other information I can try again.

Laurence

The info that came with the pic is that it was from a Bahrein based aircraft and possibly when on detachment to Sharjah. But it is over 40 years ago, so all memories are a bit dimmed.

That is a very distinctive fort. Definitely not Ibri, which I knew well from spending three weeks there in 1961 with a Twin Pioneer on an SAS detachment. my money is on the Aden Protectorate.

I have asked a Canadian friend who spent many years in the Gulf and with whom I have explored a number of old airfield and forts, and he cannot recognise it, like brakedwell.
Still searching though!

The terrain in these photographs of Ibri taken in 1961 should disprove the Fort theory.


Forthttp://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psdc1755a1.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps5af1448c.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psb011800e.jpg

I can't identify that fort either, which is frustrating because I feel i should know it, but in searching for clues I came across a fantastic website that I'm sure many people know well, but for the laggards like me its...

Radfan and the Hawker Hunter

Enjoy!

BTW I could not find that picture on that website, but there are a lot and I could easily have missed it. It certainly should be there, I'm thinking.

I wish I could see you guys here this time, I would have taken you well around the RAF SHJ vicinity. There is not just the museum but also some relics of bygone days which were worth a visit.... you would have traveled back in time it was like exploring the wreck of Titanic and comparing it to how it was when new.

Still I have hopes that any one of you would visit Sharjah this time than please inform me so I can give you a friendly company with Arabian hospitality and a guided tour of this area where I live.

My email: [email protected]

Thanks Salman. If ever I get back to Sharjah I shall let you know!

Laurence

I remember those Australian eggs in cellulose, for some reason Sharjah was the last in the supply line and without the cellulose, the eggs would have gone off-would have probably tasted better anyway.

I remember in 1965 that there was a kind of mutiny in the Airmen's mess, the eggs were so disgusting that I understand that the guys took their egg and bacon breakfast and then tipped it all over the servery as a protest. I seem to remember that the revolt was led by a large fireman called Sam but all that happened was that we got no eggs at Sharjah-such happy days!!

Remember large quantities of "scrambled eggs" being dished out in the mess December '65 through '66. Would that have been made with powdered eggs? Don't remember it tasting that bad.

Messes at RAF Muharraq also dished up the ozzie cellulose eggs. When I got lumbered with the messing officer secondary duty for complaining about the food in the officers' mess I used to buy as many eggs as possible before returning from Nizwa (Saiq) detachments. They may have been small, but they tasted like real eggs. Buying prawns in the Bahrain fish market and take-away Samosas for Sunday bar snacks was another supply chain I started.

I think I've mentioned it before but my recollection of eggs at Sharjah, is that they tasted of iodine!

Hello all :)
Thought of refreshing your memories of RAF SHARJAH

and yes this is the original tarmac runway with a part of taxiway, many of you landed on this same surface more than 60 years ago! The government of Sharjah purposely left this part of King Abdul Aziz Street to its original state! Only after the traffic light junction the new tarmac was placed in the late 1990s.

http://imageshack.us/a/img823/2218/ch82.jpg

imagine this without the light poles and footpaths division!

http://imageshack.us/a/img824/424/00ih.jpg

did you flyboys liked it? Please share your first feelings came to your minds by looking at the above photos!

Saroskeeterman asked if the Sioux flew at Sharjah, heres a (poor quality) photo taken by my dad when he was out there which just about shows that they did indeed!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3787/1...2605c514_c.jpg
PICT0023 by 1979Bree, on Flickr

Just a few pics for those who were at Sharjah 1967. Taken by my late father, Cpl John Breeze who was out there as an engine fitter.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/1...3f2c0e93_c.jpg
PICT0005 (12) by 1979Bree, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/1...d7cc1aa6_c.jpg
PICT0026 by 1979Bree, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/1...4fde8069_c.jpg
PICT0021 by 1979Bree, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/1...e4c7fb7a_c.jpg
PICT0018 by 1979Bree, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7375/1...6770bb6b_c.jpg
PICT0019 by 1979Bree, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/1...2e42f17b_c.jpg
PICT0020 by 1979Bree, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/1...5ae2e1a2_c.jpg
PICT0016 (2) by 1979Bree, on Flickr

Ah! The nostalgia. Thank you very much for posting those photographs. As a matter of academic interest, Argosy XP412 was one of the very few that carried 105 Squadron's Battle Axe on the tail. For as long as I could remember, the 114 Sqn Argosys had the Snake on the Tail and 267 Sqn had the Peggy on the tail. I was quite surprised when i got to 105 Sqn in 1966 that very few of our aircraft sported the Battle Axe.

Just found those negatives. There also a few of the troops enjoying themselves at some sort of donkey derby which seems to have been well attended if they would be of interest? So,eome may remember the occasion.

donkey derby
 

Remember it well. The locals came round the day before I think to negotiate the hire of their "steed". Tthe race or races were held on Boxing Day. There is a previous post with a pic of a 78 Squadron pilot on board a beast complete with riding hat and whip, the pilot that is, Neddy Sparks I think. Great day, look forward to more pics of Sharjah.