Salalah Photos
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Salalah Photos
I have been in Salalah for the last couple of days, doing some work for Oman Air and the Oman government.
There are big plans for airport expansion, and work is due to begin mid-year, with a 4000m runway etc. (Good grief). My 2 days in Salalah this week - the first for 39 years since I was seconded there in 1970 as a "know nothing" Plt Off - were fantastic. Sadly, my photo records of 1970 are almost nil.
The Director of the airport is very keen to get some photos of Salalah in the late 60's and into the 70's. Clearly, most of the activity then was military.
With the expansion of the airport, the entire airport community remembers the RAF's involvement and contribution there with fond memories, so if anyone has photos of RAF Salalah in times past, please dig them out and post. I will make sure they will get to the Airport Director.
Thanks.
There are big plans for airport expansion, and work is due to begin mid-year, with a 4000m runway etc. (Good grief). My 2 days in Salalah this week - the first for 39 years since I was seconded there in 1970 as a "know nothing" Plt Off - were fantastic. Sadly, my photo records of 1970 are almost nil.
The Director of the airport is very keen to get some photos of Salalah in the late 60's and into the 70's. Clearly, most of the activity then was military.
With the expansion of the airport, the entire airport community remembers the RAF's involvement and contribution there with fond memories, so if anyone has photos of RAF Salalah in times past, please dig them out and post. I will make sure they will get to the Airport Director.
Thanks.
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Hi
The best I can do for you is to direct you to 55FST (sorry no idea how to post a link). Photo's stories from both the RAMC & RAF related to the medic's time there which may be of interest.
Regards
CS
The best I can do for you is to direct you to 55FST (sorry no idea how to post a link). Photo's stories from both the RAMC & RAF related to the medic's time there which may be of interest.
Regards
CS
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Bushveld,
Google Salalah 1972 and look at the Rockape site (The Desert Song). You'd need permission of course but I doubt that it would be refused. I was there from Mar to Nov 72 on GRSF and have some great memories (rekindled after visiting the aforementioned site) but no pics of any merit. I look forward to any incoming (photographs that is)
Google Salalah 1972 and look at the Rockape site (The Desert Song). You'd need permission of course but I doubt that it would be refused. I was there from Mar to Nov 72 on GRSF and have some great memories (rekindled after visiting the aforementioned site) but no pics of any merit. I look forward to any incoming (photographs that is)
bushveld,
I took this photo at Salalah in 1965 while on 105 sqn Argosies in Aden. I vaguely remember the "new" Beavers and the Provost were being ferried from Aden to Bait al Falaj, Muscat. We were on a scheduled RSM (Ryan, Salalah, Masirah).
I took this photo at Salalah in 1965 while on 105 sqn Argosies in Aden. I vaguely remember the "new" Beavers and the Provost were being ferried from Aden to Bait al Falaj, Muscat. We were on a scheduled RSM (Ryan, Salalah, Masirah).
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I do remember landing there in 1975 in a crud and custard Herc, (one of our last trips) and the co-pilot hammered it in because he hadn't noted the reduced width of the runway and thought he was a lot higher than he (we thought). The aspect did look wrong compared with a 'normal' width runway.
We used to fly amongst other stuff, fresh water down from Masirah I seem to remember. We went to Thumbrait afterwards to pick up a pallet of bananas and four rusty 1,000 lb bombs - reckoned if we blew up, we'd be the biggest banana split in Creation!
Ah, nostalgia's not what it used to be!
We used to fly amongst other stuff, fresh water down from Masirah I seem to remember. We went to Thumbrait afterwards to pick up a pallet of bananas and four rusty 1,000 lb bombs - reckoned if we blew up, we'd be the biggest banana split in Creation!
Ah, nostalgia's not what it used to be!
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If you sit on the beach at Salalah
There's no land between you and Antarctica......
Will dig out some pics but will have to scan them. How long before SAILOR VEE makes a post!? Both there '77-'81 ish. Most memorable times.
There's no land between you and Antarctica......
Will dig out some pics but will have to scan them. How long before SAILOR VEE makes a post!? Both there '77-'81 ish. Most memorable times.
Regrettably no pictures but was there in an Argosy in 1971 and then in a TriStar in 1983. Main differences: in 1983 there was a runway and no one had mortared the place for a while
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Salalah airfield photos
I was the SATCO at Salalah from Oct 70 to Aug 71 and I have a small collection of photos of the airfield, based aircraft, visiting aircraft etc. How can I help?
That's Life!!
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How long before SAILOR VEE makes a post!?
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Salalah pics
Many thanks to all. Brewern, could you PM me and perhaps you could send pics by email?
I'll take a few pics of Salalah now - just a few changes from the 70's!
I'll take a few pics of Salalah now - just a few changes from the 70's!
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I have great memories of my time flying Strikemasters and Beavers with SOAF in 1970/71, unfortunately my phototgraphs have faded to nothing. I would love to see what others might come up with though.
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Yes, We did have the odd exciting evening/night - but none more so than when one of your ARDET Argosy ac went u/s and there was a chance that the cast of the visiting Combined Services Entertainment show would have to stay overnight. Unfortunately, an over eager engineer fixed it and they all flew away leaving all the all-male RAF folk and our SOAF colleagues very disappointed!
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Used to go there 74/75 and certainly remember a couple of Strikeys launching 'up' the approach path in response to some urgent biz in the hills. Bit disconcerting for a young chappie in his 'Friendly Fokker' at 3 miles finals 
IIRC cameras were very much 'verboten' by the local snowdrops which is why I suspect I have no pics of Salalah in my Gulf collection.
Well remember the NDB approach, over the sea, to the sand runway during the monsoon.....character building stuff
If you have any then bring on the pics!
Happy Daze
FW
IIRC cameras were very much 'verboten' by the local snowdrops which is why I suspect I have no pics of Salalah in my Gulf collection.
Well remember the NDB approach, over the sea, to the sand runway during the monsoon.....character building stuff
If you have any then bring on the pics!
Happy Daze
FW
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Anyone remember the words of the adoo song? I can only recall the first bit of the chorus "Oh the adoo is a rebel and he lives up in the Jebel".
I do remember when I had a memory - vaguely!
I do remember when I had a memory - vaguely!
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Salalah airfield photos
30 photos of Salalah airfield sent to Bushveld this week. Hope he's got the know-how to give all those interested access.
Interesting one for you of Sultan Qaboos arriving for his first visit as head of State - in an F-27.
Interesting one for you of Sultan Qaboos arriving for his first visit as head of State - in an F-27.
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I have very happy memories of my time at OOSA during 1975. Best I go digging in the archives, although I suspect that the fading bug may have hit Octavian's piccies too.