8 Squadron, RAF, 100 years old.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somewhere flat
Age: 68
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"Were 8 in Khormaksar with 43? I was on 8 in '68 at Muharraq and some of our aircraft still had the "Fighting Cock" on the fin"
8 were at Kormaksar from Feb 1927 to May 1945 and again from Sep 1946 until Sep 1967 (not for nothing were they known as "Aden's Own"). Hunters changed hands regularly at the end of the 1960s. The story goes that one day the pilots arrived on 8 to find that half of their aircraft had been painted up in the colours of the Royal Jordanian Air Force - the aircraft having been sold off at short notice!
8 were at Kormaksar from Feb 1927 to May 1945 and again from Sep 1946 until Sep 1967 (not for nothing were they known as "Aden's Own"). Hunters changed hands regularly at the end of the 1960s. The story goes that one day the pilots arrived on 8 to find that half of their aircraft had been painted up in the colours of the Royal Jordanian Air Force - the aircraft having been sold off at short notice!
If you had to spend thirteen months in Bahrain in 68, then being on 8 was not a bad place to spend your time, we had detachments to Sharjah and Masirah for live firing exercises. No air conditioning required in Masirah at night, and BBQ's on the beach and fishing off the pier, a pleasant change from the high humidity of Muharraq, and the souk in Sharjah was very different, much more traditional. Going to Dubai was a a world away from todays experience.
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Happy Birthday 8 Sqn
Though not a hunter pilot I was often entertained by the "offensive" wing boys in the Jungle Bar in Khormaksar Mess. 8 and 43 Sqns would build towers of tenants lager tins on the "fast end" of the bar. The pyrotechnic expertise of Dai H******-H*** was often demonstrated to an impressed audience.
When we all moved to Muharraq in 67, 8 Sqn was lodged with the incumbent 208 in the new block next to my Argosy Sqn HQ. The competition to "out decorate" the two hunter squadrons far exceeded the efforts displayed on the detachment blocks in Akrotiri, even down to the balcony rails.
We still had to retrieve all the Sgt Fletchers pickled off by mistake from Sharjah amd Masirah though.
When we all moved to Muharraq in 67, 8 Sqn was lodged with the incumbent 208 in the new block next to my Argosy Sqn HQ. The competition to "out decorate" the two hunter squadrons far exceeded the efforts displayed on the detachment blocks in Akrotiri, even down to the balcony rails.
We still had to retrieve all the Sgt Fletchers pickled off by mistake from Sharjah amd Masirah though.
Haltonapp
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Happy memories of being on 210 (Shack) Sqn in Sharjah in 1971 when 8 came down for their APCs. Bill Stoker was the OC & got on very well with our boss, Dave Moule.
We had to fetch the all the pilots from Muharraq after a dining in night in June so that they could perform a flypast for the opening of the new Dubai airport. The AOC wouldn't allow either the Andover or the Argos crews to carry out the flight.
We used the SAR crew, airborne at 04.00. The 8 Sqn pilots, looking fairly shabby, were served a hearty breakfast of black coffee, eggs & bacon.
Happy days.
We had to fetch the all the pilots from Muharraq after a dining in night in June so that they could perform a flypast for the opening of the new Dubai airport. The AOC wouldn't allow either the Andover or the Argos crews to carry out the flight.
We used the SAR crew, airborne at 04.00. The 8 Sqn pilots, looking fairly shabby, were served a hearty breakfast of black coffee, eggs & bacon.
Happy days.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: England
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Re celebration: So was another Sqn at BZN a couple of months ago.......did they get a lot of people not associated with them to parade?
( I feel we are going to get a lot of 100 year celebrations soon.....)
( I feel we are going to get a lot of 100 year celebrations soon.....)
