RAF KHORMAKSAR
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
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Congratulations, Brian. 
Only 37 here, but then OH is the enhanced Mk 2 version of spouse.
Only 37 here, but then OH is the enhanced Mk 2 version of spouse.
Aden coastline taken during a wide circuit in a 99 Sqn Hastings in April 1958.
Compare with current Google Earth
Compare with current Google Earth
Last edited by brakedwell; 30th Nov 2017 at 11:09.
There was a legend that if you ever climbed to the top of Shamsan then you would never go back to Aden ever again.
The late Fred Birch went up as a Corporal, a Fg Off and finally as a Flt Lt.
So much for legends.
The late Fred Birch went up as a Corporal, a Fg Off and finally as a Flt Lt.
So much for legends.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
http://www.pprune.org/attachment.php...1&d=1512063752
I believe it's considered an insult in that part of the world to "flash" parts of your anatomy.
I believe it's considered an insult in that part of the world to "flash" parts of your anatomy.
I've just become aware of an Aden Veterans Association commemorative journal publication marking the 50 years since we left. I don't believe this link has appeared here before, and the journal is available in pdf format at:
http://www.horizonpublications.co.uk...ve-Journal.pdf
http://www.horizonpublications.co.uk...ve-Journal.pdf
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: M4 Corridor
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It appears that "Bent Fred" Sowery contributed most of the R.A.F. recollections in the Journal. I was in a crew with Wally Makepeace to fly Fred to Muharraq for a briefing followed by a Dining In. We thought that he would be spirited away and we could hit the roof bar in Brit House for a few wets, No such luck. After Fred had flown the leg to Bahrein from the left seat, we were to attend the formal dinner as his crew in best Mess kit. We were used to Gulf Rig short sleeves but this was the full sweaty outfit with shark skin white jackets. Fred had deliberately had his back set after an event so he could still fly an aircraft and was an absolute gent. He made sure that "his crew" were well treated and indicated that our paltry collection of miniature GSMs were more than half the mess had in Muharraq.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Talking of GSM etc, I went to a Remembrance parade on the Sunday, and got a reminder of how peaceful things were during the Cold war. There were guys older than me with rows of WWII, Korea etc, and guys younger with Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq. My GSM, with bars for S Arabia and N Ireland, plus a UN one for the Cyprus holiday, paled into insignificance.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Wallingford
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Khormaksar Helicopters
A bit late again but for those interested, I served at Khormaksar from May 65 until May 67 (although I was detached from my UK base for a few weeks to Aden in late 64 early 65 during the Radfan episode). I was originally posted to SAR Flight maintaining 5 Whirlwinds HAR 10s. Us 1st line ground crew "erks" operated a 24 hour shift system with 48 hrs off between shifts (wonderful). This all came to an end when 78 Sqn reformed with the venerable Wessex around June/July 65 (?) and we all ended up as "Helicopter Servicing Flight" (HSF) fiddling around with the Whirlwind, Wessex and Belvedre, sometimes with good effect but sometimes as "jack of all trades" with less than satisfactory results.
We all breathed a sigh of relief when what was left of the Belvedre fleet (4 ac from the original 8 - 2 crashes and 2 fires) departed for Sigapore to join 66 Sqn.
Two Whirlwinds also departed, supposedly replaced by 4 Yellow Painted Wessex with less than satisfactory results, but that's another story.
We all breathed a sigh of relief when what was left of the Belvedre fleet (4 ac from the original 8 - 2 crashes and 2 fires) departed for Sigapore to join 66 Sqn.
Two Whirlwinds also departed, supposedly replaced by 4 Yellow Painted Wessex with less than satisfactory results, but that's another story.
I think the changeover to Wessex occurred later. I was at Khormaksar April - October 66 and there were definitely yellow Whirlwinds there then. I flew in them a couple of times when they were used to set up "surprise" roadblocks at the end of the causeway.
I wonder if one of them was the one which burned at Seletar in 1966 on the occasion of the AOCs inspection. The fire section didn't exactly cover itself in glory as two of the crash vehicles collided on the way to the fire and another had only just got a hose out and delivering foam when another parked its wheel on the hose! The aircraft was a total loss. I arrived as fire officer some time later (thank goodness) and it was still a talking point. On one occasion when I was there another one caught fire (the infamous Avpin starting system). In the injuries section of the report there was only one entry - pilot broke his ankle jumping out of the aircraft!
We all breathed a sigh of relief when what was left of the Belvedre fleet (4 ac from the original 8 - 2 crashes and 2 fires) departed for Sigapore to join 66 Sqn.
I think the changeover to Wessex occurred later. I was at Khormaksar April - October 66 and there were definitely yellow Whirlwinds there then. I flew in them a couple of times when they were used to set up "surprise" roadblocks at the end of the causeway.
On one occasion when I was there another one caught fire (the infamous Avpin starting system). In the injuries section of the report there was only one entry - pilot broke his ankle jumping out of the aircraft!
On one occasion when I was there another one caught fire (the infamous Avpin starting system). In the injuries section of the report there was only one entry - pilot broke his ankle jumping out of the aircraft!
Join Date: May 2009
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Out of interest, had the South Arabian Air Force and its Jet Provosts become 'operational' at Khormaksar by the time the RAF left? I don't know when it came into being - or who commanded it - but there seems to be little mention of it?