RAF KHORMAKSAR
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In the heading picture with idents, think the "native compound" became the 69 Club, the long low single story buildings to the right became 105 Sqn billets in the early 60's, still enjoyed my 2-1/2 years out there.
DeanoP, glad I could help.
I have a vague recollection of a story which was either Khormaksar or El Adem, about the last RAF aircraft to leave on withdrawal from the base. The story was along the lines of the RAF Short Belfast was last to leave, all loaded apart from the ATC portable radar/ unit which allegedly gave departure clearance, then drove up the rear ramp, closed up and so they left as the last aircraft movement.
Can anyone help with my aged memory?
Can anyone help with my aged memory?
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I believe the last fixed-wing to depart Khormaksar was a C 130. The last aircraft was possibly a 78 Sqn Wessex, operating from "Intrepid", although the Army might dispute that with a Scout.
As Herod states ,last fixed wing were 2 C130s just before 1400hrs on 29 November carrying staff of HQ Aden Brigade / Joint HQ and C Company 1 Kings Own Royal Border Regt (van der Bijl: British Mil. Ops. in Aden and
Radfan). Last military departure at 1500hrs of 42 Cdo Tac Hq to HMS Albion was by Wessex of 848 NACS.(same source)
Radfan). Last military departure at 1500hrs of 42 Cdo Tac Hq to HMS Albion was by Wessex of 848 NACS.(same source)
I have a vague recollection of a story which was either Khormaksar or El Adem, about the last RAF aircraft to leave on withdrawal from the base. The story was along the lines of the RAF Short Belfast was last to leave, all loaded apart from the ATC portable radar/ unit which allegedly gave departure clearance, then drove up the rear ramp, closed up and so they left as the last aircraft movement.
Can anyone help with my aged memory?
Can anyone help with my aged memory?
There are still a few Belfast drivers on this forum who could throw more light on the matter, including that of ensuring that the "airfield" was "left" exactly in the state we found it.
IG
Last edited by Imagegear; 14th Oct 2020 at 08:52.
Sorry to spoil the party but I was the last one out of Khormaksar! I was Key Orderly on the day and once my duties were complete I had to rush to board the aircraft and kick the steps away at the last moment before take-off.
Aaron.
Aaron.
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and there would still be some bastard RAF plod checking you hadn’t left a window open!
Mention earlier of the 69 Club jogged a memory or two. When it opened it was the first 'Airmen's Club' in the RAF and caused a huge rumpus with NAAFI. The bar offered an alcoholic range not allowed in the NAAFI and they produced fresh edible filled rolls - previously unheard of in K'sar. The finance was raised locally, including a lump sum from Shell at Little Aden to fund the dance floor. The 'leading light' in the programme was Jack Winterflood, a Flight Sergeant in Admin and a large proportion of the money raised came from the annual 'Khormaksar Fair', an afternoon and evening drinking spree with sideshows!. It opened in '57 and became a model for similar Clubs elsewhere.
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I was copilot on the penultimate aircraft to leave Khormaksar on the withdrawal day. I was also 105 Sqn diarist and the following are extracts from an article written for the squadron magazine. The Argosy was XN 819 and the captain was Wg Cdr EC Rigg, OC 105 Sqn
...Helicopters from 78 Sqn, the RN, and the Royal Marines were operating a shuttle between the playing fields at the back of the Airmans Mess to the Commando carrier HMS Albion, anchored about 4 miles off the end of r/w 26. The operation was slick, and underslung loads made the pick-ups a matter of seconds. Through binoculars I could see that each chopper was armed with a large machine gun positioned to fire through a side escape hatch.
While all this was going on, Hercules were flying in from Muharraq every 30 minutes, taxying to the VIP pan, stopping three engines, and opening the rear doors. The departing troops entered the a/c by the rear doors and the para doors, leaving their kit on the rear door. The kit was then lashed down by nets, doors were closed, and off they went. The fastest time we noted was 7 minutes chocks on to chocks off, to load 75 equipped and armed troops.
Our Argosy spent 5 hours on the pan as a standby in case a Hercules went u/s, and for the last 3 hours we had two other a/c for company, both Hercules, orbiting at 10,000 feet.
Overhead, Sea Vixens from a second carrier, HMS Eagle, crossed the field from time to time, and appeared to be giving fighter cover to the whole operation.
At withdrawal hour - 5 mins the passenger carrying Hercules arrived for its engine running turnround, and while the VIPs were shaking hands and exchanging salutes, we, the Argosy, and a freight Hercules which was standing by to lift out VASF and the crash crews, started engines for a quick getaway. When the last VIP had boarded, the freight Hercules was off chocks, followed by the Argosy, the passenger Hercules being the last in line. A one minute stream take off was carried out in that order.
As soon as the three a/c were airborne the choppers from Albion who had been keeping an eye on the Khormaksar perimeter moved in to evacuate 42 Commando who had kept the perimeter secure throughout the day.
...Helicopters from 78 Sqn, the RN, and the Royal Marines were operating a shuttle between the playing fields at the back of the Airmans Mess to the Commando carrier HMS Albion, anchored about 4 miles off the end of r/w 26. The operation was slick, and underslung loads made the pick-ups a matter of seconds. Through binoculars I could see that each chopper was armed with a large machine gun positioned to fire through a side escape hatch.
While all this was going on, Hercules were flying in from Muharraq every 30 minutes, taxying to the VIP pan, stopping three engines, and opening the rear doors. The departing troops entered the a/c by the rear doors and the para doors, leaving their kit on the rear door. The kit was then lashed down by nets, doors were closed, and off they went. The fastest time we noted was 7 minutes chocks on to chocks off, to load 75 equipped and armed troops.
Our Argosy spent 5 hours on the pan as a standby in case a Hercules went u/s, and for the last 3 hours we had two other a/c for company, both Hercules, orbiting at 10,000 feet.
Overhead, Sea Vixens from a second carrier, HMS Eagle, crossed the field from time to time, and appeared to be giving fighter cover to the whole operation.
At withdrawal hour - 5 mins the passenger carrying Hercules arrived for its engine running turnround, and while the VIPs were shaking hands and exchanging salutes, we, the Argosy, and a freight Hercules which was standing by to lift out VASF and the crash crews, started engines for a quick getaway. When the last VIP had boarded, the freight Hercules was off chocks, followed by the Argosy, the passenger Hercules being the last in line. A one minute stream take off was carried out in that order.
As soon as the three a/c were airborne the choppers from Albion who had been keeping an eye on the Khormaksar perimeter moved in to evacuate 42 Commando who had kept the perimeter secure throughout the day.
Last edited by bigjok; 14th Oct 2020 at 19:16.
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Edward Rigg - now there is a name from the past? I recall talking to him sometime ago, when he told me that he joined the first BAFO Vampire squadron in July 1947- No.3 Squadron at Wunstorf flying Vampire Mk.1s. A really nice person?
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When a unit closed ( happened frequently in the 60/70s) and key orderlies locked their section returning the keys to the guardroom, what happened to the guardroom key once all section keys were in. Perhaps the orderly corporal then locked the guardroom when leaving and posted the key through the guardroom letter box!!!!
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Thanks, bigjok, a nice succinct narrative of what was was obviously a well-planned departure.
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Further to the Camel Club post, during 62-64 it operated well, but when Grp Cpt Bligh took over as Station Master it changed, he advocated all places of fun be closed on a Sunday morning, NAAFI, Camel Club, Club 69, swimming pool etc, etc as he considered Sunday morning was for worship not airmens enjoyment, plus wearing of shoes and the shorts 1" above the knee, plus shirts to be worn on the airfield, attndances didn't improve at church and we found other ways to have fun !, didn't take long for normality to return, but he was hated somewhat.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
On that final day, I was operating a Wessex, lifting underslung loads. My logbook doesn't give times, but there is no night flying logged. However, my diary reads "Intrepid weighed anchor at 2230". I know there was one other 78 Sqn Wessex landed back aboard after I did, but I can't give times
Now that we have successfully got out of Aden, let's go back to getting out of El Adem. I quote from my book about 53 Squadron:
"A coup d'etat in Libya by Colonel Mohammer Ghaddafi deposed King Idris and the new regime made it very clear that British Forces were no longer welcome in the country. The withdrawal got under way during March (1970) and was complicated by the new rulers only allowing one aircraft movement per day. So that maximum use could be made of this restriction, Belfast XR365 Hector made a daily flight between El Adem and Akrotiri and frequently carried a payload around 78,000 lbs. The final flight was commanded by Gp Capt Jock Kennedy AFC, Station Commander at Brize Norton, and the freight bay contained the ACR7 airfield approach radar from El Adem".
"A coup d'etat in Libya by Colonel Mohammer Ghaddafi deposed King Idris and the new regime made it very clear that British Forces were no longer welcome in the country. The withdrawal got under way during March (1970) and was complicated by the new rulers only allowing one aircraft movement per day. So that maximum use could be made of this restriction, Belfast XR365 Hector made a daily flight between El Adem and Akrotiri and frequently carried a payload around 78,000 lbs. The final flight was commanded by Gp Capt Jock Kennedy AFC, Station Commander at Brize Norton, and the freight bay contained the ACR7 airfield approach radar from El Adem".
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Now that we have successfully got out of Aden, let's go back to getting out of El Adem.
(cheer up, it's meant cynically)