RAF KHORMAKSAR
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Location: eastcoastoz
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Herod & Union Jack,
Of course we're thread-drifting a bit, but the P&O liner off Steamer Point is, as Jack says, not the 'Oriana'.
Nor is it 'Arcadia' or 'Iberia'. (Funnel style is the clue.)
IMHO, it most closely resembles the 'Himalaya' as it would have appeared in 1963.
Of course we're thread-drifting a bit, but the P&O liner off Steamer Point is, as Jack says, not the 'Oriana'.
Nor is it 'Arcadia' or 'Iberia'. (Funnel style is the clue.)
IMHO, it most closely resembles the 'Himalaya' as it would have appeared in 1963.
IMHO, it most closely resembles the 'Himalaya' as it would have appeared in 1963. - Stanwell
IMHO you can now stop feeling humble
....but only if you refer to such a fine looking ship as "she"!
Jack
IMHO you can now stop feeling humble
....but only if you refer to such a fine looking ship as "she"!Jack
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: eastcoastoz
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..... mea MAXIMA culpa!
Sack-cloth and ashes for the next three days.
BTW, can anybody comment on how the Alvis Leonides in the Twin-Pins performed in that climate?
.
Sack-cloth and ashes for the next three days.
BTW, can anybody comment on how the Alvis Leonides in the Twin-Pins performed in that climate?
.
Last edited by Stanwell; 3rd Nov 2015 at 10:48.
The more I see, the more I realise what a dump it was! Repatriating the inmates during the summer of 1967 was one of the more satisfying tasks I was involved with during my time on the Britannia.
233 Sqn Khormaksar Low Level near Beihan
Valetta cockpit
Beihan Airfield 1962/3
Rest of photos en route to Beihan
Last edited by DeanoP; 24th Sep 2020 at 11:40. Reason: Reinserted photos
"The more I see, the more I realise what a dump it was!"
Indeed - and thanks to some pics on the ARDET site, taken by an ex-105 pilot passing through in 1998, we can see how things had deteriorated around the former MRT Wing pan in just 21 years. Heaven knows what it's all like now!
http://www.argosy.org.uk/Aden98-5.JPG
Indeed - and thanks to some pics on the ARDET site, taken by an ex-105 pilot passing through in 1998, we can see how things had deteriorated around the former MRT Wing pan in just 21 years. Heaven knows what it's all like now!
http://www.argosy.org.uk/Aden98-5.JPG
Those pictures of Maala ? street with the flats we lived in, the Coca Cola factory was at one end and I remember thinking what great fun it was going to school with all those armed guards both on the bus and as shown escorting, kids with not a care in the world.
Good memories that will stay with me always.
Good memories that will stay with me always.
The first apartment that we lived in was in a block called Bazzara South. It was bigger than normal and was classified as a senior officer's hiring (which I most certainly was not). The bad news was that it was behind Maalla Straight towards Shamsan and the other side of the road was out of bounds. I presume that the previous occupant had done a sensible runner but we soon established that all of the artillery that came from the direction of Shamsan went past our block and buried itself into the flats on the south side of Maalla Straight. Just across the road was the Aden Supply Depot which was an RAF establishment but the current Army regiment (I have fond memories of the Cameronians and the South Wales Borderers) had a large presence there and manned the goon towers around the perimeter. This is our view of Shamsan from the bedroom window.
This is a view of the debris left on our street after a pretty reasonable riot. They never quite got to our apartment (thanks to the Poisoned Dwarfs) but it did create a certain amount of entertainment.
Our bathroom window overlooked the Aden Supply Depot. Every time an incident occurred the Army would set up road blocks and round up suspects who would be searched and released if there was no reason to detain them. When a major event took place the suspects would be taken to the Supply Depot, put against the wall, searched and interrogated. Mostly they were released but they could equally be sent to Fort Murbot for further questioning. Here is one of a series of slides that I took during such an occasion.
Incidentally, on the left you can see the back (south) side of the flats on Maalla Straight which took most of damage coming from "up the hill". I can remember one night a blindicide (RPG) round hitting one of the flats. Luckily for the inhabitants it embedded itself in the matrix of the air-conditioning unit and didn't kill or hurt anyone.
Some photos from our flat:
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And just for a laugh, here is my two sisters and I in the Lido;
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[IMG][URL=http://s299.photobucket.com/user/MLH55/media/Aden-MalaHighstreet.jpg.html][IMG]
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[/IMG]And just for a laugh, here is my two sisters and I in the Lido;
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Alvis Leonides.
Stanwell,
Ref the Alvis Leonides on the Twin Pin, in my time on 21 Sqn I don’t remember too many issues. I remember an event when we had to leave one at Habilayn for the fitters to repair on site, but I cannot recall the exact problem. I do remember several fire warning alerts (but no actual fires). One event was easily diagnosed on site where an exhaust stub on the collector ring around the rear of the engine had blown a cap fitting allowing exhaust gases to heat a fire warning wire, so perhaps the fire warning system was a cause of other events too. We also had a return ferry to the UK stuck in Baghdad for an engine change I seem to remember, but the ferries were usually OK. Considering the environment and the regular intense sand blasting of the Leonides I think they managed OK, but I’m sure someone out there with greater engineering knowledge will be able to add more detail.
Ref the Alvis Leonides on the Twin Pin, in my time on 21 Sqn I don’t remember too many issues. I remember an event when we had to leave one at Habilayn for the fitters to repair on site, but I cannot recall the exact problem. I do remember several fire warning alerts (but no actual fires). One event was easily diagnosed on site where an exhaust stub on the collector ring around the rear of the engine had blown a cap fitting allowing exhaust gases to heat a fire warning wire, so perhaps the fire warning system was a cause of other events too. We also had a return ferry to the UK stuck in Baghdad for an engine change I seem to remember, but the ferries were usually OK. Considering the environment and the regular intense sand blasting of the Leonides I think they managed OK, but I’m sure someone out there with greater engineering knowledge will be able to add more detail.
Passed through Aden 3 times. First in Nov '62 when there were very few restrictions and little was out of bounds - wandered round Steamer Point shops and Maala (Maalla?) night clubs without problems as a callow youth. Secondly on finishing training in '64 when there were many more restrictions and armed guards with grenade nets round the Red Sea. I also think that the busses were protected by guards. Finally in 66 on leave when I managed to stay in the Mess at Khormaksar as down town was barely an option for transit. Great changes in a very short time!
