RAF KHORMAKSAR
Roving - Your mention of '56 and flying to the forts and round the Peninsular would mean, I assume, that your Dad was (like me) on APCSS/84 Sqn 'pigs'?? Would I recognise the name??
I think it's a South African Casspir anti-mine transport, or a copy of it built on a Bedford RL 4x4 truck chassis. The Casspir was based on Mercedes but this running gear looks very like the RL to me.
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WarWheels.Net- Bedford RL "Pig" APC Index
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Doubt it's a Casspir
Stand to be corrected, but AFAIK Casspir was first developed in the '70s during the SA Border War - but this vehicle does bear a strong resemblance to it
PZU - Out of Africa (retired)
PZU - Out of Africa (retired)
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Well, well, well ... total enlightenment! 
And presumably distributed in small numbers to outposts of Empire with fractious populations!
And presumably distributed in small numbers to outposts of Empire with fractious populations!
Was never posted to Aden, but as an AQM (Loadmaster) with 99 Sqn from 1959 - 1963 passed through Khormaksar regularly and during regular trips to the Far East we slipped crews at Aden staying normally at the Rock Hotel or Crescent Hotel in Steamer Point.
A couple of screen-grabs from my 8-mm cine film showing something that caught my fancy - the firing of a gun at sunset from the Governor's Palace above Steamer Point. Those who know Aden better that me will comment better on this Steamer Point evening gun routine.
Also a screen-grab of the harbour at Steamer Point with two carriers at anchor from the days when we had a navy, with the roof of the Crescent Hotel in the foreground - happy days indeed!
All filmed from the roof of the Rock Hotel I think.
Apologies for the low resolution pictures, but this is normal for grabs from 8mm film - WT
A couple of screen-grabs from my 8-mm cine film showing something that caught my fancy - the firing of a gun at sunset from the Governor's Palace above Steamer Point. Those who know Aden better that me will comment better on this Steamer Point evening gun routine.
Also a screen-grab of the harbour at Steamer Point with two carriers at anchor from the days when we had a navy, with the roof of the Crescent Hotel in the foreground - happy days indeed!
All filmed from the roof of the Rock Hotel I think.
Apologies for the low resolution pictures, but this is normal for grabs from 8mm film - WT
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It was probably better than most of the modern stuff, I was reading about Australian Centurions in Vietnam and it said they were pretty much impervious to RPG's
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surely 14 is XIV ?
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Can anyone remind me how to post pictures without going via photobucket? Alternatively, which photobucket link do I need? I tried yesterday, but ended up with a link that opened my entire album to public view.
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I have migrated to imgur, which seems to work fine ... once I mastered the processes.
Or just use the "Go Advanced/Manage Attachments" button here, as I did with this image from my desktop.
Or just use the "Go Advanced/Manage Attachments" button here, as I did with this image from my desktop.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
http://www.pprune.org/attachment.php...1&d=1511868828
Well, this (finally) seems to be working. Six 78 Sqn Wessex aboard "Intrepid" during the last days of Aden. Possibly taken 29th Nov. There is a Wessex spotted on Spot 1, which would have been flown. Whether we had seven Wessex total and used Spot 2 as well I can't recall.
Well, this (finally) seems to be working. Six 78 Sqn Wessex aboard "Intrepid" during the last days of Aden. Possibly taken 29th Nov. There is a Wessex spotted on Spot 1, which would have been flown. Whether we had seven Wessex total and used Spot 2 as well I can't recall.
In total,think there 12 helicopters on that Fearless deck - 7 Wessex(6 SH and 1SAR), 4 Sioux and 1 Scout - with operations continuing from spot 2 outboard (red line extension from normal white wheel guide).
ps. one source says 8 Wessex embarked, last one staying on spot 2 perhaps? So, total 13.....
Intrepid took the remaining 6 Wessex at the end of November, cannot recall if any teeny-weeny airways accompanied us.
ps. one source says 8 Wessex embarked, last one staying on spot 2 perhaps? So, total 13.....
Intrepid took the remaining 6 Wessex at the end of November, cannot recall if any teeny-weeny airways accompanied us.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Keith. That's not "Fearless", it's "Intrepid", taken in Aden harbour just before the final departure. Fifty years ago tomorrow. We was nobut kids then!
My Herc' OCU course was due to end on 1st December and a couple of weeks to go there was a strong rumour that we would finish early and help with the airlift out of Aden. It never happened thankfully 'cos I was booked to get married on Saturday 2nd - at the tender age of 21 to my 18 year old fiance.
50 years and going strong this Saturday!
50 years and going strong this Saturday!