Oman Dhofar 1972
The Cooler King
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: In the Desert
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oman Dhofar 1972
This has just come up on YouTube.
The footage is wonderful. Some great characters in it too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGMX_oBpDKQ
The footage is wonderful. Some great characters in it too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGMX_oBpDKQ
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 78
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba
This account details the actions of a very brave man and his comrades.
Perhaps one day he will receive the decoration he deserves.
Time for a Posthumous V.C. ? The Battle of Mirbat | Patrick Baty ? Historical paint consultant
Perhaps one day he will receive the decoration he deserves.
Time for a Posthumous V.C. ? The Battle of Mirbat | Patrick Baty ? Historical paint consultant
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somewhere flat
Age: 68
Posts: 5,560
Likes: 0
Received 45 Likes
on
30 Posts
A bit earlier, but similar location. This is an amusing read from a pilot at Aden.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Fal...oman+catholics
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Fal...oman+catholics
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,892
Received 2,830 Likes
on
1,208 Posts
The battle at Mirbat was covered very well in an early copy of Britain at War where they told the story and did a then and now story, surprised how much still survives on site, spent cases etc.
I didn't arrive in Oman until 1974 when the war was still going. With the arrival of SAM 7s the Strikemaster used by SOAF became vulnerable. Did Barrie not bang out of a Strikie after being hit?
Made quite a few trips down to Salalah during the time that we took over running the airport from the RAF. Flying down on the SOAF 1-11 or Viscount jump seat gave an insight into the approach, overhead at about 10000 ft then rapid descent over the sea to avoid any SAM's, landing on runway 04, often after a 1/2 mile SRA during the monsoon season.
When things started winding down, courtesy of SOAF, my wife and a couple of friends went down to Salalah on a day trip from Seeb. Visited the local version of MASH, Field Surgical Team (FST) who did sterling service during the war. She met the "Gas Man" who used to keep chameleons. Quite a character.
FST was known as a favourite place on base to get a drink, kept in one of the chilled units in the morgue!
Made quite a few trips down to Salalah during the time that we took over running the airport from the RAF. Flying down on the SOAF 1-11 or Viscount jump seat gave an insight into the approach, overhead at about 10000 ft then rapid descent over the sea to avoid any SAM's, landing on runway 04, often after a 1/2 mile SRA during the monsoon season.
When things started winding down, courtesy of SOAF, my wife and a couple of friends went down to Salalah on a day trip from Seeb. Visited the local version of MASH, Field Surgical Team (FST) who did sterling service during the war. She met the "Gas Man" who used to keep chameleons. Quite a character.
FST was known as a favourite place on base to get a drink, kept in one of the chilled units in the morgue!
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
This account details the actions of a very brave man and his comrades.
Perhaps one day he will receive the decoration he deserves.
Time for a Posthumous V.C. ? The Battle of Mirbat | Patrick Baty ? Historical paint consultant
Perhaps one day he will receive the decoration he deserves.
Time for a Posthumous V.C. ? The Battle of Mirbat | Patrick Baty ? Historical paint consultant
We knew each other well.
Gentleman Aviator
Did Barrie not bang out of a Strikie after being hit?
"220" was the only one to bang out (from a Strikemaster) after having been SAMMed.
"Young Robin" (SOAF Songbook refers) also took a hit on his Strikie but managed to land his (very) damaged jet at one of the jebel strips - Manston?
Join Date: May 2009
Location: N.Devon
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
According to Rowland White, author of 'Storm Front', Barrie William's incident was on 15 September 1971. He was flying Strikemaster, 410, which was hit by ground fire during low-level attack, severing engine low pressure line.
The Cooler King
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: In the Desert
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What amazing days they must have been.
I've happily resided here for over ten years now, and not so much as a murmur of dissent (apart from the Sohar roundabout lot who were rapidly put back in their box.)
Thank you for your service.
One shudders to think of how the place could have ended up.
I've happily resided here for over ten years now, and not so much as a murmur of dissent (apart from the Sohar roundabout lot who were rapidly put back in their box.)
Thank you for your service.
One shudders to think of how the place could have ended up.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Cheshire, England
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
JENKINS, you're quite right, but having been there at the time of RF's ejection, I forgot the meaning of the R! It was one heck of a day.
Incidentally, on Remembrance Sunday last year my wife and I visited the Christian Cemetery in the PDO area to pay respects to some of the fallen who are buried there. Sadly we arrived after the official ceremonies, but it was good to have been there.
Incidentally, on Remembrance Sunday last year my wife and I visited the Christian Cemetery in the PDO area to pay respects to some of the fallen who are buried there. Sadly we arrived after the official ceremonies, but it was good to have been there.
Was that a very young Barrie Williams I saw on there?
Yes I think that was Barry Williams,who later worked at Airworks at Yeovilton.
Yes I think that was Barry Williams,who later worked at Airworks at Yeovilton.
Last edited by 6f1; 31st Mar 2017 at 18:30.
