RAF in Iran?
As to Iran: a schoolmate of mine in junior high school was the daughter of an Army colonel. Late 60's early 70's. Her family's previous assignment had been in Tehran, where I think he worked in the Attache's office. (Memory vague). One of her most consistent recollections, and her mother's, about their time in Tehran was the high level of robbery and the absolute necessity to keep things locked up. We had another schoolmate who was from Iran; he always told us that he was from Persia.
(I ran into something similar in Italy a couple of decades later, as regards the thievery problem, which wasn't a problem when we lived in Germany nor when I lived in Japan).
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My dad interacted a bit with SEATO folks when we lived in Taiwan, 70's.
The Phantoms had a similar problem during the Viet Nam war. It wasn't until the "S" that the Phantom had "smokeless" engines, or so my Navy Phantom buddies told me.
As to Iran: a schoolmate of mine in junior high school was the daughter of an Army colonel. Late 60's early 70's. Her family's previous assignment had been in Tehran, where I think he worked in the Attache's office. (Memory vague). One of her most consistent recollections, and her mother's, about their time in Tehran was the high level of robbery and the absolute necessity to keep things locked up. We had another schoolmate who was from Iran; he always told us that he was from Persia.
(I ran into something similar in Italy a couple of decades later, as regards the thievery problem, which wasn't a problem when we lived in Germany nor when I lived in Japan).
The Phantoms had a similar problem during the Viet Nam war. It wasn't until the "S" that the Phantom had "smokeless" engines, or so my Navy Phantom buddies told me.
As to Iran: a schoolmate of mine in junior high school was the daughter of an Army colonel. Late 60's early 70's. Her family's previous assignment had been in Tehran, where I think he worked in the Attache's office. (Memory vague). One of her most consistent recollections, and her mother's, about their time in Tehran was the high level of robbery and the absolute necessity to keep things locked up. We had another schoolmate who was from Iran; he always told us that he was from Persia.
(I ran into something similar in Italy a couple of decades later, as regards the thievery problem, which wasn't a problem when we lived in Germany nor when I lived in Japan).
One day the local copper rang the bell and said "Someone has stolen your hub caps. I saw where they went. Would you like me to get them back for you?" I.e. give me 50 Rials and I'll give your hub caps back.
Last edited by artee; 23rd Apr 2024 at 03:25. Reason: Spelling & stuff
I very much enjoyed my time in Iran....Tehran was just another overpopulated dirty smoggy big city.
Shiraz and Esfahan were very nice places....Bandar Abbas was miserable and Ahvaz really...really was the cesspit of the country.
Unfortunately I did not get to the Caspian Sea area as I have heard it was a very pretty place.
The mountains of Iran are very pretty places if you like stark rocky terrain with high hills and mountains and deep valleys with streams at the bottom.
I saw a lot difference between the city people and those who lived out in the wilds but then life was very different for them as compared to the city dwellers.
Shiraz and Esfahan were very nice places....Bandar Abbas was miserable and Ahvaz really...really was the cesspit of the country.
Unfortunately I did not get to the Caspian Sea area as I have heard it was a very pretty place.
The mountains of Iran are very pretty places if you like stark rocky terrain with high hills and mountains and deep valleys with streams at the bottom.
I saw a lot difference between the city people and those who lived out in the wilds but then life was very different for them as compared to the city dwellers.
Transitted Teheran in a 203 Sqn Nimrod on the way to Masirah in 1975, as overflying Egypt was off limits in those days. Spent a short detachment in Bushehr in 1977, where we saw how the Iranian officers treated their conscripts... a few of us were of the opinion that the country was 'ripe for a revolution' if this was an example of how the 'haves' treated the 'have-nots'. Ho hum.
Transitted Teheran in a 203 Sqn Nimrod on the way to Masirah in 1975, as overflying Egypt was off limits in those days. Spent a short detachment in Bushehr in 1977, where we saw how the Iranian officers treated their conscripts... a few of us were of the opinion that the country was 'ripe for a revolution' if this was an example of how the 'haves' treated the 'have-nots'. Ho hum.
There are still plenty of have nots in the country despite more than 40 years of the mullahs, with poverty being evident all over the place.
Politics not withstanding, it is still a lovely country to visit with friendly people, great food and lots of things to see and do.
Some things haven't changed. My brother in law did 18 months as a conscript after he left uni in the mid 2000s and was treated very badly with awful accommodation, food, uniform and training. Most of his company ended up being ill with varous dieseases including dsyentry and when not ill all they did were menial tasks. The training they received was good enough to equip them as cannon fodder but nothing else.
There are still plenty of have nots in the country despite more than 40 years of the mullahs, with poverty being evident all over the place.
Politics not withstanding, it is still a lovely country to visit with friendly people, great food and lots of things to see and do.
There are still plenty of have nots in the country despite more than 40 years of the mullahs, with poverty being evident all over the place.
Politics not withstanding, it is still a lovely country to visit with friendly people, great food and lots of things to see and do.
Great people.
Like folks everywhere they just want to live a peaceful life and see their children educated, healthy and happy.
Can’t say I was impressed with the “Makeup Police” running around enforcing the clothing rules on the women.
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