PPRuNe Forums - Anyone remember the Majunga detachment?

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Last Shack to leave

I was on the last Shack detachment from 204 Squadton and we returned to the UK via Uganda, Cameroons, Mauritania and Gib. Hot days and steamy nights at the Maison du Mayor with so much laughter it hurt.

I was there with 42 Sqdn in early '67 for 6 weeks so missed the Torrey Canyon mess - whoopee. I had just arrived back on 42 after a Nav Fitters course and was asked if I had a passport - why ? because you are going to Majunga - Uh - quick check in St Mawgan library- yes - us electronics fitters can read. Stayed in the Village Touristique and became fed up with "Guantanamera" being played almost every 10 minutes. Got used to 3 Horses, Mutzig and Oranjeboom beers. Came back to SN via Shack Air, had a nose red going into Wheelus so stuck there for a few days then we had to fly to Malta with the wheels down and have new leg fitted there !!! did wonders for the fuel consumption. I still have my 3 Horses tie. Touristique has a web site.

Hello Shck1,

I would like to talk to you - and indeed anyone else here - about your time there for my forthcoming book 'Shackleton Boys'. Please get in touch.

Regards

Steve Bond

My association with Majunga was as an Argosy captain on 105 Squadron in Khormaksar. We had a couple of resupply flights per month from Aden to Majunga via Nairobi. I recall that one of the most important pieces of cargo was Bacardi for Madam on the inbound flight and Pastisse for the Maitre D in the New Avenue Hotel in Nairobi on the outbound.

I am no Shackleton expert but here is a photograph of Mk.3 XF730 which I took at Majunga in 1967.

And here are a couple of Mk.2s at Majunga

And finally for today, here is Air Madagascar's finest; DC-4 5R-MAC about to depart to Moroni in the Comores. Three Mk.2s and the Argosy can be seen in the background.

I took a gleaming Queen's Flight Andover into there in the 80s. A local ground crew chap took one look and said, 'Ah Royal Air Force; Shackleton'.

Before my time but I did take a highly polished gleaming Queen's flight Andover into Majunga in the mid 80s. One of the locals took one look at us and said 'ah Royal Air Force' then pointed at our aircraft and said ........ 'Shackleton - Exascot (Post #48)

I took a gleaming Queen's Flight Andover into there in the 80s. A local ground crew chap took one look and said, 'Ah Royal Air Force; Shackleton'. - Kitty Hawk 1

But did they "get a room"?;):ok:

Jack

Here's another one I found this afternoon. Once described by one of our captains as "the place where the bed bugs and the mosquitoes vie for the privilege of biting an Englishman".

That looks like one of the local taxys. I remember the upper internal balcony at the Hotel de France, which drained into the communal loo, and soaked the cardboard box full of used toilet paper.

ISTR the Hotel de France produced a fine Bouillabaisse :D

What I do remember was standing in the bar just as the sun was going down and getting up close to the many and varied local insects that were falling out of the rafters into my hair and my beer!

I was at Majunga with a 204 Sqn detachment from Ballykelly in 69 (I think). The best detachment among so many others.

You needd to try and make contact with a guy called Ron Coles, ex-leckie I think. Someone, somewhere will know how to contact him.
He was the oracle for 42Sqn in its day and never let a day go by without a diary note.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Bond (Post 9679793)

Hello Shck1,

I would like to talk to you - and indeed anyone else here - about your time there for my forthcoming book 'Shackleton Boys'. Please get in touch.

Regards

Steve Bond

Majunga, 1969, double detachment, 204 sqn out of BK, 19 years old, say no more !!
Plugsy, rock on Shack beys, H & R BK suks, all bitter and twisted !!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plugsy (Post 9974926)

Majunga, 1969, double detachment, 204 sqn out of BK, 19 years old, say no more !!
Plugsy, rock on Shack beys, H & R BK suks, all bitter and twisted !!

I was there at the same time as you Plugsy, I wish I could have stayed longer. ("Horace") :ok:

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackbeveridge (Post 6286514)

I was stationed at majunga commcen in 1970 for the regular 6 months tour. Happy days. I enjoyed reading the majunga forum. brought back memories. one incident spings to mind. About 6 of us organised a trip up to the top end of madagascar to collect sea shells. Seemingly they are quite rare. Two landrovers with trailers carrying all the gear, including fresh water, tents ect. An officer approached us and asked if he could come with us as he was a keen butterfly collector and he was desparate to catch some of the rare butterflies which are native only to Mada. We ofcourse agreed. We didnt make our intended destination, got lost in jungle and some of the roads were totally impassable. So this guy persuaded us to help him catch butterflies instead of sea-shells. He majically produced three or four nets and gave us a few basic tips on the art of catching and killing the butterflies without damaging the wings or bodies of the beasts. So there we were prancing about in the jungle catching butterflies. You couldnt make it up. he was like a young kid let loose in a sweetie-shop. And we all joined in the big game hunt with loads of enthusiasm. I have just discovered, in attic, some slides of that particular hack. Now on my pc. If you are that officer then i would be more than happy to send you these photos. Or to anyone else who is interested. My email address is
[email protected]

I’ve got a feeling this officer could have been my Dad… he’d have been about 28 back then. He was a keen butterfly collector and sounds like the bizarre sort of thing he’d do. His name is Nick Wright. Sadly recently passed away but would be great to see the pics if you still have them. Thanks

I had a work colleague back in the 90's who was a Lady RN CPO at Majunga Commcen in the 60's.

A delightful Lady, I doubt she is still around.

IG