My condolences to relatives the men who died. I was with Para Air Sqn and flew into Salamanca the day after the crash. We had been in the Bar at Airport Camp with the RAF Guys the day before the crash. My mate George Exelby waved the Puma away. Extremely traumatic experience! I suppose nowadays we would all have psychiatric support, in those days you just got drunk and carried on.

Gents,
This thread is still so special to me. I haven't looked at it for a few years but it's been good to go over the information again.
Thanks everyone.

All the best

Paul Bolam

I was at Odiham in 76 and plucked from my MQ to go into work and prepare a replacement a/c for Belize. News of the crash trickled in slowly and by the end of the afternoon the whole story came out - which made for a sorrowful bunch of engineers. I was to go out to Belize 2 months later and made a point of not going on any Puma "jollies" during my 9 week detachment!

Puma det Belize
 

Hi to all. I did aeromedical duties between early 77 and 82 consisting of 16 detachments ranging between 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Did many a casevac with the crews. Notable ones were Harrier crash,? Snake bite at night, missing jungle training instructor, plus many others.

Was that the one where a Ghurka was bitten by a very juvenile Fer De Lance on the mountain top look out at night? (Cadeness Top sorry for the spelling). In a rain storm as well 🐍 ⛈

deployed
 

hi all

could someone please tell me when colin was actually posted to belize please??/

thanks
mick egan