its the sort of beer filled hole 2 Group pilots love. Always somewhere interesting to explore and something to do. Sure it may be somewhat provincial, but the locals generally love us and the rum is cheap!

Ah yes, I remember British Guiana, for I was a co-pilot in Hastings 340 from RAF Colerne that landed at Atkinson Air Force Base (Georgetown) in June 1964. We were on a training flight the purpose of which was to give crews experience of aerodromes that might be used if we were to establish a 'slip' pattern to support the rapid positioning of troops to quell insurgencies.

The plan was to visit the NAAFI that supported the British Army outpost based by the aerodrome so as to acquire relatively inexpensive booze that we would take with us to our next stop in Barbados for a party that had been arranged by the RAF Association. First we had to night-stop, and were just being welcomed into the Mess on the first floor of a building when an insurgent in the adjacent jungle opened up on us with a machine-gun. Our army hosts hit the floor instantly and we were no more than a few nano-seconds behind them! The threat was contained, thought I don't remember how, and - a little jittery - we all repaired to bed on the ground floor. Early in the morning whilst we were still asleep there was sudden BANG just outside our dormitory that got us awake in an instant! This was not a renewed assault on us but a starter cartridge being fired to get a Whirlwind helicopter engine going. We had no idea that the aircraft had been parked there overnight!

We didn't tarry that morning but bought the drinks and scurried off to Barbados were we were forced to extend our stay to avoid some rather nasty weather that was brewing.

And so I do remember British Guiana, but wouldn't criticise it based upon my experience there more than half a century ago!

Try this:

I always regarded Belize as a dump; until I went to the Solomon Islands.

Definitely a touch of Mboto Gorge about this story, watch out for the sharpened guava fruit.

There I was thinking the US Army could pick the world's worst places to locate a Base.....the RAF must be learning from my Army!

Looking at satellite photos it would appear Gan is being used again; it's labelled 'Gan International Airport' and there are a few light aircraft visible along with traces of recent work at the western end of the runway which appears to have 3 thresholds marked on it!
Then there's also the airfield built on the British owned but US operated Diego Garcia; appears to have plenty of spare parking space, surely the Americans wouldn't object to an RAF contingent there (or would it disrupt the operations which they carry out and which we're not supposed to know about)

There is always the Guantanamo, Cuba base (Gitmo) the Americans continue to operate that has a very nice airfield with lots of room to expand, a second disused air field that could be re-opened, Port facilities, and harbor.....along with some very secure housing going mostly empty.

Probably enough years left on the lease, but our aircrew would need special training to understand American air traffic controllers.https://www.pprune.org/images/icons/46.gif

Are the Defence ministers raving mad? We cannot even man / person our ships or recruit for the army yet dreams of empire resurface. Surely there are enough real threats around without dreaming of expansion........ I thought the two carriers were a step too far but really ................... !

Re-open RAF Wick'.

AD'

it's nuts isn't it, no wonder we have people like WEBF spouting guff about deployable RN task forces, when the DefSec himself has such illusions of grandeur. Unless his definition of an overseas base is a man in a land rover with a UJ hoisted on the roof. Bit different to mine I'm afraid!

Been there, done that.
In September 1964, Wick was re- opened for a major exercise, when I had just started the MOTU course at Kinloss. The more advanced students on MOTU were formed into crews with their instructors, but we lowly beginners found ourselves at Wick organising accomodation, rationing and anything else needed. We also combined controlling the rabbit population with providing fresh meat to the mess kitchens.

Stornoway was re-built in the 80s at great expense (including extending the runway to 2135m from its 'standard' 1829m) for major exercises; trouble is we don't have Buccaneers any more and the Tornado is on its way out.
It was only de-mobbed in '98.

Yes the air-con in the accommodation was "excellent" and the bitching from the PS about the use of the Stornoway Wedge was indeed music to our ears!

The Sergeant's Mess at Gan is a lot nicer now than it was back in the day - and even then it was the best place to stay on the island.