DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Air Defence Operator
HTML https://airdefop.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Tales From Units/Detachments
*****************************************************
#Post#: 2912--------------------------------------------------
751su Cape Greco memories
DIR By: Peter A Barnes
Date: October 11, 2012, 9:03 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I arrived in Cyprus around Easter 1958 and as soon as the door
of our chartered DC4 opened on landing at RAF Nicosia, we were
hit with a blast of hot air, which was a dramatic contrast to
the weather I have recently enjoyed at RAF Saxa Vord at the
northern most tip of the Shetland Islands. RAF Nicosia dealt
with military and civilian flights and it was the first time
that that I had seen RAF personnel armed with rifles patrolling
a RAF establishment: in the UK we might be issued with a pick
axe handle as a potential weapon, but nothing more lethal.
I got transport from Nicosia to arrive at RAF Ayios Nikolaos,
near Famagusta, late in the afternoon, where I was directed to
the transit tents occupied by airmen from Cape Greco, who had
acted as drivers or escorts on the afternoon convoy and they
would return with the morning convoy carrying provision water
and the personnel living out in married quarters. Brian
Widddowson introduced himself and I still meet him every January
at our reunions together many other former comrades. I learnt
that two personnel had been killed in 1956 in Paralimni, whose
names are now shown on the Cyprus memorial: Leading Aircraftman
Donald Hayes and Junior Technician Albert McKinley.
The journey to Cape Greco the following morning took us along
rough roads passing through the villages of Paralimni and Aya
Napa. The buildings reminded me very much of those in bible
scenes and I was surprised to see women working on the road
filling potholes with stones, whilst the men sat around drinking
coffee and talking ,often in the presence of the Greek Orthodox
priest. Camels and donkeys appeared to be the main transport and
often we would drive past camels, which struck me as bad
tempered animals
RAF Cape Greco was situated at the extreme south-eastern corner
of the island connected by an isthmus, so that the landward side
was completely cut off by a barbed wire fence except for the
entrance with the wooden guardroom manned during the day by an
RAF policeman armed with a revolver. The accommodation for
Officers, NCO’s and airmen consisted of three-man tents
erected on concrete bases and most of the occupants had
constructed a low wall and door at the opening from old packing
cases etc. We had standard issue beds, locker and wardrobe and
heating was a paraffin stove, which also proved useful for
heating up tinned steak and kidney pies sent from home. I was
allocated to tent B8, which was occupied by Brian Robey and, as
he served on a different watch, we rarely saw each other.
Occasionally there was a third member, but for the last few
months I had the luxury of being on my own. There were wooden
and corrugated buildings providing cookhouse/mess, NAAFI, and
washhouse: the shower consisted of a long perforated pipe rather
like a scaffold pole, which we used en-masse. The latrines were
a pit in the ground with about three wooden cubicles and it was
a place you did not linger longer than necessary as the smell
was overpowering. When the pit was full it was filled in and the
building placed over a newly dug pit. The medic, a corporal,
worked from a tent and the stores and orderly room were also in
tents.
(to be continued)
#Post#: 2914--------------------------------------------------
Re: 751su Cape Greco memories
DIR By: Brian Reynard
Date: October 11, 2012, 9:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Peter - very interesting article, serves as a reminder that
Cyprus has not always been a place of sea, sand, and kebabs.
#Post#: 2983--------------------------------------------------
Re: 751su Cape Greco memories
DIR By: Peter A Barnes
Date: October 12, 2012, 3:55 am
---------------------------------------------------------
(continued)
I was allocated “B” watch and unlike most radar operators, I
remained on that watch for the whole of my time at Greco. Out
watch officer/fighter controller was Flight Lieutenant Glynn
George, who had been navigator during the war and he sported a
splendid RAF moustache. Our watch sergeant was Ron Gwynn, who
later got sent back to the UK after getting a flesh wound, when
shot during an attack on the convoy and I heard many years
afterwards that he was later commissioned reaching the rank of
Flight Lieutenant. He was replaced Sergeant Harry Puttam, who
had one time been a London bus driver and he enjoyed driving the
AEC water bowser in the convoy on his day off. There were two
corporals, but I can only remember Eric Martin being permanently
on our watch, although Eric thinks the other corporal may have
been Bob Mason.The other watch members were all Senior
Aircraftsmen being Albert Phillips, Bob Brown, Brian Widddowson,
Tom Harrison Alan Dunn and later on a Welsh lad, who I can our
remember as “Taffy”.
We were equipped with Types 13 and 14 and 15(mobile version of
Type7) radars undertaking both GCI and surveillance roles. We
had a similarly equipped detachment at Cape Andreas in north
east Cyprus (known as the Panhandle). A Type 84 radar was
installed on the top of Mount Troodos, so presumably we covered
the blank spots. The radar consoles were installed in mobile
cabins, which were similar to the mobile chest x-ray units that
used to travel from town to town. At one time the air
conditioning ceased to function and I had to sit at the console
wearing only shorts, whilst the perspiration dripped in great
pools onto the floor. There was a constant threat of gun running
to supply Greek EOKA terrorists and at night we would search for
ships offshore, using a specially tilted Type 14 radar. We
reported to a Naval Control, who would arrange for a RAF
Shackleton or a Navy Gannet to investigate. If suspicious vessel
was reported, a coastal minesweeper would be sent and the ship
boarded. In addition to our radar watch at night we used to man
a searchlight on "high- point", a hillock and highest point on
the camp, to look out for any intruders in the camp. It was
quite satisfying if you were able to watch the aircraft dropping
flares over a ship, which you had reported earlier, and, if you
were really lucky, saw the coastal minesweeper closing in. Just
before dawn a member of our watch, Alan Dunn, fell asleep on the
sandbags surrounding the searchlight position and the Station
Warrant Officer looked out of his tent to spot this prone figure
silhouetted by the rising sun. Alan got seven days "jankers",
although I told him that he was lucky not to be shot as he was
on active service! On night watch instead of adopting the
official hour on/hour off, we agreed to split into two four-hour
shifts. Whilst one half was working, the other half grabbed some
sleep wherever they could: I became adept sleeping curled round
the gear lever in a Bedford cab. If we managed to get some
sleep, it avoided trying to sleep during the heat of the day and
we could just swim and take it easy, thus being able to go to
sleep that evening and ready for watch the next morning. In the
summer there was a big drop in temperature, so we would wear
long khaki trousers, our blue battledress jackets and sometimes
greatcoats. One morning we forgot to wake a watch member, who
resulted in him sleeping until 10 a.m. or even later and he had
to creep back to his tent, without attracting the attention of
officers or NCO's, who might not have appreciated his attire or
the fact that he was carrying a pillow and a blanket. In
addition to the radar already mentioned 751 had acquired a
German World War II radar. I do not know whether it was a war
trophy or if it had been found on one of the other Mediterranean
islands. Junior Technician Pritchard, a National Serviceman, was
a genius at servicing the equipment and the more senior staff'
would readily seek his opinion. He was allowed considerable
latitude and it was agreed that he could try to repair this
radar. As there were no suitable valves available, Pritchard cut
down and adapted the current ones. I am sure that he would have
cannibalised and adapted other items. Eventually the equipment
flickered to life, but I do not know whether it was able to
locate aircraft.
(to be continued)
#Post#: 3043--------------------------------------------------
Re: 751su Cape Greco memories
DIR By: Peter A Barnes
Date: October 13, 2012, 5:39 am
---------------------------------------------------------
(continued)
We had to undertake the occasional night time armed guard duties
at the gate and patrolling the camp, when we would usually stop
at the lighthouse for a mug of tea and a chat with the soldiers
of the Royal Signals, who never appeared to sleep: they had made
a lethal looking water heater, consisting of a large biscuit tin
and some bare wires. By mutual consent the guard was divided
into two four-hour shifts and during the off guard period I
always slept fully dressed, with my rifle under the mattress and
the magazine under the pillow: I could have been fully alert in
an instant. On one occasion when we had come off evening watch,
Corporal Eric Martin thought that it would be a good idea to
visit the guard hut as Sergeant Gwynne was guard commander that
night. Sergeant Gwynne had already gone to bed so Eric grabbed
his trousers and they were hoisted up the flagpole, whilst we
stood to attention and Tom Harrison (a former Salvation Army
bandsman) played the Last Post. Sergeant Gwynne rushed outside,
wrapped in a blanket shouting to the guard, "Arrest that man"
and "I'll get you Harrison". The guard was completely baffled,
as they were not sure whether Sergeant Gwynne was serious or
not.
Every day a convoy left Cape Greco each morning for RAF Ayios
Nikolaos usually consisting of two water bowsers, a couple of
3 tonners. The convoy on its return would include a bus bringing
in the personnel living in married quarters. A further convoy
would return them to Ayios Nikolaos in the afternoon, although
as far as I can remember I never acted as escort on that convoy.
The convoy commander was either the RAF Regiment Flying Officer
or Flight Sergeant. There were Land Rovers at each end of the
convoy manned by the RAF Regiment armed with a Bren gun and at
first the latest mark of Sten gun and 303 Lee Enfields, but they
were later re-equipped with Sterling light machine guns and the
first self-loading rifles (SLR). The land rovers had a long
metal poles welded to the front bumper at an angle to counteract
wires stretched across the road in an attempt to decapitate the
occupants. Later on the RAF Regiment acquired a Ferret scout
car on which the Bren gun was mounted and it pushed in front of
it a two wheeled truck weighted down with sandbags to detonate
any hidden mines, although it was fortunately never proved
whether it would have been effective or not. The hatch at the
top of the bowser and 3 tonners had oil drums welded on to them
to provide some protection to the airman, who was standing on
the platform between the two seats: the escort, who was normally
one of radar operators was armed with either a Sten or 303 and
wore a flak jacket, but unlike the RAF Regiment airmen not
issued with a steel helmet. I was fortunate in not being too
tall as the flak jacket provided protection to parts of that
would not have been covered in the case of a taller person!
Whilst, I had passed out from basic training as a first class
short with the 303 (I suspect the airman next to me must have
accidentally added to the score on my target) I did not
consider myself a good shot and preferred to carry a Sten, as I
felt that I could at least spray it around to some effect! I
usually wore my RAF issue sun glasses mainly to keep the dust
out my eyes, although, if I remember correctly, some goggles
were available. It was impossible wear your beret whilst escort,
as some had found to their cost, when it blew off. Soon after I
arrived the situation in Cyprus deteriorated and it was decided
to provide the convoy with air cover to deter terrorist attacks,
which initially came from III Squadron, who’s Hunters used to
streak over at low level: each morning they would announce their
arrival by targeting my tent (at least it sounded like it!).
Later to our humiliation the Army Air Corps provided air support
using either an Auster or, I believe, a Percival Proctor. There
would be a convoy in the afternoon to return the living out
personnel back to RAF Ayios Nikolaos. On one occasion an airman
travelling in the rear of the Royal Signals army lorry
accidentally fired his rifle, causing a massive hole in the
side: the convoy commander was unable to ignore such damage and
the airman was charged. He duly appeared before the CO who gave
his judgement, «As it was an army lorry and not one of ours - a
ten shilling fine". On the return trip the convoy often used to
stop at a fortified police station and it was strange to chat to
police officers, who were armed with Sten guns and learn that
they had been seconded from the Metropolitan Police to bolster
the Cyprus Police: in those days it was completely unknown for
UK police officers to be armed. The Royal Ulster Rifles were
responsible for security in the Famagusta district and the Royal
Horse Guards in the Nicosia district.
(to be continued)
#Post#: 3099--------------------------------------------------
Re: 751su Cape Greco memories
DIR By: Peter A Barnes
Date: October 14, 2012, 5:08 am
---------------------------------------------------------
(continued)
Often we would arrive at RAF Ayios Nikolaos covered from head to
foot in dust and, as we did not have a camp barber we wore our
hair longer than normally acceptable. There had been an outbreak
of impetigo at Cape Greco some months before I arrived and the
M.O. gave instructions not to shave, so many of the personnel
had sported beards at that time. Apparently, if you were
challenged by an NCO at Ayios Nikolaos about your appearance,
you only had to say you were from Greco and he just gave up!
In 1958 there was a very tense period in the Middle East during
the Lebanon Crisis and our unit was placed on a "war footing",
with additional personnel being sent from the U.K., almost
doubling our numbers. These new arrivals had abruptly plucked
from radar stations in the U.K. and because they knew that it
was going to be a temporary posting to Cape Greco many never
settled in and seemed to winge all the time: one of the
exceptions was John Wells, who was Julia Andrews brother and he
seemed to have an endless supply of autographed photographs!
The U.S sent troops into Lebanon and British troops were
dispatched to Jordan. The U.S. 6th fleet moved into the area and
although the fleet was over the horizon, our shoreline was hit
by large waves for some considerable time.
On 20th December 1958 at Cape Andreas the water bowser going to
fetch water from the nearby monastery was blown up, instantly
killing a medic. S.A.C Alan Scaife, who had decided to test the
water for purity, and the driver L.A.C Thomas Boaden. The escort
Dennis Pynne, a radar operator, would have normally been
travelling in the cab, but because of the presence of the medic,
he was standing between the cab and the tanker and he was blown
clear losing the tip of a finger and he was sand blasted on
every exposed part of his body and he had a puncture wound to
his chest, so he had to be evacuated by helicopter.
Our food was very basic and, in season, watermelon was served at
every meal. At supper, after the evening watch, cockroaches used
to congregate on the wooden cross- members of the cookhouse. I
succumbed to "gypo tum" and my recovery was hastened by the
medical orderly's threat to send me to the Army hospital at the
end of the week: it was rumoured that airmen were treated like
inmates in a military prison. The unit did not have a doctor, so
the corporal medical orderly had a very responsible job and if
he decided that somebody needed urgent treatment it would mean
that the patient would be sent in the ambulance, with an armed
escort. During my time, two airman suffered head injuries: one
the result of a swimming accident and the second airman ,Martin
“Spike” Hall, got an electric shock from a searchlight
mounted on a tripod, which caused him to pull it on top of
himself In both cases it was necessary to move the patient at
night in the ambulance, accompanied by armed escorts.
It was decided to replace the crude cinema with a grander
building, to be constructed around a surplus canvas hanger. The
work was undertaken by airmen in their off-duty time and
supervised by Sergeant Hagan, who was responsible for any job
that could be fixed with a pneumatic drill or sledgehammer. The
work was finally completed in time for a Christmas Revue
starring officers and men, but the building was soon abandoned
to the local goats, when we withdrew from the site. Occasional
entertainment was provided by C.S.E. (Combined Services
Entertainment) and usually the entertainers arrived by sea (I
believe the Army provided the transport). I recall Yana, who was
at the height of her career, pulling a young officer onto the
stage to our delight: unfortunately she died a few years ago,
when in early middle age. Other entertainers included Frank
Thornton, Hugh Lloyd and Peter Jones. On one occasion an airman
in the Regiment got "jankers” for peering into the girls'
changing area.
(to be continued)
#Post#: 3459--------------------------------------------------
Re: 751su Cape Greco memories
DIR By: Peter A Barnes
Date: October 18, 2012, 8:58 am
---------------------------------------------------------
(continued)
Our CO,Squadron Leader MacDonald, was slightly eccentric and
instead of wearing service regulation shoes he sported suede
chukka boots. If he was travelling on the convoy he dispensed
with the customary revolver and carried a Bren gun as his
personal weapon. Needless to say he was a subject of parody by
an airman at the Christmas Revue. Airmen were not above posing
as two earlier items of tropical kit were highly coveted: long
peak khaki caps (Afrika Corps style) and instead of khaki
shirts, safari style jackets had been issued. These items were
handed down and booked well in advance of the current wearer's
return to UK.
Most of our free time was spent with our fellow watch members
swimming or sunbathing in the bay near the Guard Room. I could
not swim when I arrived,so Brian Widdowson towed me out to a
rock and told me to get back and after going under once, I found
that I could swim. Some airmen would go snorkelling or spear
fishing. The officers used another bay and one of the airman
,who had been snorkelling surfaced nearby to the spectacle of
officers sunbathing nude! Our watch invariably wore swimming
trunks, but I have recently learnt that others went nude, which
was probably more sensible, as some airmen suffered from salt
sores caused by the chaffing of their swimming trunks. I do
remember one lad, who was dark black from head to foot as the
result of prolonged exposure to the sun, save for odd pink
patches where his skin have peeled off, giving him a pie-bald
effect! Sometimes a coastal minesweeper would anchor in the bay
and some airmen would swim out to it and go aboard. The more
sporty played football or cricket on a mud-baked area, which
also served as a parade ground or helicopter landing site.
Our RC padre would make a flying visit every few months
arriving by helicopter, which were rare in those days. It was
amusing to see the CO (a squadron leader) standing smartly to
attention for our padre, who was a Group Captain. He was an
unassuming Northerner and he would come over to greet us with
"Hello lads”-. His “parish” covered all the Middle East
including North Africa. We did not have a permanent R.C chaplain
at Cape Greco, so some of the Catholic airmen would go to Mass
in Famagusta in a former Maronite church, which had been
acquired by the ex-pat Catholics. If I was not working on a
Sunday, I would get the morning convoy and be dropped off with
the other Catholics en route in Famagusta and the convoy would
then pick us up after Mass on its return to Cape Greco.
Needless to say, the rostered escort would ask me to take over
their duty and they would return to their tent to enjoy a
lie-in: the convoy commander did not seem to mind that it ran
the short distance to and from Ayios Nikolaos without somebody
in the turret riding “shot gun”. It seemed rather surreal
that I entered the Church carrying my Sten gun and when I went
up to receive communion, I would ask the nearest serviceman to
take care of it. After Mass, we would wait in the street or a
café for the returning convoy, which I found rather unnerving
and I would spend my time looking at the reflections in the shop
windows. After a while our Group Captain Chaplain on one of his
visits instructed (ordered?) us not to go to Mass in Famagusta:
I suspect that he had been tipped off that we could be in danger
and creating a security risk by causing the convoy to stop at
the same place on a regular basis. Subsequently, I would get the
convoy, invariably taking on escort duty, on my free Sundays and
get dropped off at the Army camp on the approach to Ayios
Nikolaos. On one occasion I was waiting outside the church tent,
when a Land Rover pulled up in a cloud of dust and an Army
Officer armed with a revolver leapt out, who it transpired was
the priest, so I could not help speculating during Mass as
whether or not he had revolver under his vestments!
(to be continued)
#Post#: 3514--------------------------------------------------
Re: 751su Cape Greco memories
DIR By: Peter A Barnes
Date: October 19, 2012, 4:46 am
---------------------------------------------------------
(continued)
I was extremely fortunate not being involved in any terrorist
incidents and the worse thing to happen was a Sten round
ricocheting off a rock and whistling past my ear, when we were
on a firing practice. However, I had one frightening incident,
whilst acting as escort, when our vehicle became isolated from
the rest of the convoy, whilst driving through either Paralimni
or Aya Napa. A young lad rode his bicycle in the path of our
lorry and fell off and we feared that we had been set up for an
ambush, as on both sides of the road were flat roofed buildings
from which it would have been easy to have lobbed a bomb or
opened fire on us. Flight Lieutenant George was sitting in the
passenger seat and shouted at the driver to carry on, but the
driver, who had only recently qualified to drive, crunched his
way through the gears without much success. It was very tense
for a moment and it was frightening to realise that if anybody
made a false move I would have opened fire. Fortunately, it was
a genuine accident and the boy picked himself up and ran home
crying. On another occasion some homemade mines were discovered
in a culvert under the road, which we must have passed over many
times and, for some reason, had not been detonated.
The skies over Cyprus were cloud free most of the time and air
traffic was light, so RAF pilots took the opportunity to indulge
in some low flying. Unfortunately this resulted in some tragic
accidents and in 1956, before I arrived, a Canberra crashed into
the sea with the loss of the four aircrew. On 20th August 1958 a
Hunter F6 of 66 squadron crashed into the sea off Famagusta,
killing its pilot, Flying Officer William Stevenson: the Cape
Greco lighthouse keeper ,with his knowledge of local currents,
correctly predicted where his remains would be washed up in
around 6 week’s time. One day I was standing on the low cliffs
overlooking our swimming bay, when an all black Canberra with no
obvious markings came in so low that it had to climb to clear
the low cliffs.
When I arrived in Cyprus, Field Marshal Harding was military
governor and Archbishop Makarios was exiled to the Seychelles.
Subsequently Hugh Foot was appointed as a civilian governor and
secret talks took place. At a crucial moment in the negotiations
the War Minister, Antony Head, flew out in a V-bomber (I believe
a Valiant): this would have been the quickest option at the
time, although the RAF had some Comet 2's, which were used for
casualty evacuation. When the settlement was agreed the unit
immediately ceased operations and whilst most airmen returned
quickly to the U.K, some including Bob Brown and myself remained
for some weeks. To keep us occupied we were told to paint the
blue radar aerials sand colour (presumably so that they could be
repainted blue on their return to the U.K.). We were very
loosely supervised by Sergeant Hagan. Bob and I would soon get
hot and bored and take ever more frequent swimming breaks: it
was the first time that I had swum in the nude, but it would
have been rather obvious if we had reported for duty carrying
swimming trunks and a towel. After a few weeks Bob and I were
sent to RAF Nicosia and spent a few boring days, before a flight
to the UK. We landed at Blackbushe and thence transported by
coach to RAF Hendon, where we were paid and sent on leave. A
suitable radar posting was not available, so I spent my last few
months in the RAF misemployed in Air Traffic Control at West
Raynham.
Service personnel, who have seen active service, seem to form a
lasting bond, which is not enjoyed by others. Although it is
over 50 years since we served in Cyprus, about 20 of us meet up
for our annual reunion in January and we have an informal lunch
time gathering in June. However, the most important event is the
Remembrance Ceremony and March Past at the Cenotaph on Armistice
Day, when about six of us take part and especially remember the
371 lads, who did not return to Blighty.
#Post#: 3605--------------------------------------------------
Re: 751su Cape Greco memories
DIR By: alanshield
Date: October 20, 2012, 9:56 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Great read Pete, It is recollections like these that make for
acurate historic pieces.
#Post#: 4253--------------------------------------------------
Re: 751su Cape Greco memories
DIR By: cpentith
Date: October 30, 2012, 11:34 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Never met you peter , mores the pity, wonderfull read as a 280
su Vet,, block 168 and Gata radar, I salute you !!!
Chris Pentith.
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 1