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#Post#: 5708--------------------------------------------------
303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: alanshield
Date: November 25, 2012, 1:35 pm
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March 1967, I find myself heading south from Buchan, Goodbye to
the Fog and the rain and the sleet and the snow for tomorrow,
I'll be at Gatwick ready to catch my British United VC10 for a 9
hour trooping flight via Bahrain to what would be the last of
the British outposts of the Empire on the Southern Arabian coast
at the port of Aden.
On this flight I would be accompanied by Two other Ado's Bryn
Webb and Tom Stewart.
The three of us had actually been sent to Bawdsey for the trade
course followed by a posting to Buchan and then finally all
three posted to Aden.
This unaccompanied one year tour came as a nasty surprise for
Bryn who was the only one of us to be married. His wife and
child lived in a private hiring at Cruden Bay and consequently
decided to re locate back down to her parents in Gloucester.
0900hrs and we begin to board the Aircraft wondering what
adventure lay ahead as we had all been primed to be ready for
'active service' In these situations, service humour plays a
very important role.
First stop, Cyprus where some personnel drop off and others join
the flight for the second leg north over Turkey.
Then, turn right to overfly Teheran and finally right again
over Kuwait to begin the decent into Muharraq Bahrain.
The aircraft doors open and the Heat hits everyone just as in
opening an Oven door,
Wow!! Perhaps my Tweed jacket and cavalry twill trousers were
the wrong choice of travel attire.
All the ground handlers of course were in their element
sniggering at all these new 'Moonies' about to experience the
Middle east for the very first time. "For godsake man, where's
the Bar?".......... That first cool Beer was a memory I'll
never forget.
Now, look around the transit area whilst the VC10 is getting
re-fuelled and I'm quite impressed by the Fancy American Sports
cars being driven by what looks like wealthy Arabs. Must have
quite an influence these Yanks, their cars are everywhere to be
seen.
Two hours later and we begin the final leg, flying across
trucial states and various Emirates passing Salalah, Masira and
Shaarja before the seat belt sign was again lit to indicate we
starting the final decent into Khormaksar.
Oh well, here we go!
[IMG]
HTML http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab142/alanshield/myinboundflight.jpg[/img]
#Post#: 5711--------------------------------------------------
Re: 303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: Brian Reynard
Date: November 25, 2012, 1:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Alan Shield link ---
>
> March 1967, I find myself heading south from Buchan, Goodbye
to the Fog and the rain and the sleet and the snow for tomorrow,
I'll be at Gatwick ready to catch my British United VC10 for a 9
hour trooping flight via Bahrain to what would be the last of
the British outposts of the Empire on the Southern Arabian coast
at the port of Aden.
> On this flight I would be accompanied by Two other Ado's
Bryn Webb and Tom Stewart.
> The three of us had actually been sent to Bawdsey for the
trade course followed by a posting to Buchan and then finally
all three posted to Aden.
> This unaccompanied one year tour came as a nasty surprise for
Bryn who was the only one of us to be married. His wife and
child lived in a private hiring at Cruden Bay and consequently
decided to re locate back down to her parents in Gloucester.
> 0900hrs and we begin to board the Aircraft wondering what
adventure lay ahead as we had all been primed to be ready for
'active service' In these situations, service humour plays a
very important role.
> First stop, Cyprus where some personnel drop off and others
join the flight for the second leg north over Turkey.
> Then, turn right to overfly Teheran and finally right again
over Kuwait to begin the decent into Muharraq Bahrain.
> The aircraft doors open and the Heat hits everyone just as in
opening an Oven door,
> Wow!! Perhaps my Tweed jacket and cavalry twill trousers were
the wrong choice of travel attire.
> All the ground handlers of course were in their element
sniggering at all these new 'Moonies' about to experience the
Middle east for the very first time. "For godsake man, were's
the Bar?".......... That first cool Beer was a memory I'll
never forget.
> Now, look around the transit area whilst the VC10 is getting
re-fuelled and I'm quite impressed by the Fancy American Sports
cars being driven by what looks like wealthy Arabs. Must have
quite an influence these Yanks, their cars are everywhere to be
seen.
> Two hours later and we begin the final leg, flying across
trucial states and various Emirates passing Salalah, Masira and
Shaarja before the seat belt sign was again lit to indicate we
starting the final decent into Khormaksar.
> Oh well, here we go!
>
--- End Quote ---
was the sign 'welcome to the arsehole of the world in air
movements at Khormaksar'???? LOL
#Post#: 5753--------------------------------------------------
Re: 303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: alanshield
Date: November 26, 2012, 12:14 pm
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Not sure if the Falklands gets that tribute but Aden must have
come hellish close!! :o
#Post#: 5757--------------------------------------------------
Re: 303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: David Carnell
Date: November 26, 2012, 1:06 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Loved my time in Aden 1961and 1962 the heat was just right and
the food was to die for,it was my first introduction to canada
dry I must have drunk gallons of the stuff,laced with a little
brandy.
#Post#: 5758--------------------------------------------------
Re: 303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: alanshield
Date: November 26, 2012, 1:11 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
First four days takes into account GDT with the Regiment
complete with photographs of the remains of servicemen who
didn't remember the rules.
Ummm! concentrate Alan, it may come in Handy.
Accomodation at Khormaksar consisted of H blocks and Twynhams,
303 Sigs., personel allocated the latter. these 14 man units
were not airconditioned which resulted in Very Hot air being
circulated by three ceiling fans. However, there was one nice
little touch.
Each billet was also allowed an arab civilian who's job was to
clean your brasses and polish shoes (at a small charge of
course) before we reported for a 24 hour Guard duty at various
posts all around the Airfield. This guard rosta for all Airmen
no matter what trade or Rank came around roughly every 10 days!
As well as cleaning our equipment, the young Arab would also
have a popular tea and coffee bar buisness along with a
selection of sandwiches which could be bought between the hours
of 8am until 5pm.
At this time the civilians had to leave the Camp for security
reasons.
As the evening progressed, the Naafi bars etc (Camel cub) would
be likened to wild west saloons especially when the Aircraft
Engineers from 2nd line servicing section met the RAF Regiment.
Needless to say the 'Snowdrops' and the MP's were always
patrolling these areas
At 6pm every night the local Radio station BFBS would
report security Sit/Reps across the tannoy system and if the
British Army which patrolled throughout the Civilian areas
caught and actual shot dead a Terrorist the whole of Khormaksar
would cheer.
Of course this conflict was not all one sided and occasionally,
Soldiers were injured and even killed.
I remember seeing members of the Northumberland Fusiliers about
to go out during the evening on a Patrol of areas such as Crater
or perhaps Sheik Othman and they looked very apprehensive.
An especially dangerous area when patrolling 'Up Country' was
the Radfan Mountains which lay to the North of Aden. This area
had several outposts which were targeted nearly everyday by
Tribesmen armed with heavy Mortors etc., I have placed pictures
of one such camp 'Habilayn' ( see U tube below)
This tented camp was equiped with Army Aircorps Scout helicopter
gunships and consequently high up on the agenda of Terrorist
snipers etc.
The Raf Wessex helicopters were tasked to fly most of the
everyday requirements fresh Ammo., and letters from home etc.
upto Habilayn and other such outposts and picquet posts
generally manned by Royal Marines.
Special Forces were also tasked with finding and dealing with
terrorist supply chains which criscrossed the mountain range
from the Yemen.
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4LE4OtsObTE
#Post#: 6006--------------------------------------------------
Re: 303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: alanshield
Date: December 1, 2012, 6:09 am
---------------------------------------------------------
GDT complete and Licence to kill been awarded, we now are
allowed to 'arrrive' on the unit which is situated as far away
from all the Airfield goings and comings as one can get.
The Unit landrover duly arrives and we begin the journey which
will take about twenty minutes from Billet to 'Box'. I say box
because that is exactly what the ops room is. A Sand coloured
Container which stands under a Steel framed canopy in order to
help shade the 'Box from the Hot Sun. Standing right next door
to the ops room is a TPS 34 cacooned within its airconditioned
dome and away to the right is a type 14. (the sweat box for
three people, one controller and two assistants)
A line of marqees where positioned which for the most part,
housed Electronic spares and the most important of all a
CANTEEN.
Surrounded by several layers of Barbed wire, 303sigs., was
really sandwiched between a perimeter Road and the threshold of
the main runway. Across the other side of this perimeter road
lay Army Barracks some of which were set aside for the federal
republican Army.
I was informed that I was to report to the station MT section
where I was to gain a B class licence so as to enable me to
drive the landrover back and forth for daily postal runs and
other ancillary tasks such as picking up the Officers from their
Quarters at the beginning of the day. It was considered at this
time that there was no Air threat during the night so the unit
closed down Ops., at 6pm every day.
You may ask where the Air threat was during the day? Seemingly
the Yemen to the North, was backed by the Soviets who had
dispatched a few ground attack aircraft together with soviet
aircrew but in truth, the serviceability of these aircraft was
not very good.
During one of my routine postal runs I was cleared by the Tower
to continue my journey along the peri track back toward the Unit
when all of a sudden I heard loud Cracks of noise. I presumed
that these sounds must be the wind blowing through the fly
sheets covering the landrover and thought nothing more about it.
However, when entering 303's compound I was greeted by the guys
from the Canteen shouting to get out of the vehicle and crawl
underneath as the site was under ground attack from elements of
the Federal republican army who had Mutineered against their
English officers. They had seen my Land Rover approaching and
presumed I was part of a counter measure and consequently
targeted the vehicle. Ummmm! interesting........
Just another day in Aden.
[IMG]
HTML http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab142/alanshield/postmanarrives.jpg[/img]
#Post#: 6019--------------------------------------------------
Re: 303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: David Carnell
Date: December 1, 2012, 1:01 pm
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Who,s a pretty boy then!!!!!
#Post#: 6021--------------------------------------------------
Re: 303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: Bill Reid
Date: December 1, 2012, 1:18 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
What's with the lack of shirt is it hot? You're improperly
dressed young man. ;D
#Post#: 6051--------------------------------------------------
Re: 303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: steve beddoe
Date: December 2, 2012, 11:07 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Alan Shield link ---
>
> GDT complete and Licence to kill been awarded, we now are
allowed to 'arrrive' on the unit which is situated as far away
from all the Airfield goings and comings as one can get.
> The Unit landrover duly arrives and we begin the journey which
will take about twenty minutes from Billet to 'Box'. I say box
because that is exactly what the ops room is. A Sand coloured
Container which stands under a Steel framed canopy in order to
help shade the 'Box from the Hot Sun. Standing right next door
to the ops room is a TPS 34 cacooned within its airconditioned
dome and away to the right is a type 14. (the sweat box for
three people, one controller and two assistants)
> A line of marqees where positioned which for the most part,
housed Electronic spares and the most important of all a
CANTEEN.
> Surrounded by several layers of Barbed wire, 303sigs., was
really sandwiched between a perimeter Road and the threshold of
the main runway. Across the other side of this perimeter road
lay Army Barracks some of which were set aside for the federal
republican Army.
> I was informed that I was to report to the station MT section
where I was to gain a B class licence so as to enable me to
drive the landrover back and forth for daily postal runs and
other ancillary tasks such as picking up the Officers from their
Quarters at the beginning of the day. It was considered at this
time that there was no Air threat during the night so the unit
closed down Ops., at 6pm every day.
> You may ask where the Air threat was during the day?
Seemingly the Yemen to the North, was backed by the Soviets who
had dispatched a few ground attack aircraft together with soviet
aircrew but in truth, the serviceability of these aircraft was
not very good.
> During one of my routine postal runs I was cleared by the
Tower to continue my journey along the peri track back toward
the Unit when all of a sudden I heard loud Cracks of noise. I
presumed that these sounds must be the wind blowing through the
fly sheets covering the landrover and thought nothing more about
it.
> However, when entering 303's compound I was greeted by the
guys from the Canteen shouting to get out of the vehicle and
crawl underneath as the site was under ground attack from
elements of the Federal republican army who had Mutineered
against their English officers. They had seen my Land Rover
approaching and presumed I was part of a counter measure and
consequently targeted the vehicle. Ummmm! interesting........
> Just another day in Aden.
>
>
>
>
[IMG]
HTML http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab142/alanshield/postmanarrives.jpg[/img]
>
--- End Quote ---
Dear Charles Atlas I've finished the course send me the body.
#Post#: 6052--------------------------------------------------
Re: 303 signals Unit Raf Khormaksar Aden
DIR By: alanshield
Date: December 2, 2012, 11:44 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Only put the shirt on when driving the Boss!
Amazing what you find at the back of an old Album. A picture of
the Civvy VC10 British United refuelling in Muharraq Bahrain.
see part one.....
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