A Site for ex RAF, and other people that may have been posted to, or just visited,
The amazing Island of MASIRAH.
Al I’timad A’la al Nafs = Self Reliance
I started this website in memory of Dave Cromb who created the original RAF Masirah website
Dave passed away 06 December 2010 and is sadly missed by all ex-Masirites whether we knew him or not. He brought people together, brought back great memories, and I hope to continue his good work with this new site.
RAF Masirah was located on the island of Masirah which is about 15 miles off the East coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea. Masirah is approximately 40 miles long by 10 miles wide at it's widest point and five miles wide at its narrowest point.
During the 1930's Masirah became one of many staging posts between the RAF bases strung across the world, this one being essential for aircraft flying between bases from Iraq to Aden including those in northern Saudi Arabia and along the Arabian Gulf coast, or Persian Gulf as it was then.
The RAF base closed down in 1977 when there was no longer a need to maintain staging posts, plus the UK governments desire save money! but the Island continues to serve as a strategic position for support of Middle East bases for military operations.It was always one of the less desirable postings due to it's heat, dust, lack of pretty much anything to do, but those that were posted there developed great friendships and even a fondness for the Island.
After a grounding incident in 1904 at Hallaniyah, the largest island in the Kuria Muria island group north of Salalah, some of the crew of the Baron Innerdale (Incorrectly spelt as Inverdale on the beach monument) took to a lifeboat and landed on the Northern end of Masirah. There was a small fishing population on the island and the story goes that they were obviously curious as they had never seen white men before. When one of the crew panicked and fired his pistol to frighten the Arabs they reacted by slaughtering all of the crew of the lifeboat. The British sent a gunboat and after meeting with the Sultan the residents of Masirah were denied permanent dwellings for 100 years, as well as some of them being punished for the incident. This resulted in the village of Hilf being built of 45 gallon oil drums, cardboard and pretty much anything they could get their hands on. This order will have expired in 2004 but I have been told that there was an amnesty in 1970 and there are now permanent dwellings, and even an hotel on the island. Full story is covered on another website about travelling in Oman - Masirah Island Page
It is the site of the largest breeding ground for Loggerhead turtles and one of the rare locations for breeding Olive Ridley turtles. During my time in Masirah we used to have a Dawn Patrol to carry turtles back to the sea after they had exhausted themselves laying their eggs. If we had not done this they would perish within a very short time once the sun arose.
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The original wording on Dave's site, reproduced here for posterity as I don't know if the original site will be available forever.
" Welcome to Dave Cromb's (DC's) RAF Masirah website.It's going to be a live site,so keep returning.Feel free to contribute in any shape or form.A big hello to all who had the misfortune to have met me.Cheers.
Why a website on RAF Masirah?.I really don't know.For some years now something has been tantalising me to do so.What is it about experiencing a tour on Masirah that keeps on coming back to reminde one of that experience?.Certainly the island has a lasting effect on all who did a tour of duty there.Most people "handled" the tour better than some who never accepted things for what they were.As for myself,i actually volunteered to go to Masirah.Why?.Because i was unhappy with being a storeman on 72 squadron,Wessex helicopters at RAF Odiham.Initially it was to be 3 month detachment,but as the end of the detachment approached I was offered a 6 month extension.My tour was from March to December 1972.This of course was about the time RAF Muhurraq closed down."
Dave Cromb R.I.P.
Dave 'DC' Cromb the original creator of an RAF Masirah website. Passed away 6 December 2010
Oman Country Profiles
Courtesy of the BBC
General Information
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Good for current travel information as well as historic and general info.
