Gallery Page 5 People featured on this page are - Dennis Lancaster / Terry 'Taff' Blackburn / Hugo Gray / Clive Lancaster / Kevin Patience / Len Woolley / Chris Stapleton / Mark Ryan / George Richmond
George 'Ernie from Wigan' Richmond - Masirah 1958 - 1959
I was stationed on Masirah from February 1958 for 20 months I have enjoyed looking at the photos in the gallery noting the changes over the years.I was pleased to see a photo of Norman The Geordie Arab who I knew quite well.
I was an MT driver ,I was called up for national Service but when told if I signed on as a regular Airman I would be guaranteed an overseas posting I signed on for 3 years and I did not regret it. I sailed from Liverpool on the SS Oxfordshire December 1957, the Suez canal was only re opened in April of that year, arriving in Aden a couple of days before Christmas (spent under canvas). Beginning of February I was asked if I would like to volunteer for a posting "Up Country".This turned out to be Masirah. When I arrived there were already 4 other Georges on the strength so I had the bright idea of being known as "Ernie From Wigan" a character from an old comic book called Film Fun and it stuck,and for the duration, 20 months, this was my name. The C O was Group Captain Bingham Hall, who liked to chase gazelle in his bright blue Land Rover, as a result they were afraid to come near the camp! The black & white photos I developed and printed myself, we had a dark room in those days.
Some of the photos relate to the cinema on Masirah at that time. I inherited the job of co projectionist and I spent time making posters and showing the films.I also stage managed the live shows when they came hence the photo of the Glamour Girls. We had only one cinemascope lens so on changeover cries of "why are we waiting" were a constant cry. The grave relates to a ship that caught fire and the casualties were brought to the island.A doctor was eventually sent to the island but sadly this young Frenchman died he was so badly burned.He was buried out on the airfield and later repatriated to his loved ones.It was a very sobering time for us all. The last one is of me back at Steamer Point on leave first for 2 Years waiting for transport home. I put as many with my comrades on, who knows they may be recognized.
A few names, there were signatures on the back of the panorama photo.Dave Scarr,in charge of delivering the the "fresh" water every day. Dave Murdoch (Jock). Les Rhodes (sparks) Terry Collier (isle of Wight).Dave Wright (Eccles) Bob Vickers. I am adding a few more photos The first one has all these men on it. The two with the home made bar was Christmas 1958. The one with the rocks shows a snake.The concert party was headlined by Avril Angus who is at the door of the plane the two chorus girls names not known.
Mark Ryan - 1973-1974 276 Signals Unit.
There are no names on the large group photograph. Luckily, Ken Hiscocks (Page 6 gallery) has added some names to the photograph and I've added the names, as a caption, to the photo on Mark's gallery, and Ken's own gallery. " I Think it was probably taken in late November 1973. I arrived in Dec 73 and recognised a lot of faces."
Chris Stapleton - 1968 - 1969 Chris was in Masirah 1968-1969 so there are lots of faces I recognise in his photographs. Can't put names to them all though so any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Bill Bratty - 276 Signals Unit late 1973.
Len Woolley 69-70 Len has some photos on the aircraft gallery page, worth a look at some classic aircraft from that period. These ones are more general but includes a rare photograph of the World Jury, which foundered on her maiden voyage.
Directly below is an audio file (.wma). Len spent some time down at the range and took his tape recorder with him. The Hunters were live firing and training Forward air traffic controllers. It was recorded over a music tape and it has bits of the original recording at the end. Also in the middle where I stopped the tape and started it again when the second wave of hunters came over. Bit hairy when they started firing before overflying the Tango.
Click the 'Play' arrow to hear the Hunters, cannon firing and explosions as they hit the targets.
Kevin Patience, 39 Sqdn detachment from Malta and also passing through with a St Mawgan Nimrod in 1972.
In 68 we had the 39 detachment to Masirah and being a ship fanatic I went on board the SS ELETRIC at the top end of the island. I have the story behind its stranding. In 86 when I was back on Masirah it had all gone.. At the same time I visited the Baron Innerdale not Inverdale memorial not far away..
Clive Lancaster 1972
Hugo Gray - 1962
Hugo served in Masirah during his National Service and passed through in April 1960 returning Oct 1962 till Oct 1963. His photographs, 35mm slides converte to jpeg by his son David, include Christmas 1962 Supplies Officers & Bagpipes in Wahli Camp, The races, the locals, Sir Hugh Frasers visit and a comet IV. The masiirah award framed held up by supplies officer, station parade on hardstanding, AVM ex aden with Canberra
DJR N.B. - There are also some stunning aerial photograph, I've never seen SS Electra from this view.
Dennis Lancaster - Dennis was not posted to Masirah but did a couple of detachments there with 22 tactical signals unit.
Terry 'Taff' Blackburn - Couple of photos from Terry when he was there in 1967/68. These were taken at the Water Sports/Sailing Club.