My site consists of photographs taken of RAF Masirah by me with an old brownie box camera back in 1972. The photographs, which include some from old comrades and friends. Photographs provided by others are annotated as such. All my photographs depict locations, friends and associates and general daily life of Army and RAF personnel on an RAF Station on a desert island in the Persian Gulf. I hope they may be of interest to personnel who may have served on Masirah in the early 70's or those who have an interest in researching these times?
603 Signal Troop had a total strength of 14 Royal Signals personnel. It's role was to maintain static landline communications on an RAF airfield in the Middle East. In total it was made up of a WO2 (Foreman of Signals), 2 Line Technicians, 8 Linemen, 1 Clerk, 1 Technical Storeman and a Driver R Signals.
(609 Signal Troop. A specialist troop with another role. We associated with the personnel of this unit on a daily basis. You will see this from the relevant photographs that follow).
On my arrival at 603 Signal Troop we were initially Commanded by a Royal Signals Captain called, if my memory serves me well, Captain Risby. The Corps at a later date considered the post could be filled with a Warrant Officer Class 2 Foreman of Signals (FofS). So, nearing the end of my tour in 1972 WO2 (FofS) Brian Meachin arrived.
As two very small Royal Signals Army units, 603 and 609 Signal Troops, we had a fairly large degree of autonomy over our administration and small vehicle fleet. Hence, we used our landrovers and 4 tonne vehicle during out of work hours to seek out and investigate the island. It was not the same for the majority of RAF personnel on the Station who had to walk or join organised groups. However, many of my friends and sporting comrades were RAF and they eagerly joined us at every opportunity.
The Island had a very small civil population. This population lived in Hilf village which was created out of 40 gallon oil drums, old MFO boxes and disused, sweat and bed bug ridden mattresses scrounged off the station personnel and the station dump. Rumour/history has it, that they were banished to this type of living accommodation by the Sultan after a British (German?) crew shipwrecked on the Island were massacred by the local population. After some contact with the authorities the Sultan suposedly decreed that the Islanders would not live in permanent buildings for 100 years. This ruling was revoked, I believe, sometime in the mid to late 1970's. Along with the station and Hilf village there was the Diplomatic Wireless Station (DWS).
RAF Masirah in 1972, in comparision to todays airfields, was reasonably small and was mainly used for transit and refuelling. However, I believe the Station expanded out of all recognition in the mid 1970's and the villagers down the road were reprieved and a large building programme ensued. It is for that reason I have decided to record those early photographs of an unspoilt and little known Island. I hope those who may be interested in that very "special" era of Service life in the Gulf will enjoy.
Continuing in a Royal Air Force vein, I have opened another site in regard to my father's 29 years in the RAF. The period of the site covers part of his service in the late 1940's and early 1950's. It contains a series of black and white potographs of his and his families time in the Royal Air Force in Egypt, Eiritrea and Aden. The site can be found at:
www.rafinegyptandaden1950sduddings.co.uk