Khormaksar
Open days at RAF Khormaksar airport were one of the highlights of the year for the local civilian population and the families of service personnel.
Sadly at one of these events on 30th March 1962, when the crowd were being entertained by various flying demonstrations, Hawker Hunters of 8 Squadron (RAF) made a high level approach to the airfield intending to aim a sonic boom at the centre of the airfield, dive, pull out and make a low-level simulated attack on the airstrip. Two distinct bangs were heard by the watchers accompanied by a large plume of smoke and flying debris as one of the planes failed to recover from the dive. Both the pilot and plane were lost. Sadly it was reported that the pilot who lost his life, Flying Officer Blackgrove, had only two further weeks to run on his tour of duty. Various reports say that some of the onlookers were seriously injured. Flying Officer Blackgrove was buried at Ma'alla cemetery.
More details of this tragic accident can be found on the following web sites : -
http://www.radfanhunters.co.uk/Accidents.htm
(Entered under "Fatal accident: 8 Squadron FGA.9 XE607 at Khormaksar on 30 March, 1962")
and
http://www.radfanhunters.co.uk/MikeM1.htm
(See penultimate paragraph)
At one of these air shows we were treated to the sight of an Avro Vulcan 'V' bomber which was flown to Aden from the UK specifically for the open day event arriving during the show to the delight of the onlookers - a magnificent sight.
Here are some of the superb aircraft photographed by me at one of these events, probably in 1961/2.
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Handley Page Victor - RAF Khormaksar, Aden circa 1961/2
Vickers Valiant - RAF Khormaksar, Aden circa 1961/2
Gloster Javelin - RAF Khormaksar, Aden circa 1961/2
Hawker Hunter - RAF Khormaksar, Aden circa 1961/2
Hawker Hunter - RAF Khormaksar, Aden circa 1961/2
de Havilland Comet C2, XK716, of 216 Sqn RAF Lyneham - at Khormaksar, Aden circa 1961/2
Blackburn Beverley - RAF Khormaksar, Aden circa 1961/2
Aden Airways civilian airport was located close to the RAF airport at Khormaksar and was notable for its excellent restaurant.
The offices of Aden Airways, December 1962.
As both of our company vehicles were parked outside, Hillman Minx Estate in foreground and Austin Cambridge between the pick-up and red car we must have been meeting or sending off one of our staff.
The civilian airport terminal buildings at Khormaksar, December 1962.
I believe that this and the following three photographs were taken on the road from Ma'alla to Khormaksar, in December 1962.
A camel drawn water tanker.
Flats on Khormaksar beach road.
The four aerial masts at Khormaksar were another landmark that is often seen in the background of photographs taken in or around Khormaksar. I believe that they were in use in WW II but with the advent in changes in long range communications technology they fell into disuse.
As the cost of continual maintenance was considerable the decision was taken to dismantle them during the period we were resident in Aden. In itself this was no mean task. I do not know if the exercise to take down all of the masts down was ever completed before the British had to leave Aden.
One of the W/T masts, February 1964.
One of the masts has been partially dismantled, January 1965.
Located on the road from Khormaksar to Sheikh Othman and Little Aden the salt works were a landmark that dates back to the late eighteen hundreds.
The old windmills were used to pump sea water into the pans where it was allowed to evaporate and leave behind the raw salt crystals. The windmills would then pump more water into the pans and from pan to pan until the level of salt built up to a point where it could be harvested and sold.
In more recent times the windmills were replaced by mechanical pumps.
The old windmills used to pump the sea water into the evaporation pans.
Harvested salt ready for sale. The birds in the foreground foraging in the water are flamingos which were a familiar sight in the shallow waters by the salt works.
Accommodation at Khormaksar camp.
With acknowledgement to Mick Allen for this and the following two photographs.
Another photograph of accommodation at RAF Khormaksar known as 'Twynhams'. This photograph was taken from outside the MT 'hut'.
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