RAF Masirah & Salalah Reunion

RAF Masirah was located on a small island in the Arabian Sea (Northern area of the Indian Ocean) off the mainland of Oman. It's main purpose was as a staging post for refuelling RAF aircraft on their way to the Far East but also as a base for operations in the Middle East. It closed as an RAF base in the 70's as aircraft range had increased considerably. The VC10's, Vulcans etc. could make it from Cyprus to Gan (Maldives) in one hop.
Salalah was a Sultanate of Oman Air Force (SOAF) airfield about 4 or 5 hundred miles south of Masirah but it is on the mainland and used to be used by the RAF training the SOAF and as a base for defending Oman against the rebels from Yemen and the Radfan.

I was stationed at Masirah in 1968-69, not a lot to do except drink, sail, fish and go to the cinema, walk across the desert to the beaches either side of the airfield and something else, Oh yes, we had to work as well! I was in communications centre, beneath the ATC tower.

I started my website about RAF Masirah about 3 years ago and since then an Association has been started. Yesterday was the first official reunion, although there was one last year to discuss formation of the association.

A good night was had by all, lots of reminiscing with people who had been stationed there ranging from 1952 through to around 1975. No drunk's were spotted which was amazing considering what we were all like 50 years ago while stationed there! I suppose we are all very much older and wiser, at least we are very much older!

By the way, the Arabic along the bottom of the station crest means 'Self Reliance'. There's nothing there so we had to look after ourselves!