Gloster Javelins Zambia 1966

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14 years 1 month

Posts: 7

Me in Ndola airport, Zambia, Africa in 1966 on detachment with 29 squadron RAF

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Original post

Member for

11 years 1 month

Posts: 313

Outstanding! Thank you for sharing

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 16

Excellent! I was living in Lusaka at the time and, even though I was only five years old, I still remember the Javelins flying over a parade!

ps - I've got the same chest as you :-D

Member for

16 years

Posts: 218

Outstanding

Really captures the feeling great pictures !

Member for

18 years

Posts: 267

Ted, these are wonderful pictures.
A while back Flypast published an article of mine about the Javelin. The detachment to Ndola was mentioned; but, at the time, I couldn't find any photos. Yours have filled the gap.

Below is the text of the part of the article which dealt with 29sqdn's sojourn in Zambia. Please add to the story. I'm sure you have many memories! Peter Thorn unfortunately died last year.

"Because of its in flight refueling capability the FAW.9 was the version of the Javelin which saw extensive overseas service with the RAF. 29 Squadron detached to Cyprus in 1963 with the purpose of providing all weather cover in the Near East. From Akrotiri, in 1965, the squadron sent a detachment to Ndola in Zambia at the request of the Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda. On November 11th, 1965, Ian Smith and his government in Southern Rhodesia signed the Unilateral Declaration of Independence. This event had many repercussions in the area, not least the fear in Zambia, on Rhodesia's northern frontier, that they would be attacked by the Rhodesians. Kaunda wrote to the British Government requesting assistance in the form of troops and air protection in the event of an attack by the Rhodesian Air Force. In a letter to the US President Lyndon Johnson, Prime Minister Harold Wilson laid out his response to the request for air support:

“We decided to meet the second request by sending a squadron of Javelins to Ndola. The operation, which has been planned on a contingency basis for some time, will start today and should be completed by Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. The Javelins will go into Ndola, the radar environment to Lusaka and men of the RAF regiment will go to both airfields and possibly to Livingstone as well to guard against sabotage etc. We shall thus be in occupation of all the main airfields in Zambia. We have made it a condition of acceding to this request that Zambia will invite no other foreign forces into the country without our agreement.”

Ten FAW.9(R)s departed Akrotiri on December 1st 1965 and flew non-stop to Nairobi and thence to Ndola. Approximately six weeks after arrival in Zambia the detachment was split with four Javelins going to the base at Lusaka. The aircraft were in Zambia for a total of 8 months; and their detachment was, in the main, an uneventful one.

The squadron was also asked to perform a low level pass down the main street of Ndola to let the people know that the RAF had arrived. The flight was duly carried out at 1000 feet. However, this was not considered low enough and the flypast had to be repeated at 300 feet. This caused some consternation among the locals; but the message was well a truly received. They were there and they meant business!

There were some unusual missions flown however! Peter Thorn:

“A week or so after our arrival a request came in asking if we could help to persuade a herd of elephants to be encouraged to turn about as they were getting very close to civilisation (the outskirts of Ndola). We obliged; head on at low level with reheat engaged, over several days. I really felt sorry for them. It must have been terrifying; but it did the trick.”

The pilots also put on a demonstration of Javelin Interception for president Kenneth Kaunda. Two Javelins piloted by Flt Lts Peter Thorn and Peter Frewer took off from Lusaka and nine minutes later intercepted a third aircraft which had taken off from Ndola. Kaunda watched the interception on a radar screen.

The sojourn in Zambia finished in July 1966 and the squadron returned home to Akrotiri, flying via Kenya and Aden. They left behind aircraft XH890 which had made a forced landing at Ndola and was considered to be beyond repair. This aircraft remained in a children's park for some time before it became dangerous and was removed."

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16 years 5 months

Posts: 564

Great Stuff Ken. Catch up time.

Hey Ken,
Nice surprise, right out of the blue. 29 Sqdn RAF Javelins, were the last ones operating and that year( I think) 29 Sqdn. also detached to Fighter Command Missile Practice Camp at RAF Valley,UK for a week's missile firing practice down the Aberporth range. I was a lowly Airframes Corporal operating the Tyre and Hydraulic Bay Support at MPC, so if you were on that detachment, we must have met.

The Javelins arrived overhead to start camp, having flown across from Germany,( Or was it still Cyprus ? ) we saw them in and put them to bed,( luckily, we had one ex-Javelin Rigger from Tengah "Jock" Matherson who took charge of it all and ended up showing even Engineering Officer what was what, as no one had a clue about Javelins. ) "Jock" took me and all other riggers on a before Flight/Turn Round / After Flight Servicing tour of the Javelin. He was absolutely in his element. The pilots and navigators who climbed out were all old ,brown, fit looking,wrinkly aircrew, dressed in KD shirts,shorts and long socks----lol !!! great people, but obviously on their last tours of duty with Javelins.

We could tell that we were seeing the very last,(even then) of the real old type of Squadron spirit and it was quite a privilege to be a part of this for the week.

I remember the pulsating sound of the Sapphire engines as the Javelins taxied, sort of a"Whoom-Whoom" sound. The fires that broke out in engine bays on engine start up and the very nice sight of the Javelins, whistling in to the overhead break for landings after each sortie. I well realised that we were also part of the end of an era and that week was a truly magic time for us.

I cannot now remember the exact Aircraft that brought in the ground Crew and Ground equipment and spares, It was almost certainly Beverly and or Hastings transports. I did marshall Beverly's etc, in to FCMPC. Were you on that detachment and if so, what memories. ?

I beleive the Javelins were finally taken out of 29 Sqdn use later that year and the Sqdn. moved onto Lightnings.

Great times Ken, so pleased i witnessed it all. Thanks again for posting these very memorable pics. :)

Bill T.

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16 years 7 months

Posts: 10,647

Superb images, thanks for sharing Ken, and to Doug & Bill for the info.

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14 years 8 months

Posts: 555

Cracking stuff, made me smile during a long day in the office.

As for 'meaning business', Salisbury was the sector ATCC and the Javelins operated under their radar advisory service.

There was much friendly banter on the frequency and Mr Kaunda was reportedly disillusioned with the whole episode.

Later his military allegience turned to Italy and Yugoslavia and then in the early 1980s there was a brief flirtation with the USSR. But he was always cautious about Chinese 'assistance' as he shrewdly detected that there were strings attached.

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 16

Just by coincidence, I've been going through my dad's slides and there are photos of Javelins at Lusaka as well as a Lockheed C130. I don't have a projector or a slide scanner but I'll see what I can organise shortly. The shots aren't very good as my dad seems to have only had a 50mm lens and no airside access...

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,435

Some really terrific photos there, Ken. Adds greatly to the Javelin pictorial narrative on the web. Thanks for sharing.

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16 years 7 months

Posts: 39

Excellent photos and really quite historic. The Javelin deployment to Zambia is an interesting now largely forgotten piece of post-war RAF history.

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18 years 3 months

Posts: 1,216

Found this on the Pathe site, film of Javalin's arriving in Zambia in 1965.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/raf-arrive-in-zambia
It does state (Orig. Neg.) Old record suggests that material dates from around 01/12/1965', which does imply they are unsure of the exact date.
Nice film of the Bevs and Hastings.

Richard

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9 years 7 months

Posts: 1

Wow Outstanding experience you made! Thank you sharing us. :)

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24 years 2 months

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The big yellow tractor is a Marshall MP6...

Adrian

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,415

wonderful pictures, thanks for sharing

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12 years 4 months

Posts: 277

I'm sure the Javelin at 2.45 is XH892, now at Flixton in Suffolk.

Member for

11 years 8 months

Posts: 5

Good Evening Gentlemen,

I came upon this thread completely by accident. My name is Steve and I was recently going through my Dad's papers. his name is James (Jim) Allen, and Dad was Stationed out in Lusaka in 1966. He was a Flt.Lt. and he was in No1.ACC as either Chief Controller or Unit Education Officer (or both, I'm not too sure!). In amongst the paper are some photos of time he was there. One photo show a poem that was posted outside one of the messes (I presume) entitled" We Invite You To A Party!" Unfortunately the forum will not allow me to attach the photo so I've painstakingly copied down for you:

This was in amongst some photos of my Father’s, Jim Allen, who was stationed out in Lusaka in 1966. The photo is date stamped, “Made by Kodak Ltd, June 1966”. The photo shows this as a poster pinned on the Mess wall. It looks as though it has been signed but the lettering is too small to read, unfortunately.

WE INVITE YOU TO A PARTY!

THERE’S A RUBBER COVERED RADOMETO THE NORTH OF ZERO-EIGHT,
THERE’S A SLIGHT OF JADED JAVELINS BY THE GATE!
AND THE LOT ARE THERE TOGETHER
TO FIGHT – IN ANY WEATHER
(OR AT LEAST WE THINK THAT’S WHY THEY’RE ALL ON STATE!)

UNDERNEATH THE MILDEWED MUSHROOM IS A NEST OF NAST GNOMES
WHO ARE DAB AT PASSING PIGEONS (BUT EXCEL AT WRITING POEMS)
AND THESE ANTIQUATED ACES
(WHO WORK IN PACKING CASES)
HAVE BEEN SIX MONTHS SEPERATED FROM THEIR HOMES!

AS THE GHOSTLY, GHASTLY GLITTER OF THE DAWN CRAWLS UP THE STREET
WE HEAR (LIKE PITTER-PATTER MAN!) THE TRAMP OF TINY FEET
WHILE THE STATE CREW STILL ARE SNORING
(AND THE REST ARE STILL OUT WHORING)
THE MUSHROOM MEN ARE READY IN ‘THE SEAT’.

(NOT THROUGH EASTERN WINDOWS ONLY COMES FLOODING IN THE DAWN
BUT THE EAST END OF THE RUNWAY GETS AN EXTRA HOUR OF MORN…
FOR WHEN GNOMES WITH SHINY FACES
ARE LOOKING AT THEIR TRACES
THE JAVELINS LITTLE CURTAINS STILL ARE DRAWN…)

THERE’S A YELLOW PAINTED SUITCASE TO THE EAST OF CABIN ‘B’
FULL OF R/T TOTES AND CONSOLES AND AN IDIOTS TV
BUT ALTHOUGH IT’S VERY CLEVER
IT’S A WASTE OF AN ENDEAVOUR
COS THE GNOMES ARE IN THE REST-TENT DRINKING TEA!

THERE’S A CANBERRA OUT OF GWELO, AND HE’S NEARING ZORO-THREE –
IF HE COMES ACROSS THE BORDER IT’S FOR SURE HE WON’T GO FREE
HA!... THERE’S SOMETHING ON THE TUBE –
BUT IT’S JUST ANOTHER BOOB!
ONCE AGAIN THE CHIEF CONTROLLER’S SPILT HIS TEA!

THERE’S A PAIR OF JOUSTING JAVELINS TO THE NORTH OF BROKEN HILL
THERE’S A FIGHTER JUST ABOUT TO MAKE A KILL –
IT’S ALMOST IN HIS LOG
WHEN HE HEARS “YOU’RE IN MY BOG!
YOUR TARGETS DARK! AND I THINK MY WEAPON’S ILL!”

THERE’S A PREDATORY PILOT WHO HAS TRIED WITH ALL HIS MIGHT
TO GET THE FOOL TO GIVE HIM JUST ONE TEENY WEENY HEIGHT
THEN A PERKY VOICE SAYS “WAIT! –
I’VE GOT HIM DOWN AT EIGHT!” –
BUT IT’S SO MUCH ABOVE HIM THAT IT’S ALMOST OUT OF SIGHT.

(CONT’D)

THERE’S A JAVELIN FROM NEDOLA AND HE’S FALLING FROM THE SKY
SAYING “MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!” WITH A SIGH
FOR HE KNOWS HE HAS NO HOPE –
THEY’RE NOT LOOKING AT THE SCOPE
AND THEY’RE SWITCHING ALL THE CHANNELS TO STANDBY.

BEING MERRY MINDED MONSTERS YOU KNOW OF COURSE, I JEST –
WE MAY BE BLOODY AWFUL, BUT YOU KNOW WE DO OUR BEST
AND SO IF SOMETIMES YOU FIND
YOU’RE JUDY TWELVE MILES BEHIND
THE CHASE I’M SURE, MUST ADD A LITTLE ZEST

THERE’S A RUBBER COVERED RADOME TO THE NORTH OF ZERO-EIGHT
AND WE MUST ADMIT IT’S STARTING TO DEFLATE –
BUT WE ASK YOU TO REMEMBER
IT’S BEEN THERE SINCE DECEMBER
AND SOON YOU’LL SEE THE LOT DISINTEGRATE!

TO CELEBRATE OUR FIRST SIX MONTHS, AND ALL THAT HAS OCCURRED
WE INVITE YOU TO A PARTY ON FRIDAY, JUNE THE THIRD
I’M TOLD THE DRESS IS SCRUFF –
SO A SWEATER’S ENOUGH,
AND PS, DON’T FORGET TO BRING A BIRD!

THERE WILL BE WHOLE ROAST FLYING OFFICER, BARBEQUED ON A SPIT
THERE WILL BE SEXY, SMOOCHY MUSIC, AND THE CANDLES WILL BE LIT
YOU CAN DROWN YOURSELF IN GIN –
YOU CAN GRAB A LITTLE SIN –
(BUT MAKE SURE HER HUSBAND DOESN’T FIND HER IN YOUR PIT!)

WE’LL EXPECT TO SEE YOU COMING AT ABOUT THE HOUR OF EIGHT
WE HOPE THE BOOZE WILL LAST OUT – BUT I WOULDN’T BE TOO LATE
THE REST WILL BE AS NORMAL –
JUST A PARTY, NOTHING FORMAL
AND A CHANCE TO SEE THE A.C.C ACURSING AT THEIR FATE.

SO COME YOU DIRTY LECHERS, AND COME YOU DRUNKEN SWINE!
- BUT I WAS SUPPOSED TO INVITE THE LOT OF YOU NOT JUST 29
SO DOC AND CASH AND ROCKAPES TOO
AND BRITTANIA OPS AND THE T.S.U –
WE INVITE YOU ALL TO OUR SIX MONTH DO!

(SO YOU THINK YOU’RE EDUCATED AND A VERY CLEVER MAN –
AND YOU’VE NOTICED THAT THESE LINES WILL NEVER SCAN.
WELL, BEFORE YOU START TO YELL –
YOU CAN GO TO HELL!
- I’M ON THE A.C.C AND THE RADAR DOESN’T OFTEN SCAN EITHER!)
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On re-reading this it looks as though the reference to the Chief Controller spilling his Tea was my Dad! (He actually hated tea and always drank coffee). I also have my Dad Yearly Assessment Sheets (I think nowadays the modern term is Appraisal or Review!) It seems my Dad was a rather intense man with little sense of humour, although I have found that he had a very dry sense of humour!
Maybe someone on here my remember the "Party" or even my Dad!

Member for

11 years 8 months

Posts: 5

Having just read this months "Flypast Classics" column on the  Gloster Javelin, I thought I would bring this post I made 5 years ago to your attention.