RAF GAN Maldives 1972

[@dhruvaratna]

Good to see these pics. I was radio officer on SS Mawana and had 5 days in 1959 at Gan discharging bagged cement for Costains who had the contract to improve the airstrip after the UK base in Ceylon was closed. Did a bit of snorkelling. Had a bad reaction to the glare from crushed coral used to built the strip.

[@nancyfriend4156]

My late husband was posted here in 1972, he was an aerial rigger.

[@ianlloyd5962]

Thanks a lot Kev.

[@stevesmart7635]

I recall one night (on duty) when a VC10 came in from the East end .. It was in reverse thrust BEFORE it was over the runway, braked as soon as it could, turned right into the parking bays using only 1/3rd of the runway rather than taxiiing to the far end and coming back. Somewhere twixt Oct 73 and July 74 I think. I have great memories of Gan.

[@BrumKid]

What got me was the heat at 3am when i first got there it sucked my breath away. During my whole tour we only got 1 day of rain and the frogs loved it 1973.

[@nathththi]

Thnx for posting that video.... Its always good to see the beautiful Gan in Maldives!!

[@ianwithey8197]

Remember landing there on the way out to Hong Kong, about 0200hrs in the morning, god was it hot. Sadly didn't see much off the place. Remember the bar being open and Bacardi and coke only 5 pence. Thanks to the RAF that kept the place going.

[@dongriff]

Nice one! Not heard the 3,4,2,1 Conway Four for a while. Looked after one on another island down the South Atlantic - not quite as hot as your det. but unique in it's own way too. Thanks for the "fix"!

[@eddiebyword3363]

I remember landing there (VC10) on the way to and from Hong Kong. Both times were in the early hours. I remember (I was just a kid) a children's play area with a picket fence which had spotlights in the corners where giant toads or frogs used to congregate.

[@bobarty]

Your right my friend about the children,s play area at the Transit Hotel I used to work in a part of it doing Inflight meals for the Aircraft passing through.

[@eddiebyword3363]

@@bobarty Ahh right, I stopped there Sept '69 going to HK and Sept '71 coming back. My father did two tours, going out in '66 we went by BOAC 707, I think that was Frankfurt, Bombay and Bangkok and the reverse by VC10 in '68 was Singapore, Bahrain to Lyneham. I was amazed when I first heard of planes doing Heathrow to HK in one 12-13 hour hop..........

[@bobarty]

I know was I think nearly 24 hrs Brize to Hong Kong back then I did actually spend three months back in 1971 may to Aug at Kai Tak I was a cook attached to a RAF Regiment sqn who were doing there spell of guard there so know HK quite well.

[@eddiebyword3363]

@@bobarty That's right - 24 hours - we'd have definitely been there at the same time then. Albeit I was still in primary school - St. Andrews, opposite Osborne Barracks on Waterloo rd. I knew my airlines quite well by the time I left there as the school was about 400 yards from the Checkerboard hill - of course we were under the flightpath. Also, I lived in a block of flats on Rhondda rd - Kowloon Tsai overlooking the planes landing. A few snippets of film survived. I always used to look out for the RAF VC10 on a Wednesday afternoon........... never thought to film it although my mother did film these...... kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5rWlK1qms-XZ6s

[@bobarty]

The only Army Barracks I remember was Gunclub as it was called we did manage to go to Stonecutters though to play the Army guys at Darts and Dominoes one night.

[@michaeluae]

Looks like a lovely place to be stationed, love the roar of the Conways and did I see a Vulcan in there?

[@shrapnelicus]

69 to 70,1 year posting and then went back in 73 for 9 months,great memories

[@carforumwanker]

Peter : Do you remember the "suicide " of Cpl Slater found in hanging the metal power box . It was NOT a suicide . It had something to do with what was going on in the background on Hithadhoo.

[@dbarl64]

Yes I figured that I worked with RAF and BA VC10s and the sound of those engines is something else. The one at the front of my Video I took of RAF VC10 at the airport I worked at in Jamaica. Its on a slide which I rephotographed with my digital camera. so it came out a little blurry need to redo.

[@bobarty]

thanks for your comments,Gan was indeed a fantastic and unique posting it was a nine month unaccompanied tour endured with lots of humour and beer,Sadly it closed in 1976,now availiable has a holiday destination the runway is being lengthened to take direct flights from the UK in the near future. There is a website dedicated to the place just google Raf Gan,you were right you did see a Vulcan bomber.

[@bobarty]

Sorry dbar164 I know its not a proper film but twas 1972 pre digital an all that,stuck it on mainly for the sound of the engines roaring on take off,cheers

[@bobarty]

Cheers dongriff,glad you enjoyed it.The recording was actually done on an old Sony radio /cassette player,looking back wished I had made it on a wet day when the engines really roared and crackled.

[@bobarty]

10,000 viewings Wow ,RAF Gan remembered now on Facebook come join for any one who is interested.

[@bobarty]

No problem 9630785 ur welcome all the best.

[@bobarty]

If any ex Gannites happen upon this go check out scholarship fund on the Gan remembered site for a worthy cause for our old Maldy friends Thankyou.

[@dbarl64]

Nice try too bad no film