So farewell the beautiful Hunter – but was it? It lived
on, as I expect you will hear, as 208 Buccaneers take the floor. But before I sit down – In recognition of the Squadron and the Association's Naval Parentage , I leave you with this piece of Naval History -
“BRASS MONKEYS”
After a period up in the Thumeir Camp we had become somewhat lackadaisical about security generally but two incidents in just a few days changed our views considerably.
The First Incident:
After the initial month up country in the Brigade Air Support cell it was decided by the MOD that HQ38Gp in the UK would provide the next detachment and I was left up there as the 'hand-over party”. The new team included an recently ex 208 pilot Len Dawson and Dave Whittaker a Hunter pilot of long standing. At about the same time the powers that be in Thumeir decided that the Officers Mess Tent should be moved about 300 yards 'up the road' and right on the extreme edge of the secure area. One evening Len and I strolled up from our tent to the Mess and as usual we had to rely on torches to pick out our path; we were laughing and joking and, I suspect, making a lot of noise but about half way up the path we were challenged by the guard – obviously a Scot. The challenge was “Crater” and the response “Aden”; the guard did not like our response and made a fresh challenge and received the same response. After the third challenge I said “ Oh for **** sake Aden” and this elicited the response of three rifles being cocked! Our reaction to that was “Do you really think that we would be trying to attack the Officers Mess making as much noise as we were and having only three hands between us?” [my arm was still in plaster from the earlier rugby break].
This brought the three rifles behind us into a cocked state! By now we realised we were in fairly deep trouble.
I was able to release my webbing belt with some difficulty having to use my left hand and allowed the holstered revolver to drop to the ground. By this time a Sergeant had appeared with a torch and asked for identity to be told he could find it in my back pocket because I could not reach it with my hands up! Once identity was established the sergeant was ordered to replace my gun and holster and we continued on our way.
