Spit/Hurr 1949 - 1951 (2)
…... displayed on the ground indicating direction of Shifta bandits and estimated distance. Weighted canvas bags, with messages from the pilot or prepared instructions from the Joint HQ, were thrown out of the cockpit to the ground forces. Mainly, the Squadron was providing essential communications and following up reports of Shifta
activity and often scaring them by their presence overhead, especially when they were found stealing the cattle.
Eor the pilots 
the flying was a great and welcome change from the desert of the Canal Zone. Asmara was just under 8,000ft altitude and the countryside in general was mountainous and challenging. The local maps had been prepared by the Italians before the war and were far from accurate and the generally clear blue skies of the desert were now replaced by changeable cloudy conditions. Having taken off in clear weather the pilot would return to base to find the cloud would be just above the ground. Bearing in mind the rugged terrain, low cloud and with limited R/T range the contrast with the Canal Zone was readily apparent. I delivered a Spitfire, after minor servicing, from Eayid to Asmara and was able to enjoy a week with the Squadron and thus can say that we all enjoyed some challenging flying on that detachment.
The Eritrean 
operation lasted some three months and the Squadron returned to Fayid in September to find one Meteor 7 had arrived. Shortly afterwards, they deployed to APC at RAE Nicosia (4). At that time Cyprus was a wonderful place: tourism hadn’t started, housing development was unknown, EOKA hadn’t surfaced and the island was unspoilt with many places of cultural interest one of which, the Chanteclaire nightclub in Nicosia, was very popular. Since about 40% of the Squadron pilots were NCO’s it was an ideal meeting place for all pilots.
It was on an occasion towards the end of the evening that a discussion ensued about the late arrival of the Meteor Mk 9 aircraft. The A Flight commander felt that the only way to expedite the arrival of the “Nines” was to get rid of the Spitfire 18s and, when pressed, said that he would get rid of one the next day. He was then challenged to do so for a bottle of champagne. He rejected the offer but said he would do it for two bottles. On the following day he was observed taxiing one of the
Spitfire / Hurricane 1949 - 1951 Page 1 2 3
