After a cold start to the day the weather improved towards midday and several people took the opportunity of visiting the City of Nicosia.

Tuesday was a steady day of getting on with the job and although it was Greek Independence Day and was being celebrated throughout the island apart from the confinement of all to camp no repercussions (or explosions) were felt. Two pairs of aircraft were involved in a DRW exercise in the morning chasing a Valiant whilst other flying was divided between battle and bounce and cine-quarters without the cine as we are still awaiting GGS Recorders.

A fair amount of flying was done on Wednesday in very fine weather; there was even form flying in the afternoon when a pair was put up for an exercise - the target never materialised and the aircraft were scrambled for some practice PIs. The fine weather gave most an excuse for exposing their lily-white bodies to the sun in the fond hope that by KD time knees would not betray that they had only just arrived.

Shining new motor cars always present in most minds are slowly becoming a reality. Roy took all Wednesday off to go down to Limassol to order his and Don Brimms became the owner of wheels towards the end of the week - not new wheels, not big wheels but little Fiat-type wheels which enabled him to take some of the boys to Kyrenia over the weekend.

A strong cross-wind on Thursday stopped flying after the first sortie and so little productive work was achieved. The Met Man took the opportunity of demonstrating his affinity with his UK counterparts and for a day of very warm sunshine forecast rain. It was so warm that the Battle Flight pair in the afternoon were induced to do some pioneer work in constructing hammocks.

A severe short storm on Thursday evening made conditions for the airmen who are housed in tents very unpleasant but in spite of this they were not very late in getting the aircraft up on Friday morning. Serviceability throughout the week was good despite spares difficulties and the general shambles on the dispersal.

Routing battle and bounce was the order of the day on Friday and nothing untoward or noteworthy occurred. A new arrival was welcomed, John McCallum late of 249 Squadron.

The dreaded medicos departed on Friday having passed the whole week with us attempting to prove we know not what - or disprove it; they went about their deeds with the aid of a very ancient ……

Ch 2 - Nicosia/Akrotiri 03

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