May 28, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I am sorting out the mountain of bits of paper that I have accumulated in HMQ’s employ since 1953. This particular bit refers to the period between Jun 1955 and Nov 1956. My location was El Adem. I have made a note that Ops told Met that a Ghana Airways a/c (possibly a 707?) was to land at El Adem to refuel on its way from Accra to Moscow (Accra to El Adem c.2000 nm, El Adem to Moscow c.1500 nm). I dutifully sent a signal (H/F morse comms in them days pse note!) to RAF Nicosia asking for a TAF (Terminal Airfield Forecast) for Moscow. You will remember that the Cold War was just beginning! All hell broke loose! Security Officers from far and wide wanted to know what this lowly airman was doing asking for Moscow TAFs. I was interrogated in SHQ! Released without Charge!!!
However, and the function of this thread, does anyone actually know if the flight took place. And if it did, was it a 707? I have no notes about any return flight
TIA
Resmoroh
By: longshot - 28th May 2009 at 18:08
Ghana
Ghana came into being 6 March 1957 so are the dates correct? it was formerly the ‘Gold Coast’, a British colony. An Il-18 around 1965-1966 sounds a possibility?
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th May 2009 at 13:47
Surely no 707s around in 1955-56? Accra to Moscow at that time would make you think Il18, assuming it was a “civil” flight.
Planemike