Javelin XH894 of 29 Sqn RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. I took this at Embakasi (Nairobi Civil Airport) in 1965. After Ian Smith declared UDI in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). RAF Transport Command mounted an Oil lift into Zambia using Britannia’s. 29 deployed from Akrotiri to Ndola to provide air cover and ensure no interference from the Rhodesian Air Force. XH894 was unserviceable at Akrotiri when the rest of the Sqn flew south, and followed on a few days later, landing at Nairobi to refuel because there was no tanker support for the solo flight south. Happily the Rhodesians decided not to interfere with the oil lift and the Javs returned home without having to use their Firestreaks in anger.
KeithMac
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By: Snoopy - 27th March 2002 at 06:19
RE: The RAF during UDI
Thanks, Uncle KeithMac. I’ve certainly met a few old Rhodies myself, who maintain with absolute conviction that RAF crews stationed in the region would never have actually opened fire on the Rhodesians (many of whom had themselves served in the RAF).
Regards,
Snoopy
By: keithmac - 26th March 2002 at 23:28
RE: The RAF during UDI
Hi Snoopy, I can’t confirm unofficially modified markings, or artwork showing sympathy for the Rhodesian cause, but I know that there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm for any action against the Rhodesians by most of the RAF. We did our “sabre rattling” as ordered and happily things went no further. I did hear that approaches were a bit tight, but nothing of RhAF escorts, however, I stayed in Kenya during the whole UDI episode so I’ve no first hand info on what actually happened down in Zambia.
KeithMac.
By: Snoopy - 20th March 2002 at 13:23
The RAF during UDI
Uncle KeithMac, it’s true of course that the Rhodesians didn’t explicitly interfere with the oil lift during UDI … but do you happen to know if there’s any truth to the various stories that old Rhodies will tell you, when sufficiently in their cups, about how they really “got” to the RAF aircraft based in Zambia at the time? Among other things, they say that:
– Many of the RAF aircraft based in the region mysteriously acquired assegai painted across their RAF roundels (which, of course, transformed the RAF roundel into something remarkably like the RhAF nationality marking of the time);
– Other RAF aircraft carried unauthorised artwork that might have been interpreted as declaring covert support for Ian Smith’s regime; and that
– The RAF aircraft were usually provided a friendly escort, during their approaches to the airfield at Livingstone, of RhAF Hunters. (The old Rhodies claim that the turning circles of the RAF aircraft involved was such that they could not actually line-up on the runway at Livingstone without entering Rhodesian air space.)
Have you heard any of these stories, and / or can you corroborate any of them?
By the way, nice pic!
Regards,
Your nephew Snoopy
By: keithmac - 17th March 2002 at 20:59
RE: Another
Possibly. The flight refuelling system was a modification and was embodied in service, so it took a long time for it to be embodied fleet wide. In those days we had a limited tanker fleet and it was used to mostly support the Lightning which as you probably know had next to no endurance without being topped up in flight.
KeithMac.
By: Ant.H - 17th March 2002 at 18:59
RE: Another
Nice pic Keith!The Javelin has always been a bit of a favourite of mine.I reckon the 9’s were the best looking of the bunch,particularly with the refuelling probe fitted,although I know some would disagree.
It seems strange that this one isn’t fitted with a probe when you consider that it was on a long range ferry flight.Could that be the reason why this one didn’t refuel in flight with the others? Just a thought…
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March 17, 2002 at 5:05 pm