Hi there. I’m trying to gather some info on the hijacking of an aircraft (I presume Egyptian carrier) which resulted in the unauthorised landing of an Egyptian C-130 carrying troops at the airport, and attempted to interdict resulting in heavy resistance from Cypriot ground forces. Any aircraft serial numbers would be excellent if possible.
Also on the subject, can anyone identify the RAF / RN aircraft which were lost to EOKA, or some other Cypriot movment during the the resistance to British control prior to 1960. I do not know the date of the incident when, I think 5 aircraft were lost in a ground attack.
Thanks and best wishes
Twi.
By: Distiller - 10th March 2004 at 08:45
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/19/newsid_2565000/2565701.stm
On 19 February 1978, two Palestinians, who had taken hostage about 50 participants in a conference in Nicosia, are given use of a plane at Larnaca airport in Cyprus. They hold 11 passengers and four crew members on board the Cyprus Airways DC-8. Egyptian troops storm the plane, without the approval of the Cypriot authorities. Cypriot security forces respond, and 15 Egyptian soldiers are killed and 15 wounded in the confusion. The hostages are freed and the two hijackers arrested.
#1: Cyprus Airways DC-8-52 (their only), c/n 45303/141 N99862, on lease from Douglas between March 1976 and March 1978, later N804EV with Evergreen International, scrapped in January 1984. Before flying for Cyprus Air it was with Air New Zealand (built in 1961 for United, leased in 1970 and sold in 1971 to ANZ as ZK-NZF).
#2: C-130H built as BuNo 76-1598, Egyptian RegNo was 1270/SU-BAA
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th March 2004 at 08:02
Don’t take this for gospel, but I was talking about this subject very recently to a friend, he thought the other aircraft were Venoms.
If you contact the Archivist at the RAF Museum Hendon with the date Les has given you, details of the attack etc, I am sure they will accomodate you on aircraft serials etc.
As Les has the serials of the Canberras involved one imagines this incident is in the public domain, however do not always believe the written word as I can testify to the truth being bent just a little in Government circles and those indeed were dark days!
By: LesB - 10th March 2004 at 00:50
can anyone identify the RAF / RN aircraft which were lost to EOKA, or some other Cypriot movment during the the resistance to British control prior to 1960. I do not know the date of the incident when, I think 5 aircraft were lost in a ground attack.
The Akritori ASF hangar was attacked by an EOKA time pencil-bomb on 26 Nov 1957, five aircraft were destroyed. I have details only about the three Canberras involved, these were – a 6Sqn B.2, WF886, a 73Sqn B.2, WP514 and a 13Sqn PR.7, WT508. All three were destroyed in the massive fire caused by the bombing.
Hope this helps.
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March 9, 2004 at 8:32 pm