Oman photos

tut · Post by **tut** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:57 pm

A few people have asked me if I have any photos from Oman, so have dug out the few that I aquired. I did not have a camera then, so never took any myself, which was hell of a waste, as it was a large slice of my life.

These were taken over 30 years ago, then scanned, so the quality is not very good.

I was there for the whole seven years from start to finish, the only combat pilot to go through or last the whole war, and looking at the photos for the first time for many years, brings back how many friends that I lost.

This is what we were supposed to be doing.

My crewman Ali re-fuelling during an op.

Dropping an underslung load of fuel

My co-pilot taking a break

I mostly flew unarmed Helicopters, but also took up the FGA's, Strikemasters and Hunters, to get a bit of my own back.

But of course a guy has to have a break, and we had a great Officers Mess and a well used bar.

I had long bleached hair in those days.

We had mini mokes as personal transport initially, and used to race against the Strikeys around the Mess.

Cleaning our AK47's before an op.........well the keen ones are.

We also had a great beach scene when we were not flying, water skiing, scuba, sailing, surfing, and of course BBQ's. Shortage of women at first until the Air Hosties arrived, and wives from the German construction firms.

We started a MotoCross team, and wom the Middle East Championships.

We also used to pop over to Bangkok on R&R.

still used to fall asleep though.......

Some of my fellow pilots.

Verians predecessor

and finally, my Omani counterpart..........

tut

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:15 pm

They are fantastic!!!

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:20 pm

Excellent pics Tut.

When is the book being published?

Post by ed » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:23 pm

quality pics

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:28 pm

Hey Tut, just showed these pics to Emily.
Her response:

"always the ladies man then!"

PhilA · Post by **PhilA** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:30 pm

quite a looker eh

great pics! were u laid back b4 this or because of this?

minkypotglory · Post by **minkypotglory** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:32 pm

Excellent pics Tut

.You look rather hot in those pics

Mags

tut · Post by **tut** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:33 pm

Missed the one that probably got me my nickname out there "blonde teeth"

tut

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:46 pm

Tut, what was your squadron up to in Oman?

I happen to know a chap who did lots of reconnisance stuff out there, and still does - Drew Marra, know him?

he also owns a Lotus, an original Elan

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:50 pm

hmmmm, one for the look alike thread.....

Crocodile Dundee

Tut

Brian J · Post by **Brian J** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:42 pm

Tut, fantastic - surely, as said above, time for an illustrated volume of memoirs??

We're back to Oman again in November on holiday.

Brian J (hoping not to be strafed faction)

Rag_It · Post by **Rag_It** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:58 pm

Tut you are truely a legend - some of those pics made me wet myself, brilliant pics, not to mention some awesome action shots aswell.

You had described a lot of your past before, but the pictures just are amazing.

I must get some of me going into meetings, sitting at my desk, and closing that deal... Not quite the same!

http://www.s1jobs.com.......

Dave

tut · Post by **tut** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 10:40 pm

Greg

I was with 3 Squadron Helicopters, SOAF (Sultan of Omans Air Force). As I was there from 1970-1977, Drew Marra would have been after my time I think.

Our main job was to mount Airborne Operations to put the troops into new locations, re-supply them, move them around, and pick up the dead and wounded. We also acted as Top Cover for the Strikeys (1 Squadron Jets). This was with Bell 205's (Hueys), and the big Bell 214.

I also flew the Bell 206 Jetranger on Special Operations, mainly working with the SAS, putting small sections of them in to recce before committing the Regiments to a new Op. Officially they were not there, they were known as BATT, but were invaluable in gathering intelligence, and making it as safe as they could for us when we first flew in.

As I was a trained Forward Air Controller in the RM, I also had the very satisfying job of guiding the Jets onto targets when we had a battle going on, then homing in the artillery and mortars when they went back to base to re-fuel.

The great thing about our job compared to our close collegues the Army Officers, is that when we finished for the day, we went back to base and the Mess, good food, good wine, and comfortable beds, whereas they were living underground for weeks and months at a time. And on their patrols they had to live with the mines, which scared me stiff, as I had to bring back dozens of soldiers, including close friends, limbless or dead.

As a result we lived most days on the assumption that we might not come back the next, so we enjoyed ourselves, and could get away with being sh*t and unruly at times, as long as we did our jobs.

I made friends for life out there, but of course am not able to see them so often nowadays. Tis also sad to see the increasing number of Obituries in my annual SAF magazine, as unlike S_E, I was at the youger end in Oman.

Looking back on it, it is hard to take in now that I was part of a seven year war, ten months on duty with 2 x 1 months leave, but Oman is that kind of Country, and both its people and my fellow Officers made it unique and so worthwhile.

tut

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:28 am

Tut, fantastic pics!

tuscan_thunder · Post by **tuscan_thunder** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:23 am

i'm impressed. that must have been quite an experience.