4 Issue No. 42 19 Wing comprising 36 and 21 Sqn moved from Raf Kabrit Egypt in early 55 to RAF Amman Jordan where 36 Sqn disbanded, and 29 Sqn was formed. And we thought we had arrived. No more tents and the luxury of showers and flushing toilets. But the happy times were interrupted with a detachment to Raf Akrotiri to undertake anti-terrorist patrols in the Troodos mountains. Shortly after our return we were surprised by the arrival of a couple of Hastings and the fact that the crew were wearing side arms. And when the contents of a secure building were crated and loaded onto the aircraft in double quick time, we knew something was brewing it was not likely to be pleasant Before the aircraft had departed a stand to was ordered and we drew arms and ammo and were issued shovels and told to dig slit trenches around wing HQ. Now we knew for sure this was serious and everyone dug with a will but before the trenches were half dug orders were changed and now the instructions were to load the QL’s with all the Bofors kit and hitch up the guns and then if the situation allowed to load our personal kit five minutes allowed for this. David Welch Suez Memories Our Palestinian bearers were dismayed and not able to understand why we were leaving not that we understood the situation at that time but all they understood was that their livelihood was ended and so soon after they had been refugees and living in camps. We moved out in the early evening and the trip apart from some stone throwing in the villages we passed was uneventful. When we first arrived at Mafraq our letters home were censored though lord knows why I should think everyone in the middle east knew we had moved and where I have the letters i sent home so I know we were still at Amman on the 14th of October 56 and my first censored letter home from Mafraq was dated 5th November 56 and I should think we had been there a good few days by then. However, there is a site under the heading RAF Regiment wings which states 19 wing only moved to Mafraq in Feb 57 Airbrushed from history? On arrival at Mafraq we were dispersed around the main camp and instructed to dig the guns in and that is one large hole to dig so we dug all night and by morning next day the guns were down and ready for action if necessary though it took several more days to sandbag the emplacement and dig the supporting slit trenches. By then we knew of the Suez operation and were aware of the possible effects on our situation and morale was pretty good as we felt at last, we were doing something useful. We had tents by now which was a good thing as the weather was turning cold and often wet and slowing getting organised and becoming expert at scrounging timber corrugated sheets to make a cook house and a Soya boiler just like the ones the British army were using at Roarke’s Drift, but these were heated with a fiendish pressure petrol burner, and it became a bit of a competition to see who could produce the loudest bang when lighting it in the early morning for the first brew. Then the water was cut off and a large detachment of the Syrian army arrived complete with armour and encamped close to the perimeter wire. Now we knew we were in an active service situation and Dhobi duties Gnrs Welch and Chapman 29 Sqn RAF Regiment LAA
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