8 Squadron operations - 1964

The Squadron had hardly settled in at Khormaksar when it was thrust into action supporting FRA units heavily engaged in operations against dissident tribesmen in the Jebel Radfan area. 

Operation Nutcracker

This operation, which began on 4 January, was mounted by the FRA in the Radfan area and involved Hunter, Shackleton, Belvedere and Sycamore aircraft of Tactical Wing and Wessex helicopters attached to the Wing from HMS Centaur. The objective of Nutcracker was to carry out a demonstration in force in the area of the Radfan with a view to forcing the withdrawal from the area of twelve named dissidents and convincing the tribesmen that the Government had the ability and will to enter the Radfan as and when required. The Hunters and Shackletons provide recce, air cover and offensive support while the Belvederes, Sycamores and Wessex fulfilled the communications, recce, supply and troop carrying roles. One Belvedere sustained damage from rifle fire on the first day of the operation.

Over the period from the 4th to the 8th, the Squadron flew 22 top-cover sorties and 18 strikes on ground targets when requested. After top cover sorties were flown by Flt Lts Humphreyson (XF435) and  McCarthy (XE618) on the morning of the 4th, the first strikes were carried out by pairs of aircraft in the early afternoon by Flt Lts Johnson (XG154) and Williams (XG255), followed at 80 to 90-minute intervals by Flt Lt Talbot (XE618) and Fg Off Bottom (XF435), Flt Lt Sheppard (XG255) and Fg Off Baron (XG154), and Flt Lts Williams (XE609) and Johnson (XG169). At first light on the 5th, Flt Lt Talbot (XG154) and Fg Off Loveday (XG255) carried out the first strike of the day, backed up with further strikes by Wg Cdr Jennings (XF421) and Flt Lt Collingwood (XF435), Lt Notley (XG154) and Fg Off Jarvis (XG169), Flt Lt Williams (XE609) and Fg Off Sturt (XE618), and Wg Cdr Jennings (XF435) and Gp Captain Blythe (XF421), through to the early afternoon.

Although Nutcracker operations continued on the ground, it was not until the last three days of the month that further action by dissidents required support from the Hunters and they were called in again to provide air cover and offensive support for FRA operations in the area, another 18 operational sorties, eight of them strikes, being flown in this period. Flt Lt Williams (XF435) and Fg Off Sturt (XG255) flew the sole strike sorties on the 29th, with further strikes by three pairs, Wg Cdr Jennings (XF440) and Flt Lt Sheppard (XF376), Flt Lt Williams (XG256) and Lt Notley (XG255), and Sqn Ldr Syme (XE609) and Flt Lt Collingwood (XF376), being flown on the 31st of the month. Together with the Operation Ranji sorties, a total of 63 operational sorties were flown this month and over 11,000 rounds of ammunition was expended by the FGA.9s during Nutcracker.

From then on Hunter operations continued at the same tempo with February continuing on from where January left off. Thirty-one operational sorties were flown on a new Operation called Rustum in the Radfan area, seven as top cover and 24 on strikes against buildings. The first of these was carried out by Sqn Ldr Syme (XE609) and Flt Lt McCarthy (XG255) in the early afternoon of the 1st of the month, followed shortly after by Wg Cdr Jennings (XG256) and Flt Lt Constable (XE592). On the following morning, two pairs assigned to fly top cover sorties, Flt Lts Talbot (XG154) and Sheppard (XG256), followed by Flt Lts Constable (XF435) and Humphreyson (XG255), were requested to strike targets in the same area. The final strikes of this phase of the operation were carried out at lunch time on the 3rd by Sqn Ldr Syme (XF376) and Flt Lt Williams (XF440).

A second phase in Rustum requiring air support began on 15 February with cannon strikes by Wg Cdr Jennings (XF440) and Flt Lt Adamson (XE592), accompanied by Sqn Ldr Syme (XF435) who carried out a post-strike recce. Twenty-four hours later, it was the turn of Lt Notley (XG154) and Flt Lt Humphreyson (XG256) to undertake cannon strikes in support of ground troops with further strikes by Wg Cdr Jennings (XG256) and Flt Lt McCarthy (XE592) on the 17th and Flt Lt Talbot (XE620) and Fg Off Bottom (XG154) two days later. After a leaflet drop by Flt Lt Constable (XF435) on the 24th, four cannon strikes were flown by Wg Cdr Jennings (XF376), Flt Lt Williams (XE609), Fg Off Jarvis (XG237) and Lt Notley (XE620) in support of an FRA company being fired on from a village east of Dhala. This was rammed home by an R/P strike by Sqn Ldr Syme (XG154) and Flt Lt Adamson (XE592) later that afternoon. Before the end the month, another four cannon strikes were carried out under Rustum, Flt Lts Williams (XF435), Adamson (XE592) performing the task on the morning of the 25th with Flt Lts Constable (XF435) and Hounsell (XE592) following on in the afternoon; Sqn Ldr Syme (XF376) and Fg Off Jarvis (XG256) on the 26th and Flt Lts Adamson (XE620) and Hounsell (XF435) a day later.

Interspersed among this action were five Operation Ranji sorties, and at 10:25 on the 5th, two Mark.9s, XG256 (Lt Notley) and XF435 (Fg Off Jarvis) were scrambled to intercept unknown aircraft heading for the border west of Mukeiras, but the target(s) turned back without crossing over.

Disorder amongst tribesmen in the Wadi Jirdan and Wadi Habban was quelled by eight flagwave sorties over the two days 1 and 2 March. Following a flagwave and leaflet drop, 58 rockets and 4,371 rounds of ammunition were fired at targets in the Wadi Taym area on the 3rd. As a result of the incident, a 26 Squadron Belvedere evacuated dead and wounded from the area, one of the latter being the FAC. From the same day, 26 Squadron was transferred from Tactical to Transport Wing.

Further offensive action taken against the dissidents in Wadi Rabwa, in the Thumier area, was taken on 19 March, resulting in 1,600 rounds of ammunition being fired by two pairs of Hunters. On the following day, another 940 rounds were fired in the same area. No details are reported in the ORB.

On the 27^th, the standby pair, FGA.9s XE609 (Flt Lt Talbot) and XF440 (Fg Off Bottom), were scrambled to support FRA units still engaged on Operation Rustum and were called in to strafe dissidents at Milestone 27 on the Dhala road under direction of the FAC, firing 680 rounds in the process.

The Fort Harib incident

Following the occupation of the Radfan area by a large number of Egyptian backed dissident tribesmen and the proclamation that they had won the first battle in the war for the liberation of ‘occupied’ South Yemen, the number of incursions by Yemeni aircraft increased and included one raid in which two Migs escorted an armed helicopter on a bombing and machine gun attack on the village of Bulaq near Beihan. In response, a combined operation comprising four FGA.9s from 43 squadron, an FR.10 from 1417 Flight and five 8 Squadron FGA.9s carried out an attack on a Yemeni Fort called Harib on 28 March. The FR.10 (XE614 - Flt Lt Lewis) and one 8 squadron FGA.9 (XG237 – Fg Off Bottom) took-off at 06:30 to drop warning leaflets over the target, giving the occupants 15 minutes to vacate the place. These two aircraft then remained in theatre to provide top-cover for the main force of eight FGA.9s (XF440 – Wg Cdr Jennings, XG256 – Flt Lt Humphreyson, XE609 – Flt Lt Williams and XE620 – Flt Lt Johnson) as it carried out the cannon and R/P attack, 2,895 rounds of 30 mm HE and 54 HE rockets being fired. The leader’s salvo hit what was probably an ammunition store, as it caused a massive explosion and an accompanying dirty brown and black mushroom cloud which obscured the target for a few moments. Photographs taken before and after the raid revealed that the solidly-built stone fort, which was located a few miles inside the Yemen, was almost completely destroyed. An anti-aircraft gun was lifted off its mountings and a number of vehicles were wrecked. So good were the photographs taken by the FR.10 that the warning leaflets could be clearly seen.

Two days later, two FGA.9s (XE592 and XF376) were scrambled at 12:10 to intercept an unidentified aircraft heading for Mukeiras from the Yemen but it did not cross the border and landed at a Yemeni airstrip.

Four Operation Ranji sorties were also flown during March and no less than 95 top cover sorties were flown over the Beihan area.

The four Sycamores of SAR Flight, having been replaced by an equal number of Whirlwind helicopters, were retired and flown out to HMS Albion on the 28th to be shipped back to the UK.

Only 22 operational sorties were flown in April, 17 of which were for Beihan patrol and the relatively quiet spell was broken on the 10th when the standby pair (XE618 and XF435) were scrambled to intercept radar contact 50 miles north of Aden. By the time they arrived the contact had disappeared so they patrolled the border under direction of Champion radar without further incident. When Champion radar again intercepted a target approaching the border north of Aden on the 21st a pair of FGA.9s (XE609 and XF421) that were up on Beihan patrol were diverted, but this was revealed to be an Ethiopian Airways DC-3 on route to Khormaksar.

At the end of April, the Squadron began what transpired to be its final Operation Longstop detachment to Muharraq. Six aircraft departed Khormaksar on the 24th, staging via Masirah, followed by another four aircraft on the 25th. As expected, there were no operational sorties during this detachment. On 19 May the squadron moved to Sharjah, carrying out live strikes on the Jeb-a-Jib range en-route, and more cannon and R/P practice was carried out at Jeb-a-Jib and on the new Rasheid range, before the move back to Muharraq on the 28th. Two days later, Sqn Ldr Syme and Flt Lt Truelove in a T.7 and Lt Notley in FGA.9, XG255, departed Muharraq on a ferry flight to the UK, the aircraft being due for refurbishment.

Operation Radfan

Having enjoyed the relative calm at Muharraq, the Squadron moved back to Khormaksar via Masirah over the first three days of June, straight into the thick of a campaign which loosely became known as the ‘Radfan War’. The objectives of this operation were fourfold; to end the operations of dissidents in the ‘defined area’ (this consisted of a number of map squares which were thought to contain them), to prevent the tribal revolt from spreading, to reassert the Government’s authority, and to stop attacks on the Dhala road. The enormity of the task about to be embarked upon can be judged by the size and complexity of the land forces assembled for the operation. Known as Radfan Force (shortened to Radforce), it comprised 45 Royal Marine Commando, a company of the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, two FRA battalions, an armoured squadron, a RHA battery of 105 mm light guns and a troop of Royal Engineers. Offensive air support was provided by the Hunter and Shackleton squadrons, with 78 Squadron (Twin Pioneers), 26 Squadron (Belvederes), a few SAR Flt Whirlwinds, plus a number of AAC Scout, Austers and Beavers, maintaining the heavy lift, transport and communications support.

Operation Radfan began on the night of 29 April when a small party from 22 SAS Regiment was despatched in Scout helicopters to locate a suitable landing zone over which the Beverleys could drop paratroops onto a high vantage point above Wadi Rabwa, code-named ‘Cap Badge’. The Operation had been in progress for a month by the time 8 Squadron arrived back at Khormaksar, where it took over from 208 Squadron. No fewer than 128 operational sorties were flown by 8 Squadron during the month of June, eight on Beihan patrols and two on air defence scrambles, the latter in response to a report that an unidentified aircraft was flying south from the Dhala area. Relief was felt all round when it was identified as an Aden Airways DC-3 on a scheduled flight! The remaining sorties were flown in support of Army operations in the Radfan which had, as their major objective, the clearing out of rebels from the area. Nine aircraft were also scrambled during this period to help ground-troops out of difficult situations and several rocket and cannon attacks were made on houses and crops to flush out trouble-makers.

An example of the intensity of offensive sorties flown by 8 Squadron during what transpired to be the busiest phase of Operation Radfan, is perhaps best illustrated by the table below which covers the first two weeks of June. Only sorties in which either cannon or rockets, or both, were fired are taken account of. Another 23 operational sorties were flown over the same area on armed recce, top cover and Beihan patrols during the same period and on which the pilots were not called upon to open fire.

To say that precise flying skills and great accuracy when firing their weapons was required from the Hunter pilots of both 8 and 43 Squadrons would be an understatement as they dived onto their targets, many located deep within steep-sided Wadis. Regularly called upon to provide continuous air cover and offensive support, they often found themselves firing at rebel positions less than 150 yards way from our ground troops. On occasions, as it was impossible to strafe a target from above, a ground-hugging approach along the Wadi floor was adopted, with the inherent danger of being fired on from above. Indeed, so close to our troops were the Hunters on some occasions that 30 mm cannon shell cases ejected from the aircraft hit several soldiers as they flew low over their heads.

As two pages from the ORB for this month are missing, some 8 Squadron pilots have provided details from their logbooks of offensive sorties flown by them during the latter part of June.

During the month, Gp Capt Ellingham of the Central Fighter Establishment, flew out to Aden and flew with the Squadron on Beihan patrols, specifically to assess the problems of Air Defence in the area.

Following a series of unexplained incidents with 230-gallon drop tanks, they were replaced with the 100-gallon version while investigations were carried out, thus reducing the Wing’s operational radius and time on station.

As if all this was not enough, a new centralised servicing system, under the control of Technical Wing, was introduced on 15 June. All Hunter groundcrews were pooled into a dedicated team known as Rectification Flight under the command of 8 Squadron EO, Flt Lt Truelove and it took over responsibility for the 1st line servicing and 2nd line maintenance of all Hunter Wing aircraft from that date.

Naval support

For several days in the middle of June and in co-operation with the Hunter squadrons, 892 Squadron Sea Vixens operating from HMS Centaur provided welcome relief by undertaking recce sorties over the Radfan in support of ground forces acting against rebels from the Quteibi tribe. These were followed by strikes against various forts and strongholds in the Radfan area using both 2” and 3” rocket projectiles, the latter proving the most effective against stone walls that were 2 to 3-feet thick.

The relentless demand for air support by ground forces in the Radfan area continued through July with 90 operational sorties being flown during the month, mostly on armed recce and flagwaves. The first strike of the month was carried out at Wadina by Sqn Ldr Syme (XG292) and Flt Lt Hounsell (XE655) on the 3rd, In addition to attacks by Hunters, the Shackletons of 37 Squadron were continually harassing troublemakers and on the 11th, Flt Lt Hounsell was dispatched in an FGA.9 (XE655) to mark a target for the ‘Shack’ bomb-aimers. Then  on the 21st of the month, Flt Lt Constable (XG292) and Fg Off Baron (XE609) performed a strike on a target in the Mudia area under airborne FAC direction and the same area was targeted again on the 30th by Flt Lt Humphreyson and Lt Notley in XE609 and XF445 respectively. Meanwhile, on 28 July, Sqn Ldr Syme (XF445) led a four-ship strike on an arms dump at Wadi Yaheer, Flt Lts McCarthy (XJ680), Humphreyson (XE609) and Sheppard (XE592) completing the quartet. The final offensive action for the month occurred on the 31st when Lt Notley (XF445) and Fg Off Baron (XF456) were scrambled to strike a position in the Wadi Taym from which rebels had been reported firing.

August continued where July left off and another busy month with 125 operational sorties being flown. Of these, 58 were armed-recces in the Ramrod area of the Radfan, consisting of pairs of Hunters seeking out terrorist movements and firing their guns in pre-briefed regions, usually about 2,000 yards square. Since no attacks were allowed on houses during these missions, targets consisted mainly of crops, trees and empty mountainside. In addition, 32 flagwave sorties were carried out in the Hilyan, Al Khabr, Wadi Habib, Mukeiras, Shuqra and Am Surrah areas, three of these being combined with leaflet drops. Ramrod was the code name given to a proscribed area; among other code names were Carthorse and Buffalo.

The first attack on a specific target in August was carried out by Lt Notley on the 5th when he performed a strike on Jebel Farman. Five days later, two fire-power demonstrations involving five aircraft were carried out on targets at Am Surrah and As Sawad by Sqn Ldr Syme and Fg Off Grosse in T.7(!), XL566, accompanied by Lt Notley and Fg Off Baron in FGA.9s XF421 and XE611 respectively at 15:30, and enforced by a second demonstration by Flt Lt McCarthy (XF445) and Fg Off Sturt (XF440) at 15:45. The purpose of these demonstrations was to impress upon troublemakers the extent of the punishment that would be metered out of they did not stop fighting. The ORB records that on both occasions the targets were destroyed and the watching tribesmen were suitably impressed.

Eight strikes were flown in the vicinity of Mudia under the somewhat erratic control of an FAC and consisted of pairs firing rockets and guns at positions where dissidents had been reported two hours previously. The first of these was flown on the 22nd by Flt Lts Constable (XE611) and McCarthy (XG296), followed two days later by Flt Lt McCarthy (XF454) and Fg Off Flynn (XF440), then Sqn Ldr Syme (XE618) and Flt Lt Hounsell (XE655), and Flt Lts Hounsell (XF456) and Williams (XE609) on the 26th  No movements were seen on any of the strikes nor was it possible to assess the results.

In the Wadi Bana, an attack on a fort and nearby woods on the 18th of the month by a force of eight FGA.9s, seriously damaged the building and caused one casualty. Five camels were also killed and 20 rifles destroyed as 20 boxes of ammunition exploded. The force, which was led by Flt Lt Williams in XF456, comprised Flt Lts Porteous (XJ680) and Johnson (XE618), Fg Off Sturt (XE655), Flt Lt Hounsell (XG256), Fg Off Baron (XJ692) and Flt Lts Constable (XG296) and Cureton (XJ684).

The last day of August saw six FGA.9s attack rebel houses on Jebel Khuder, severely damaging all targets. The first wave, which was led by Wg Cdr Jennings in XF421, was supported by Flt Lts Porteous (XJ684), Hounsell (XG296), Sheppard (XE618), Williams (XE611) and Johnson (XF456), and was executed at 09:45. Three hours later, Flt Lts Williams and Johnson made follow-up strikes on the same targets in XE611 and XE655 respectively. The morning’s activity was completed with a strike on dissident positions in the Mudia region by Flt Lt McCarthy (XJ684) and Fg Off Sturt (XF454).

Operational flying for September followed the pattern of the previous few months with 82 operational sorties being flown, 54 of these being in the ever diminishing controlled area of the Radfan. Flagwaves were also flown over the Dhala airstrip and at Wa’alan to discourage the laying of mines. Towards the end of the month, an order was issued to the effect that rockets were to be carried on all armed-recces in the Radfan area and fired into the concentration areas. Houses were once more declared legitimate targets but only for front gun attacks.

Rocket and gun strikes were flown against dissident positions at Mudia by Flt Lts Williams (XG296) and Johnson (XE655), and at Jebel Khuder by Flt Lt Hounsell (XF454) and Fg Off Sturt (XJ684) on the 2nd, and on the 4th of the month, a pair of FGA.9s, led by Flt Lt Johnson in XJ680 supported by Fg Off Sturt in XF454, struck dissidents with rocket and cannon fire in Mudia. Two additional FGA.9s, flown by Flt Lts McCarthy and Humphreyson in XG135 and XJ680, were dispatched at 06:20 on the 16th to attack a dissident concentration on Jebel Misawarra.

Further rocket and gun attacks on dissidents on Jebel Misawarra by Wg Cdr Jennings (XE618) and Flt Lt Cureton (XG154) on the 20th preceded strikes on dissidents at Mudia by Flt Lts Johnson (XF456) and Williams (XJ680). Four days later, Sqn Ldr Syme (XG261), Flt Lts Cureton (XG135) and Williams (XG205) and Fg Off Baron (XE618), were briefed to perform a flagwave at Wa’alan but this was changed to a strike while en-route to the area. On the following day, at 05:30, four Hunters took off for a strike against dissidents in area Ramrod, led by Wg Cdr Jennings in XE618 and Flt Lt Johnson (XG261) at 05:30 and Flt Lt Cureton (XG237) and Fg Off Jarvis (XG205) completing the complement at 07:50. Jebel Widina became the focus of attention as the month drew to a close with attacks by two pairs of FGA.9s; Flt Lt McCarthy (XG205) and Fg Off Baron (XF435) at 07:45 on the 27th and Sqn Ldr Syme (XG135) and Fg Off Jarvis (XG261) at 10:00.

Armed recces continued in the Radfan area into October, both rockets and cannon being used until the 9th when it was decided to revert back to cannon only. When trouble flared-up during the early part of October in the area around the village of Asaqa, east of Dhala in the Wadi Bakain, it was responded to by four flagwaves on the 8th but, as these did not have the desired effect, three pairs of Hunters were dispatched to carry out strikes on dissident targets in the early morning on the 9th by Flt Lts McCarthy (XE611) and Porteous (XG135) twice, and Flt Lts Hounsell (XJ680) and Cureton (XE618). As these attacks failed to quell the trouble, the FRA was sent in to sort it out. Strong dissident resistance, however, brought requests for air support and 23 strike-sorties were flown over the four-day period from 10-13 October, by the following pilots; Wg Cdr Jennings (XG135 x 2, XG261, XG237), Flt Lts Porteous (XG237, XJ680, XF454, XJ684), Hounsell (XE618 x 2, XF454, XJ680),  McCarthy (XE618, XG261), Cureton XF454) and Fg Off Baron (XE611, XJ680 x 2, XJ684, XG261). All then went quiet for a week but when trouble brewed again on the 21st, a further twelve strikes were made on dissident strongholds in the Asaqa area, flown mainly by the same pilots who carried out previous attacks; Wg Cdr Jennings (XG205, XF435), Flt Lts Porteous (XF454 x 2), Cureton (XF435, XF456) and McCarthy (XE618, XF421) and Fg Offs Baron (XG154, XG261) and Sturt (XF456, XG154).

By November, the Radfan tribes had had enough and with the capitulation of the Ibdali tribe, offensive action in the area ceased, at least for a while. The number of operational sorties reduced accordingly, only 30 being flown in the month, of which 18 were armed-recces in the Air Control Area (ACA) of the Radfan. On the 17th the decision was taken to cease flying routine armed-recce sorties over the ACA unless specifically called for. However, a pair of FGA.9s, flown by Sqn Ldr Syme (XE655) and Fg Off Jarvis (XG237), were called-up by the FAC to carry out strikes north-east of Mudia on the 17th and Wg Cdr Jennings (XJ680) and Flt Lt McCarthy (XE552) were dispatched to attack a target in the Dhala area on the 25th of the month.

Only 26 operational sorties were flown in December, twelve being strikes in the Radfan with a further eight strikes taking place in the Beihan area following renewed trouble up there. As the number of operational sorties slowly decreased, greater emphasis was placed on training and for the first two weeks several low-level navigation exercises were carried out, some of them including practice diversions to Djibouti. High and low-level cine exercises and rocket and cannon firing on the range at Sheik Othman completed the session.

On the 4th, two waves of four aircraft were dispatched to attack targets in the Radfan. The first was led by Wg Cdr Jennings (XG205) along with Flt Lts Cureton (XE620) and McCarthy (XG296) and Fg Off Jarvis (XJ680), followed 30 minutes later by the second wave, which comprised Sqn Ldr Syme (XG261), Flt Lt Hounsell (XF454) and Fg Offs Baron (XE609) and Sturt (XE552). During the morning of the 6th, a FAC called for strikes against dissident targets six miles south-west of Beihan. These were carried out later that morning by Flt Lts Cureton (in 1417 Flt FR.10, XF441) and McCarthy in an FGA.9 (XG205) and were followed in the afternoon by further strikes by Sqn Ldr Syme (XJ680) and Fg Off Jarvis (XG205).

The dissidents then turned their attention on to Blair’s field and began firing on the airstrip each evening beginning 7 December. Under FAC control, Flt Lt Porteous (XF421) and Lt Kerr, RN (XF440) attacked their positions. As this had little effect, Flt Lt Porteous (XG296) and Fg Off Jarvis (XF388) carried out a second strike on the dissident firing positions on the 9th which had the desired effect, encouraging them to make a hasty retreat.

With no more strikes called for the remainder of the month, the Squadron could relax a little and concentrate its efforts on high and low level cine exercises and gun and rocket firing practice on the range.