John Cooper [Admin] wrote:

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From my diaries

January 2nd 1964 El Adem Hastings TG530 51 Squadron 'Iceni' arrived

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 This would NOT have been the flight that I was on when we landed at an RAF Base somewhere in North Africa, either El Adem or Idris.

At the time the Maltese Govt was having a barny with the UK Govt and all RAF a/c were banned f
om landing on the island.

We flew into Africa from Cyprus on our way back to the UK. From memory we had been on detachment in Sharjah. 

After leaving Africa we were approaching the French coast when it became apparent that we had trouble with the port outer engine. The propellor slowly came to a stop with the blades feathered.

Fortunately we were very close to Istre the "French Farnborough" and we made a landing there. We stayed the night and in the morning an Argosy turned up with a replacement engine. The two engine fitters with us had to stay behind to carry out the engine change while we flew back in the Argosy to Wyton. 

I remember that we flew pretty low over Paris, the only time that I have seen the Eiffel Tower.