Royal Air Force Christmas Island

JohnC · Administrator

Royal Air Force Christmas Island

JohnC · Administrator

This photo was taken at Christmas island in August 1959 of Hastings TG605 http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1317062F.jpg

I know of guys that were stationed on CI at that time, were you one of them?

JohnC · Administrator

Hastings TG606 at Christmas Island in August 1958 by John Harris, perhaps some of you guys knew John Harris http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1324677F.jpg

JohnC · Administrator

August 1958 and a fine picture of WJ339 at CI http://abpic.co.uk/images/images/1317586F.jpg

JohnC · Administrator

Not really a lot to tell re my Hastings flights, other than the fact it was a bit of a culture shock after flying civilian airlines from London to Hawaii. There were only 3 of us, service personnel, flying out on the Thursday before Good Friday in 1958. London to New York, change planes, then to Los Angeles with a re-fuelling stop in
Dallas/Fort Worth (long enough to get off the plane at the airport). Four
hours to kill in Los Angeles (we wandered outside the airport, got picked up
in police car, and were returned safely to the airport lounge) and then the
flight to Hawaii.

Because it was Easter, no Hastings flights to Christmas Island until the
Tuesday, so 4 days holiday in Hawaii, staying at the American Armed Forces
Y.M.C.A. in downtown Honolulu. (It was still there when I was in Hawaii in
1988 as part of my 'Round the World' tour....but that's another story.)
Then, it was report to USAF Hickam, and the somewhat sparse interior surroundings
of the Hastings. However, we were assured of the excellent safety record
(not so sure after glancing through your website.). I did manage another
return trip to Hawaii for a couple of weeks 'leave' (detachment was the
official term), but my return flight to U.K. was on a Comet, with an
overnight stop in Vancouver, and a re-ruelling stop in Goose Bay, Labrador
before landing at Stanstead.

Tony Goodacre