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This sign outside The Blue Lagoon, the
Transit Hotel at RAF Gan, shows the general layout of Addu
Atoll. Gan is the most southerly of the islands in the atoll, at
the bottom of the sign: latitude 00.42S, longitude 73.09E - thus
just 42 miles south of the Equator. |
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This was my view from the cockpit of the
Victor tanker as we approached from Masirah in 1972. We were in
a descending turn at about 4,000ft and in this view we are
looking towards the north east. The runway and large aircraft
parking area can be clearly seen. |
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One more descending left hand turn and we are
now on final approach for a landing on Runway 09 - currently at
about 3000 feet above the runway. I made this circuitous
approach so that my three rear crew members and the Crew Chief
could get a good view of the Atoll. |
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From time to time in the 1960s up to eight
Victor bombers used to stage through Gan
from the UK en route to bases in Malaysia and Singapore. In mid-1965 the Victor
bombers were
replaced for this operation by Vulcan bombers but I took this photograph in
January 1965. It shows a deployment of Vulcans - look closely
underneath the Britannia's wings. Why they were there is another
story. |
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This and the next image were 'must take'
photographs for everyone who visited Gan, distances in miles.
The signpost was located outside the Transit Mess, which was an
all-ranks facility for use by passengers and crews in transit
through Gan The bedrooms were not air conditioned. |
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However 'crews' did not include Transport
Command crews. They were provided with air conditioned
accommodation in the main Officers' and Sergeants' Messes. The
argument was that they needed air conditioned rest and, in any
case, Transport Command paid for the facility for their own
crews not others. |
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The Army Signals Corps had a small detachment on Gan when I
was there in January 1965 but I don't know what their role was. |
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The station War Memorial. |
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On the left is part of the causeway which led
to the neighbouring island of Fedu which, during all my
visits, was out of bounds to all RAF personnel. Another angle on
this can be seen in the sunset image below. (Thanks to John
Ward for pointing out my mistake.) |
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Gan experienced frequent tropical storms
which were quite ferocious at times but passed very quickly. |
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The 'Astra' was the name given to most, if
not all, cinemas on RAF Stations run by the RAF's own cinema
organisation. For those who do not know, the RAF Motto is 'per
ardua ad astra' often translated, from at least 1953 to my
certain knowledge, as 'after work to the cinema'. |
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The Station Church |
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A couple of accommodation blocks with shady
verandahs and gardens. |
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The BFPO (British Forces Post Office). |
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The sandy beach did not extend all round the
island. This was out at the back of the Officers' Mess. |
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And this was the Officers' Mess - the
entrance to it anyway. Officers in transit through Gan were
officially supposed to be invited to enter but in practice I
never heard of any officer being refused. |
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Some wag decided that the NAAFI Manager's
official transport, the only civilian vehicle on the island,
should have a registration plate. MR 10 PC seemed an appropriate
number - think about it! |
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There were no proper taxiways from the
dispersal to the runways. Aircraft had to enter the only runway
and back track to and from whichever end they needed. This track
extended right around the island and was used only as a running
track. |
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The waters around Gan and the other islands
in the Atoll were crystal clear in the 1970s - I wonder if they
are still as pristine in the 21st Century. |
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The NAAFI and stores re-supply ship at
anchor in the lagoon. |
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A typical Gan sunset. |
