by Alec Brew
The following week I returned to the search for the Nizwa wreck; at least I could look for that in a jeep. One Friday I finally came to the conclusion that I was never going to find it. I was standing on the bonnet of my jeep in the centre of the 25 square miles of desert that I estimated I had searched, scanning the horizon. There was nothing to be seen except rocks and scrub vegetation. I gave up and headed back to camp. When I got back to the camp road I cast one last glance towards the airstrip a hundred yards away, and noticed for the first time, something large and black lying under a stunted tree. I thought it must be an abandoned oil drum, but drove over to investigate. It was a large aircraft wheel and tyre, still attached to an undercarriage leg. Lying next to it was an almost undamaged four-blade propeller!
All around were small bits of aircraft wreckage, but the only other substantial piece was part of the frame of a door. I had found the site of the wreck, but most of the wreckage must have been taken away in the previous two years. I had driven within sight of the wheel every day for the last six months and had not seen it. The wheel clearly came from a multi-engined aircraft and the door frame displayed the white upper fuselage and blue cheatline of an RAF Transport Command aircraft. The four-blade propeller led me to think it must have been a Vickers Valetta.
After I had convinced the disbelieving drinkers in Wimpey’s bar that I had found an aircraft propeller lying in the desert, a party of volunteers arranged to bring it back to camp. It was then cleaned up, painted, and hung on the wall of Wimpey’s site club, which was later turned over to the Oman police as part of their training complex. As far as I know it is still there. All that remained was to research how the aircraft came to be at Nizwa.
Vickers Valetta VW817 was one of three Valettas on detachment with No.78 Squadron at Bahrain in 1958 – 9. No. 78 Squadron was basically a Twin Pioneer squadron operating throughout the Gulf and in Southern Arabia. The Valettas were used on a regular supply run. In January 1959 VW817 was flown to Firq with No. 78 Squadron personnel on board. As it landed the starboard mainwheel tyre burst. This caused the aircraft to slew round, and to rear up on its nose. As the nose hit the desert it caused the aircraft to crash back onto its tail, breaking the fuselage just behind the wings.
Everyone evacuated the aircraft as quickly as they could and examined the wreck, which was clearly a write-off. Another 78 Squadron Valetta landed at Firq a week later, having to land over the wreck, which was still on the strip. They salvaged what they could from VW817, including the engines, and the rest was then towed off the runway by an army recovery vehicle. There it lay for nearly twenty years until the carcass was finally cleared away, leaving just a few fragments for me to discover – a reminder of those heart-stopping moments for the crew and passengers of VW817, all those years before; their own moment of one per cent blind panic.
79. The Valetta’s prop being transported to the Wimpey club for preservation.
INDEX
Page numbers in italics refer to illustrations
Achatina
Adams, Billy
Adams, S.Sgt Samuel
airship N1 (Norge)
Airspeed Oxford
Alcock, Captain John
Alda, Captain Julio Ruiz de
Alexandria
Allen, Damar Leslie
America, first flight from Australia to
Amundsen, Roald
Anderson, Keith
Andrews, LAC
Anglesey
Anson, Major CR
Arctic, thesee also North Pole
Armitage, Flight Lieutenant Jack
Armstrong Whitworth
AW52 Flying Wing
Awana
Siskin/III
Whitley
Wolf
Arrow Active
Asinara Island
Assiut, Egypt
Atlantic Ferry Organisation (ATFERO)
Atlantic Ocean
attempts at flights across
ditchings/forced landings in
Australia and England, flights between
Australia to America, first flight from
Australian National Airways Ltd
Australian outback, forced landings in
Avery, Sergeant PH
Avro Avian
Avro Lancaster
Avro Ten
Awabi, Oman
Azores, Horta harbour
Backhouse, Pilot Officer R
Bardon, Flight Lieutenant HR
Barnett, Flight Sergeant NW
Barwell, Eric
Barwell, Wing Commander Phillip
Beardmore Inflexible
Beasley, Ralph
Beaulieu
Behaeghe, Lieutenant
Beires, Sarmento
Belgian Air Force
Belgian Army
Bennett, Floyd
Bennett, JM
Berlin raid
Black Country, forced landings in
Blackburn Beverley
Blackburn Roc
Blackpool, Squires Gate aerodrome
Blackpool Meeting (1910)
Blériot, Louis, and flying schools
Blériot Monoplane
bomb, 12,000 lb Tallboy
Bombay-to-Baroda railway line
Borges, Larre
Boscombe Down
Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd
Balliol
Bolton
Bugle
Defiant
Defiant Mark I
Defiant Mark II
Overstrand
P3 Bobolink
P7 Bourges
P8 Atlantic
P111
P120
Boulton Paul Association
Bournemouth Flying Meeting (1910)
Bradshaw, Granville Eastwood
Brain, Lester
Brazy, Gilbert
Brew, Alec
Brisbane, Eagle Farm Airport
Briscoe, Wing Commander A
Bristol Tourer
British Aircraft Corporation TSR2
Brown, Lieutenant Arthur Whitten
Browne, Cecil
Bueger, Commandant de
Bunkell, Slim
Burr, Admiral
Byrd, Richard Evelyn
Calloway, Group Captain W
Camel Corps, Imperial
Cannock Chase
Cape Town, record flights between London and
Carey, Flying Officer Daniel William ‘Bill’, DFC
Castiau, Lieutenant
Castilho, Jorge de
Cedric
Chantier
Charcot, Dr
Charlton Athletic Football Club
Chunn, Sergeant
City of Milan
Cleere, Sergeant
Coffman, Captain Robert E
Colignon, Lieutenant
Columbus
Comper Swift
Compton, Colonel Keith
Congo, River
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
B-24D Lady be Good
Cooke, Flight Lieutenant Nicholas
Corbett-Wilson, D
Courtney, Captain Frank
Craig, Pilot Officer James
Crichton, Flight Lieutenant David ‘Doc’, MBE
Crocombe, Fred F
Croker, Edgar Alfred ‘Ted’
Crossio, Lieutenant V
Crowell, Major John
Crowford, Flight Lieutenant John
Culverwell, Sergeant
Cuverville, Lieutenant Cavelier de
Dale, WOG
Dart Aircraft Ltd
Darwin W/T station
Davies (ground engineer)
Dawes, Captain George William Patrick
de Havilland DH66 Hercules
de Havilland Leopard Moth
de Havilland Venom
de Havilland Canada Chipmunk
Dietrichson, Lief
Dornier Wal
Douglas Boston
Douglas C-47
Douglas World Cruiser
<
br /> Dowthwaite, Flying Officer John
Drake, Pilot Officer
Drysdale Mission, Australia
Dublin, Phoenix Park
Dunkirk
Dunn, Wing Commander WH
Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton, and Meeting
Dunworth, George
Dyk, Evert van
Ellsworth, Lincoln
Endean, Jack
England, Eric Gordon
England and Australia, flights between
English Channel
English Electric Canberra
Canberra PR7
Farley, Wing Commander WJ
Farman biplane
Farnborough
Farnes, Pilot Officer Eric
Fawke, Squadron Leader Gerry
Feather, Cecil
Felixstowe
Feucht, Carl
Fifi
Firq, Oman
Fokker
F.VII
F.VIIB/3m
FK31
Friendship
Monoplanesee also Southern Cross
Foryd aerodrome, nr Abergele
Fothergill, Pilot Officer C
Fram
Franco, Ramon
Franks, Flight Sergeant Les
Gardiner (pilot)
Garside, JA
Gatchina, Russia
General Aircraft Monospar ST-4/ST-6
General Aircraft Monospar ST-10 Croydon
General Aircraft Universal Freighter
George A Bond & Co. Hosiery
Gilmour, Hugh
Gilroy (wireless operator)
Glenelg, River
Godfrey, Pilot Officer
Gold, Sergeant
Goodlet, Pilot Officer David
Goose Bay, Labrador
Gottwaldt, Captain Birger
Gouveia, Manuel
Graf von Goetzen
Grahame-White, Claude, and School
Greenaway, Flying Officer Norman E
Greenland, forced landing in
Grey, George
Grimsby
Guildad, Captaine de Corvette Rene
Gunn, Alexander Ewen ‘Ben’
Hacking, Pilot Officer
Hamilton, Flight Lieutenant
Hancock, Captain Allan
Handasyde Monoplane
Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Hampden
Handley Page HP42 Horsa
Hardy, Squadron Leader Stephen
Hatton, Flight Lieutenant William J
Hawker, Harry
Hawker Duiker
Hays, Second Lieutenant DP
Hedwig von Wisman
Heimdal
Hempstead, LAC George
Hendon
Henshaw, Alex
Hever Castle, ornamental lake
Hewitt, Vivian
Hickman, Pilot Officer
Hill, Bert
Hill, John
Hill, Flight Lieutenant
Hitchcock, Bob
Hobby
Holden, Captain
Holder, N
Horgen, First Lieutenant Emil
Hosmer, Elwood
Howarth, Captain AL
Howells, Sergeant
Humber Monoplane
Hunter, Squadron Leader Phillip
Ibara, Captain
Ibri, Oman
Imperial Airways
Interstate Flying Services
Irish Sea
Italia airship and crew
Jebel Akhdar plateau, Oman
Jenkins, Sergeant
Johnson, LAC
‘Jones, Robert’ see Loraine, Robert
Jones, LAC
Kalémié (formerly Lukuga, Albertville)
Kigoma
King’s Bay, Svalbard
King’s Cup Air Races
Kingani
Kingsford-Smith, Charles (later Sir Charles)
Kingsford-Smith, Pilot Officer
Koepang, Timor
Konigsberg
Krassin
La Bocca, France, raid on
Laconia
Lake Stora Lutevatten
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tongwe
Lamotte, T.Sgt Robert
Lancaster, Flight Lieutenant John Oliver ‘Joe’
Lankester Parker, John
Lapland, forced landing in
Latham, Hubert
Latham
Le Havre raid
Lewis, Corporal
Libyan Desert
Lindsay Neale, Jenny
Lindsay Neale, Robin
sister-in-law Hazel
Lindsay Neale, Rosemary
Liner Concrete
Litchfield, HA
Llandudno golf course
Locatelli, Lieutenant Antonio
Locker, Pilot Officer W
Lockheed Altair
London and Cape Town, record flights between
Loraine, Robert (‘Robert Jones’)
Loudon, Flight Lieutenant MJ
Lukuga (formerly Albertville, now Kalémié)
Lundberg (Swedish pilot)
Lyon, Harry
M’Toa
Malcolm, HMS
Malmgren, Finn
Malyguin
Marescalchi, Lieutenant C
Mariano (Italia crewman)
Martinsyde Raymor
Martinsyde S1 Scout
Maud
McKie, Pilot Officer Alex
McLennan, Pilot Officer Doug
McWilliams, TH
Mediterranean Sea, ditching in
Meheriq, Egypt
Melrose, Jim
Midland Aero Club
Miles Aircraft Company
Magister
Messenger
Mimi
Minnewaska, SS
Moir, SJ
Monospar Wing Company, and ST-3
Moore, S.Sgt Vernon
Morgan, Pilot Officer JH
Mussolini, Benito
Naples airfields raid
Nash, Pilot Officer Alfred
Netta
Nimoda, SS
Nizwa, Oman
Nobile, General Umberto
Norge airship
North, JD
North Atlantic ferrying operation see Atlantic Ferry Organisation; Return Ferry Service; Royal Air Force, Transport Command
North Polesee also Arctic, the
North Sea, ditchings in
Northland
Norwich, Mousehold Aerodrome
Oman, Sultan of, and Air Force
Oman, Sultanate of
Oman Police
Omdahl, Oskar
Openshaw, Pilot Officer
Operations, Special Duties
Orta, Lieutenant
Owen, HC
Owen, Flight Sergeant John ‘Jack’
Pacific Ocean, first to fly across
Peak District, crashes in
Bleaklow Moor
Brown Knoll
Pedersen, Einar Sverre
Pedersen, Mrs
Penrhos Park
Percival Gull
Percival Mew Gull
Pethybridge, Thomas
Petrie-Andrews, Pilot Officer JR
Pickett, Sergeant
Pierce, Fred
Piper PA-23 Aztec
Polar Bjorn, The
Porjus
Portugal, Dovalle
Pourquoi Pas
Powers, John
Pulham
Purvis, Pilot Officer
Qantas
Qatar Peninsula, Salwah Wells
Quill, Jeffrey
Rada, Pablo
Raleigh, USS
Ramm, Fredrik
Read, Commander
Return Ferry Service
Rhyl Urban District Council
Richmond, USS
Ridley, Second Lieutenant Stewart Gordon
Riiser-Larsen, Hjalmar
Ripslinger, T.Sgt Harold ‘Rip’
Rissili, Lieutenant
Robertson, Bob
Robinson, Warrant Officer George ‘Robbie’
Rochford, Sergeant
Rock, Flight Sergeant WG
Rolls, Charles
Rolls-Royce Merlin engine
Royal Air Force see also Royal Flying Corps; Royal Naval Air Service
No.Operational Training Unit
No.Service Flying Training School
No.(Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit
No.Group
Pathfinder Force
squadrons
No. 4
No. 9
No. 10
No. 35
No. 70
No. 78
No. 84
No. 125 (Newfoundland)
No. 138 (Special Duties)
No. 141
No. 151
No. 209
No. 230
No. 255
No. 256
No. 264 (Madras Presidency)
No. 266
No. 617
stations
Cosford
Harpur Hill, Mountain Rescue team
Kirton in Lindsey
Leeming
Manston
Seighfordsee also Seighford, Flight Test Centre
Sutton Bridge
Tempsford
Wheaton Aston
Transport Command
Royal Aircraft Factory BE2a
Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c
Royal Flying Corps see also Royal Air Force
No. 2 Squadron
No. 5 Wing
No. 14 Squadron
No. 17 Squadron
No. 29 Squadron
Royal Naval Air Service, No. 8 Squadron see also Royal Air Force
Ruschaert, Lieutenant
Russell, Pilot Officer
Sahara Desert
St George’s Channel
Sardinia
Saudi Arabia
Savory, Major K
Scottish Aviation Pioneer CC1
Seighford, Flight Test Centresee also Royal Air Force, stations
Seighford, ‘Hollybush’ pub
Sempill, Lord
Seringapatam Reef
Sheffield, Lord
Shelley, S.Sgt Guy
Shepherd, David and Joe
Shiers,WH
Shinn, Robert
Shipley, Flying Officer Edwin
