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The Wing itself consists of a
Headquarters and Operations Staff commanded by Wing Commander J. T. Jennings, who are responsible to
the Station Commander for the co-ordination and
control of Tactical Flying at Khormaksar.
The Units comprising Tactical Wing are Nos.
8,
43 and
208 Day Fighter Ground Attack Squadrons;
No. 37 Maritime Shackleton Squadron; No.
26
Belvedere Squadron together with a S.A.R.
Element of Sycamore Helicopters; No. 1417
Fighter Recce Hunter Flight, and No. 225 G. L.
Section.
The main responsibility of Tactical Wing is to
defend Aden and the Federation from external
attack and to maintain internal order within the
territory.
Units of the Wing may also be called upon to
operate, as required, elsewhere within the area
of military responsibility of Middle East
Command. This area stretches from Kuwait in the
North to Nairobi and Mombasa in the South, a
distance of some 1,600 miles.
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A most important
aspect of this work is that of Search and Rescue
Operations which may be flown far out in the
Indian Ocean by Avro Shackleton aircraft of
37
Squadron or around the beaches of Aden by the
now familiar Bristol 171 Sycamore helicopters soon to be
replaced by Westland Whirlwinds of
26 Squadron Search and
Rescue Flight. |
Avro Shackleton MR 2
Designated 'A' Khormaksar 1963
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Hawker
Hunter Operations are rarely seen by the
inhabitants of Aden as these are mainly confined
to the "up-country areas". Nevertheless, many
disgruntled tribesmen in the past have been
persuaded, at the sight of a pair of low flying
Hawker Hunters, to return to their village in peace.
The Hawker Hunter squadrons are maintained at a
constant state of readiness throughout the hours
of daylight to either drop leaflets or "flag
wave" an area of discontent.
The Operations Room in Headquarters controls and
co-ordinates the activities of all tactical
flying ordered by H.Q. Middle East. Briefing of
pilots and crews of the Wing for Operational
flying, crews of the many visiting aircraft of
other commands, and visiting aircraft of the
Royal Navy are part of its many duties.
No. 225 G. L. Section is a small Army Unit
commanded by a Major whose prime task is to
provide the vital link in the briefing of Hunter
pilots in the intricacies of the many tribal
feuds and warlike activities which occur from
time to time within the Federation. To obtain
this information, often very confused and
involved, close liaison is maintained with the
Federal Government, Federal Regular Army and
Political Advisers.
A more peaceful aspect of Tactical Wing is the
provision of aircraft for fly pasts at
ceremonial parades and similar occasions
involving a vast amount of detailed planning and
organisation to achieve precision flying and
timing.
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