26 SQUADRON
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No. 26 Squadron was formed on the 8th October, 1915, and served marked success throughout both World Wars. On the break of World War II, the Squadron, then engaged on A Co-operation duties was moved to France, subsequently returned to the United Kingdom at the time of Dunkirk.
In October 1941, the Squadron was re-equipped with Tomahawks, which were soon replaced with Mustangs, and as a welcome change from A Co-operation duties, commenced activities in the ground attack role, which lasted until the cessation of hostilities in 1945.
After the war there followed a period of service in Germany, and in June, 1955, the Squadron had the honour of being presented with its Standard by H.R.H. The Prince Philip. The disbandment of the Squadron took place at Gutersloh, Germany, in December, 1960, it then being equipped with Hunter F.6's.
Re-formed at Odiham on the 1st June, 1962, with Belvedere Helicopters, the Squadron flew to Khormaksar in February, 1963, where it is now operating. The first two aircraft of No. 26 Squadron arrived at Khormaksar on 1st March, 1963, after the longest flight made by helicopter, a total of 4,200 miles. After an intensive trials period the aircraft were employed in specialist load lifting tasks which included Land-Rovers, field howitzers and even a small motor roller. They have also been employed on operations up country in support of the F.R.A. in a tactical role, and for casevacs from remote villages where no conventional airstrip has been available. With the two Rolls/Napier Gazelle engines the Belvedere can lift eighteen fully armed troops and it is already a familiar sight in many parts of the Federation.
In 1962 Derek Palmer was serving with the Army Air Corps in Aden at 653 Light Aircraft Squadron's "Falaise" airfield, Little Aden. At that time the squadron was equipped with Auster 9s which were used to support the Federal Regular Army.
His Auster had suffered a series of oil pressure problems which were eventually solved by shipping the fuselage away in a Beverley for an engine change at the R.A.F.'s M.U. at Khormaksar.
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When the Auster arrived back Derek was about to do an air test but was told that it had been involved in a collision with a taxiing Hunter and had been returned to the Maintenance Unit.
"By the end of the Auster's second repair one of the early Belvederes from the RAF's No.26 Squadron had arrived in Aden on 'hot and high' trials and this provoked some bright spark to suggest that the Auster's fuselage be taken back to Falaise slung on the hook beneath the Belvedere. Not only would this enable its return but also provide a useful hot weather task for the Belvedere. Up to that time there had been no helicopters serving in Aden, so the distinct noise of one, flying close by, drew almost all of 653 squadron personnel out to the airfield to watch the proceedings".
"The pilot made one approach to familiarise himself with the ‘field’. On the second approach the Belvedere hovered in front of the audience before starting to descend. I do recall some wag in the crowd saying, 'What’s the betting they drop it?'. When the Auster fuselage was still approximately ten feet above the runway, descent stopped and, to the consternation of all, it was released. Its tailplane flapped dramatically down ending with the tips almost touching the ground. The undercarriage was squeezed rapidly upwards for it had never been designed to take such a short landing, not even from trainee Army Air Corps pilots! And one can only imagine the shock loading to the new engine!."
"I believe an Air Loadmaster had positioned himself at the window halfway down the pencil shaped Belvedere where he gave instructions to the pilot as to position, descent, load touch down and hook release. The story goes, and I cannot vouch for its veracity, that at around ten feet the Air Loadmaster had coughed. The pilot thought he heard ‘Drop’, went into the hover and released the hook!"
"Needless to say the Auster went back to the M.U. for the third time, and I never saw it again for by then I was flying the Immortal Beaver." Derek Palmer