VS9SJF 1965 PDR of Yemen

Socotra Island

John said his RAF shirt was torn by the weight of a rucsac of supplies.

Having already been a keen SWL from the late 1950’s, when I was posted to Cyprus (RAF) in 1962 my ambition was to get a 5B4 call. That happened in 1964 with the passing of the RAE and issue of the call sign 5B4JF.

One day in the rest room on camp I caught a conversation that an Army officer was putting together an expedition to go to Socotra Island. My SWL ‘training’ kicked in as I immediately knew no one had ever operated from there. As I expect many of you will know, there is an unwritten rule in the Forces which is to never volunteer for anything. This was different and after a brief interview with Captain Peter Boxhall I was one of the team. As a RAF photographer my main duty would be to record the Expedition’s activities but I could also help out with communications.

In December 1964, we flew from Cyprus to RAF Khormaksar, Aden where we spent a few days stocking up with rations etc. as we would be on the Island for two months and there would be very little relief available. Very early one morning we boarded a Blackburn Beverley freighter bound for RAF Riyan, near Mukulla on the coast of the Hadhramaut. (There is now a commercial airfield for Yemenia Airways Boeing 737 jets). After refueling we took off out over the Indian Ocean.

As the Island gradually emerged from the clouds I went into the cockpit to take photographs of our approach. The Islands' dramatic mountains, the Haggier became more visible only enforcing the weird stories we had heard about the Island in its past. Like the story of the Sultan who sent some ships to find and land on Socotra. The ships returned never having located the Island as “One minute it was there and then it vanished”.

We landed a mile from the capital, Hadibo, where 7O6T are operating from in the comfort of a modern hotel (May 2012). They have running water, flush toilets, baths, television and the internet. We had nothing like that in 1964. No roads, cars, telephone, running water. Only the Army radio to communicate with Aden, and VS9SJF of course.

Soon, after landing, in true DXpedition style we had contact with Aden and not long after that I made my first QSO using my Heathkit DX-40 (60 watts controlled carrier AM and 74 watts CW) and an AR88D rx. The antenna was a trapped dipole. No Spiderbeams in those days!

The team of Army and RAF personnel gelled very well and after a few days some of the team set off to survey the hinterland of the Island. I stayed in camp to help with communications and to photograph the locals and surrounding area. Often, with a colleague, I carried some supplies out to a base camp setup for the survey party. This was close to where the WWII airbase was and is now the site of the modern airfield, a long tarmac runway has replaced the dirt and stones of the old one.

Now for some ham radio facts. My first QSO was on 6 December 1964 with HZ1AT on 20m AM! That was followed by 4S7EC also 20m AM and ET3USA on 20m CW. A few minutes later VR2DK was in the log so we were getting out OK. I see that on 12 Dec I had a nice run of US stations on 20m CW from 16:38 UTC to 18:00 UTC. Some G calls in the log which may ring a bell with some of you are :- GI3IVJ, G3RSD, G6RC, G3JJG, GC6FQ, G2DC, G3JYP, G3HDA, G3KFT, G3JYP, and G3SML. Most of the QSOs came from Middle Europe so breaking that wall for 7O6T is going to be tough. I finally went QRT on 4 Feb. 1965 with 575 QSOs in the log and just over 100 countries. That may not seem many by todays' standards but my petrol ration for the generator was severely rationed as priority was given to the Army station and I did have only 75 watts of CW!

So what did I learn from this Expedition? I learned that people who have virtually nothing will give you their last crust. The Socotrans are friendly, kind and polite, they spoke no English but that is all changed now as many of the guides are multi-lingual. That time on the Island, as a 25 year old, made a lasting impression on me and the memories were always in my head. By 2000, with advent of the internet etc. I made plans to return and that came off in 2002 when I joined a French film crew as their photographer with all expenses paid. One year later I was back with a Belgian caving team led by Peter De Geest. We became firm friends and we have often met since including his wedding in Belgium a few years ago. He may be coming to Cornwall on holiday later this year. Socotra has had quite an influence on my life over the years and with 7O6T about to come alive, that interest has taken a new twist. I wonder how many band slots I will get (John made 12 band slots with 7O6T). Think of me when you work Socotra.

John, G3UCQ ex VS9SJF
Hayle, Cornwall

QSL G4UZN Collection
Photos and story used with permission from G3UCQ