HOME

CONTENTS

CONTACT

COPYRIGHT


Synopsis of Chapter Eleven~ Teheran - 1st Visit
December 1942 - February 1943


 

In mid-December 3SOR set out on the 1000 mile journey over gravel roads to Teheran. South to Khanaquin, then east into Persia and north. First stop in Gorge of Tak-I-Bustan. Slept in our lorries. Then climbing over mountain ranges in wild country. Next stop the tented Transit camp at Kermanshah, next night in the tented Transit camp at Hamadan at head of Ave Pass at 8000ft. Little sleep at either, minus 30 degrees at the latter. Then on to the Holy City of Qum at start of 4000ft plateau on which Teheran stands. Slept nearby in our lorries.

Finally on to destination - featureless airfield at Mahrabad, under 3" snow - and 7 miles west of Teheran. Empty except for Rhodesian Hurricane Squadron that had arrived a month before. Only one old barrack block available, used as joint mess by officers, sergeants and airmen. We all slept in snow-covered tents. Very friendly Rhodesians who shared their Christmas fare with us whilst we settled in awaiting our Radar Unit. 'B' Flight Commander was F/Lt Ian Smith later to become Premier of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

A month later learned our Radar Unit had been diverted to General Montgomery who had pushed forward to Libya. Orders to return to Iraq (Habbaniya) temporarily. Back the same way as far as Khanaquin. Meanwhile had become engaged to Deirdre - by post! In the 5-6 weeks at Habbaniya I got training in the Administration side of the RAF. Then they decided to send 3SOR back to Teheran.

Keywords
People
F/Lt Ian Smith (later Premier of Rhodesia)
F/O Greenwood
Places
Khanequin
Tak-I-Bustan (carvings of Sassenid Emperors)
Kermanshah
Hamadan
Qum
Terhan
Mehrabad
Baghdad
Habbaniya
Aveh Pass
Things

Diversion of our Radar Unit to Libya
Return of 3SOR to Habbaniya
Engagement to Deirdre by post
Short course in RAF admin
Return of 3SOR to Teheran
Rhodesian Hurricane Squadron

Photos
Truck convoy, Kirkuk to Teheran Dec.1942
Camel convoy Dec.1942
The Aveh Pass Dec.1942
Mehrabad airfield campsite, Teheran Dec.1942

 

 

  To save this chapter to your hard-drive, right mouse click on the document icon to the left and select 'save target as' .
To open the chapter into a browser window, just left click the icon.
   
  To download the whole book as a WinZip file click the winzip icon to the left - please note the file is 26Megs in size so only do this if you have a Broadband connection.

 

 
 
 
Hosting kindly provided by
e-Trader.co.uk

Shades of Blue and Khaki © 2003/4