Page 122 - Demo

122 By the mid81980s the RAF Loan Service establishment included CSOAF (an AVM), two group captains, four wing commanders and around twenty squadron leaders and below concerned with Flying, Ops, Admin, Supply and Training, plus a selection of SNCO posts dealing with admin, engine8eering and Rapier. Loan Service staff assisted with the upgrading of the Air Defence system and advanced planning was in hand with a view to acquiring Tornado. They were also involved in setting up arrangements to handle the pre8positioning of war materiel for American Forces and oversaw the US8funded expansion of the operational facilities at Thumrait, Masirah, Seeb and Khasab. The Americans were a little suspicious of our involvement at first but, when it became clear that we represented the Oman Government (not HMG), their mood changed. I have to say that in some respects we also received some quizzical glances from our own embassy when we failed to recommend that the Omanis should buy everything from UK sources. Up to the late 1980s Loan Service tours were still pegged at one8and8a8half or two years %u2013 except for certain posts %u2013 generally because of the unaccompanied status and the need to keep a turnover going such that we had access to the latest RAF operational training and tactical procedures. It was thought too that it would be less than career8enhancing to stay too long away from one%u2019s parent service. The lifestyle was not unduly harsh but there were very few amenities, especially at the remote sites, and even in the capital area there were few luxuries. SOAF married quarters were pretty basic and with no telephone, no TV and no internet we felt pretty cut off %u2013 and we worked a six8day week. True, the pay was enhanced, but we all paid The Jaguar entered service with the SOAF in 1977.