"RHE", RAF Kai Tak, Hong Kong December 1980

            The Return to Home Establishment (RHE) from an Op Culex tour; this was support to the Hong Kong Government in preventing illegal immigrants (IIs) from entering the colony.

In the VC10 over the South China Sea having just left RAF Kai Tak.

I nearly didn't make this flight since the battalion Unit Enplanement Officer was approached by an RAF Squadron Leader who, with his wife, were indulgence passengers (i.e. leave passengers paying a nominal sum for official air travel) returning home for Christmas. Since the plane was full due to the unit move, he had been told that he or his wife would have to drop off the flight since duty passengers always took precedence over "indulgees". He arranged, behind the scenes,  with our UEO to have a soldier put back to a later flight so they could travel together.  The UEO took two of us aside and asked which one would drop off the flight. Since the other soldier had young children to go home to, I opted to delay, despite having a strong reason myself to get back to UK asp.

I went to retrieve my hold luggage, which had already been checked in. A WRAF movements corporal asked why I wanted it, and I explained the reason. Bristling with indignation, she said that NO infantry officer or squadron leader was going to dictate to Movements about precedence of passengers and told me to go to the departure lounge; she then went off to tell the two officers how it was going to play out with "her" flight. You don't mess with the Movements Mafia!

I arrived back home to my fiancée and we arranged our marriage which is still going strong today.

Taken in: Hong Kong / Tai Peng (show map)

Taken on: November 23, 2024

Tags:

Op Culex

Hong Kong

Sets appears in: • History Vol 3 • Hong Kong 1980

Groups appears in: • Retired and Loving It! • *Welsh Photographers*

Stats: 499 views

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