FROM CAIRO TO FAYID WITH 135 MU

As Remembered By Ted Truman

135 MU, my first posting in Egypt, was 40 km from Cairo on a road that ran north to the coast. It was way out in the desert, there were no towns anywhere in the vicinity and we never got to go into Cairo for a night out – I can’t actually remember what we did at night but there must have been a NAAFI. There were many American A20 aircraft there and our job was to strip all the armaments out - radios, instrument panels and ditching survival equipment – then cut the tails off. Everything that was stripped out was boxed up and transported to another MU for transportation back to the States. I spent 6 months at 135 MU before being posted to the Air Booking Centre in Cairo.

All the staff there were billeted in Midan Ismailia air base and I had the job of driving them into Cairo to work and back each day which was certainly a cushy number.

My colleagues from Air Booking Centre in Cairo (I am on the right)

It must have been a pre-war base as it had brick buildings with oak coloured wooden floors that had to be polished every day. This was done by Egyptian workers who would come in every morning, sweep and polish the floors, fold our bedding up and, when required, take our washing to the Dobhi – all for a cost of 5 ackers a week (about one shilling). We could, if we were forgetful, leave anything on our lockers or beds and it would never be stolen. Usually if you did leave anything out, upon your return the worker would be waiting for you, shaking his finger at you, and telling you not to do it again as it could be stolen. But then again, at one shilling a week x 40 = £2 – this made them well paid and so they certainly wanted to keep their jobs. There was one person at the A.B.C. who sticks in my mind, that was Jock Henderson. He was always immaculately turned out. In summer we wore khaki shirt, shorts, long socks and shoes. In winter he always wore best blue, his buttons, belt buckle, cap badge and shoes gleamed and the crease in his trousers could have cut paper.

Christmas day at Midan Camp, Ismailia

I was there for about 6 months before it was agreed that all British troops would leave Cairo and only essential staff would remain behind, and they would have to wear civvies. So I was posted to Fayid and for the next 18 months that was to be my home. It was a transport command base with mainly Avro York aircraft ferrying materials and personnel between England and Egypt. It was an operational base and was much busier than the other two postings I had had. As it was an operational unit, I managed to qualify to drive and operate Aircraft refuelling bowsers and also Coles Cranes. Being qualified to operate the cranes was a bonus and it could get you out of certain duties.

The water browsers used to fill up water carriers around the camp

There were three of us at Fayid that became firm friends. We even managed to get two ten days leave in Cyprus and it even worked out that we all came home together. Paul Round came from Colchester and Brummie obviously came from Birmingham. Neither Paul nor I ever knew his Christian name. In the evenings the three of us would visit the NAAFI or go down to the Malcolm Club by the Suez Canal.

Whilst at RAF Fayid I experienced my one and only sandstorm but once was certainly enough. The only time I saw rain was once whilst I was in Cairo – it didn’t last long but the streets were absolutely flooded – I don’t think the drains were ever cleaned out.

Sandstorm at Fayid

For me, my time in Egypt was an experience that I am glad I had. I had some good mates and saw places that, under normal circumstances, I would not have ever seen or had the experiences of a completely different culture. The only downside was being away from family for two and a half years but I am glad of the memories that stay with me.

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