Heat-softened tyres and external
parts, such as fuel drains, became
vulnerable to stone damage and
windshields cracked or crazed
quickly. Propeller tips needed
constant attention. No trees existed
at Heer; consequently, birds built
nests in every opening. Each flight
hour meant ten hours’ ground
maintenance and a 100-hour
inspection lasted three days.
The Caribou’s wooden floors
proved a problem for Mayer. “At
cruise en route to Beirut and
with a load of Arabs over the
Mediterranean, I suddenly became
aware of some acrid, horribly
smelling smoke and sent the flight
engineer back to investigate. He
returned holding an expired fire
extinguisher and smelled as bad as
the no longer existing smoke. A few
passengers had decided to have tea
and lit a fire on the floor with dried
camel dung. They weren’t happy
when it was extinguished.”
HOSTILE SKIES
Besides dealing with different
cultures and occasional minefields,
Mayer and fellow Canadians
co-existed with an Egyptian Air
Force MiG-21 Fishbed and Sukhoi
Su-7 Fitter attack squadron at El
Arish. A wing commander voiced
astonishment at the inexperience of
the Egyptian jet pilots and pointed
out that none would have been
authorised to fly in Canada without
instructors watching every move.
Less subtle aircrew claimed sharing
the same airspace was suicidal.
An unplanned demonstration of the
inexpert operation took place when
RCAF Caribou 5320 happened to be
on a test flight over El Arish. Accents
and general confusion led to a radio
operator mistaking the overflying
aircraft for an enemy. The Egyptians
readied anti-aircraft guns and three
jets scrambled for an intercept.
One MiG-21 ran into a sandbank
on take-off and the others received
orders to shoot down the UNEF
Caribou despite its prominent black
lettering on a field of white. The
fighters could not stay with the slow
turning Caribou and the disgustedRCAF pilot simply lowered wheels
and planted his high-absorption
landing gear on the airstrip and
taxied in.
Aircrew rotated between aircraft
types. Caribou freight flights became
the most desirable since the run
over the picturesque Mediterranean
took place 30 miles offshore to avoid
Israeli airspace.
On another Beirut trip, Mayer
settled comfortably in his seat and
relaxed when he noticed the co-pilot
appeared quite nervous. Asked why,
the newly arrived ‘pinkie’ suggested
Mayer look at an Israeli Air Force
Dassault Mystère holding station
on the right wing. The French-built
fighter signalled for Mayer to land
at Tel Aviv. Mayer knew his Arab
passengers would unlikely appreciate
finding themselves in hostile
territory.
“I asked the co-pilot to watch him,
reached over to the power quadrant
and surreptitiously but slowly eased
throttles back. Within a few seconds,
there was a very loud bang, like the
afterburner of a fighter. The co-pilot
reported that the aircraft disappearedstraight up. He couldn’t match our
slow speed and obviously powered
his way out of a stall and probably
changed his shorts after landing.”
Flights with Arab soldiers
and diplomats could be tense.
Fortunately, Caribou freight
trips averaging 148kts in cruise
configuration meant quiet times and
a moment to low fly with cameras
clicking at pristine beaches and
hammerhead sharks basking beside
coral reefs.
Some loads suggested thatheadquarters rarely considered
what they dispatched to the field.
When Mayer assumed command
of a Caribou, he found the interior
tightly packed and could barely
squirm into the cockpit. Looking
back, he discovered the aircraft’s 28ft
9in cabin compartment contained
boxes jammed with rubber hip
waders and rabbit cages. No one to
his knowledge or in his messmates’
experience recalled international
troops wetting their feet chasing
rabbits in the Sinai Desert.
Mayer overheard a plea for a
medevac flight when an El Arish
signals officer received word from a
Swedish ground unit. A soldier with
acute appendicitis needed immediate
treatment. When the UNEF Caribou
with doctor arrived at the coastal
strip of Sharm el-Sheikh after dark,
the pilot radioed he could not land.
He knew the Swedes lacked enough
vehicles to illuminate the airstrip.
Ordered to circle, he waited.
Suddenly, runway lights appeared
in the blackness. The enterprising
patrol had collected every roll of
toilet tissue in camp, splashedLeft centre
Otters were tasked with
preventing infi ltration into
Yemen from Saudi Arabia
and monitoring ceasefi re
operations between Israel
and Egypt. VIA MAYER/
GORDON JENKINSLeft
Otter 3677 later became
C-GOFA with the Ontario
Ministry of Natural
Resources, Aviation
and Fire Management
Branch. Instead of sand
and gravel walked by
desert nomads, the
‘Stone Boat’ began a
new career patrolling
Canada’s snow-covered
boreal forests peopled
with North American
natives. G MAYER“Suddenly, runway lights appeared in the blackness. The
enterprising patrol had collected every roll of toilet tissue in camp,
splashed each with gasoline and ignited them”
March 2018 FLYPAST 91