Air International 1986-03
-
??? - Operation Bushell Ends
As the wet season set in, bringing intermittent rain, operations continued unabated. Soviet Antonov An-12s are visible behind this Hercules.
Flying high over the parched Ethiopian landscape, an RAF Hercules heads for a drop zone with yet another load of relief supplies.
Two views of a Hercules demonstrating the air drop technique in Ethiopia, where some 45 per cent of the total relief supplies were eventually delivered by this method. The Hercules carried special markings including a while cross to indicate their mercy role.
Supplies were loaded on the Hercules, principally at Addis Ababa or Assab, with the help of local labour, and loading was usually accomplished in about 30 minutes.
When supplies were not air-dropped by the Hercules, they were flown into primitive airstrips, where dust and loose stones on unpaved surfaces provided major hazards.
Men of No 47 Air Despatch Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport, prepare to despatch another load of grain as the Hercules flies at a mere 50 ft (15 m).
Men of No 47 Air Despatch Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport, prepare to despatch another load of grain as the Hercules flies at a mere 50 ft (15 m).
The barren, featureless terrain of Ethiopia lies below as one of the Hercules C Mk Is returns from a mercy mission. Sorties were flown by the RAF on every single day from start to finish of "Operation Bushell".
Personnel and equipment required to supervise the air drops and provide a radio link were flown in by helicopters of the Polish Air Force.