Where’s the Jack?

Contribution from Neville Desselss

In 1993/4 we were the first South African registered aircraft permitted back into Kenyan airspace and were contracted by a Kenyan company (Phoenix Aviation), for a series of flights for the United Nations and World Food Program from Nairobi to Mogadishu and Baidoa in Somalia

The crew on that mission were Capt Wessie Wessels, F/O Tony Evans, F/E Alan Bosse, L/M Jack Landzaad, L/M Johan Odendaal and myself as Co-ordinator.

We arrived in Nairobi after midnight and stayed at the 680 Hotel. After a quick bite to eat from room service, we went to catch a couple of hours shut-eye as we had to commence our first flight early the same morning.

On that first flight, we were headed to Mogadishu West. Mogadishu Main was unsafe due to fighting amongst the warlords and clans. Onboard we had troops of one of the advance teams of the United Nations.

Mogadishu West was a dirt strip and quite busy with the inbound aircraft from Kenya delivering Khat: a stimulant drug that is picked from the Khat plant that is grown and harvested in Kenya. The Somali people traditionally chew on the leaves and buds which gives them short-term energy and concentration.

We landed at Mogadishu West and as the Captain started to turn in the dumbbell, so the RH main wheels sank into the verge.

We were stuck good and proper! The two inboards were not strong enough to get the aircraft out.

Now, the Sakkies with their Land Cruisers and machine guns were getting agitated and twitchy as we were blocking the runway and their Khat could not be delivered.

Eventually, the inbound (and outbound aircraft) landed and departed right over the Herc!

We then had another problem in that the fuel started to transfer to the lower wing which resulted in the outboard prop being rather close to the ground.

As a last resort, a plan was decided upon whereby a ditch would be dug deep and wide enough in order for the outboard to be started and all 4 engines were started. The aircraft “popped” out and we were free! Much to the relief of all including the local warlord!

The following day, we had a flight to Baidoa with aid for the World Food Program. After arrival, off-loading began, and during off-loading, we noticed the left-hand rear was deflating. No problem, we had a spare and went to get the jack. BIG problem! No jack!

Once again the Sakkies were riding up and down in their Land Cruisers with their machine guns. The Captain advised the World Food Program representative who was as nervous as anything that we shouldn’t stay there as it was not safe. Unfortunately, we had no choice and “Hotel Hercules” was to be our overnight stop.

I often recall us sitting outside the aircraft that evening watching the tracers flying through the sky.

Fortunately, we managed to contact Ops in Johannesburg via HF, who, in turn, contacted Southern Air Transport who were operating for the ICRC (Red Cross), to uplift a Jack from Nairobi on their flight the following day and divert into Baidoa to drop off the badly needed equipment and rescue us.