Draggie alive and well in Sudan

By Corporal Simone Liebelt

The ex-Air Force HS748 lands at Rembek airfield in Sudan. The aircraft was instantly recognised by SQNLDR Ruth Elsley as a former navigator trainer, which she last saw in a flypast for SAN.

Photo by SQNLDR Elsley

IT WAS a strange case of déjà vu for the Commander of the Australian Contingent, Squadron Leader Ruth Elsley, recently, when a familiar aircraft came in to land at a remote Sudanese airfield.

While visiting Rembek airfield with members of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), she instantly recognised the aircraft as an old HS748, complete with the original Air Force grey paint scheme.

Affectionately known as the “Draggie”, the HS748 was decommissioned as a navigator trainer last year after more than 30 years service and replaced with the King Air B350 fleet.

“I had to wonder whether I was actually in Africa, as the last time that I had seen the aircraft was in a flypast for a SAN (School of Air Navigation) graduation, prior to their decommissioning,” Squadron Leader Elsley said.

“I was pretty sure it was an ex-RAAF aircraft because of its paint scheme, so I watched as it taxied to its final parking position. On closer inspection, it became obvious that there was a darker greyed-out area where Royal Australian Air Force and the Air Force roundel were once painted.

“I approached the aircraft captain to find out for sure, as I thought it would be of interest to all those personnel who have worked with the HS748 in the past.

“After his surprise at seeing an Aussie in uniform, the aircraft captain (a South African contractor), confirmed that the aircraft was indeed an ex-RAAF aircraft, and was very friendly and complimentary about the great condition that the aircraft had been maintained in.”

She said the aircraft was being used to transfer southern Sudanese prisoners of war from northern Sudan back to their homes in the south, before the formation of the Interim Unified Government of Sudan in July this year.

“The nav station was still intact, like a remnant of its previous life,” she said.

“So for all those members of No. 32 Squadron and SAN who may be wondering whatever became of the fleet of Draggies, there is at least one of them operating in Africa in conjunction with the Red Cross.”

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