Photo - Muscat and Oman

A picture with a very intriguing story.  Following the Dofar Rebellion in Muscat and Oman (Now, known as the Sultanate of Oman) in the 1960's, the U.K. was asked to provide air force assistance to the country in the form of a secret mercenary detachment, in order to quell continuing attacks by Yemeni guerrilla fighters in the south of the country.  Basically, we maintained an airforce base that facilitated the operation of ex-RAF fighter pilots attacking the guerrillas in their mountain hideouts.

During this period, Edward Heath, the leader of the government's opposition, made a secret visit to Salalah for talks with Qaboos bin Said, the sultan's son (I have the only film of this visit).  Questions where asked in government about this meeting, and the existence of U.K. military personnel in the area, which has been totally denied to this day.

The following year, Edward Heath became Prime Minister and, coincidentally, the sultan's son instigated a coup against his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur.  The sultan was expelled to the U.K. in quiet exile until he died a few years later.