After 1 month at Abadan, I was switched to Shaibah SOR as CO to make it fully operational, but 2 weeks later I was moved to 3SOR at Kirkuk as CO. Kirkuk was an oilfield centre like Abadan, but there were no refineries. Oil was pumped to the Mediterranean Ports. Cooler climate 200 miles north of Baghdad was better for my health.

Arranged hockey matches against Indian & Ghurkha Army Units. My Signals Officer ambushed by Kurds, held to ransom and rescued by Gurkha Unit. I made trips into Kurdish areas without incident, including one via Erbil to Mosul near Turkish border to collect equipment spares. Diverted to visit Nineveh - palace ruins and library of King Nebukhanezzar. Flew to Cairo for 2 - 3 week refresher course for Fighter Controllers which was hectic as I tried to fit in too many Cairo entertainment spots!

News of NW African landings, designed to link up with Montgomery in Libya. Back to Kirkuk to instructions to move 3SOR to Teheran, then delayed as we'd move to the Caucasus if Russians failed to hold Stalingrad. Finally moved mid-Dec. amid torrential rains.

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