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A RAF Short SC-5 Belfast CMk1 XR369 Spartacus takes-off
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A RAF Short SC-5 Belfast CMk1 XR369 Spartacus takes-off
A RAF Short SC-5 Belfast CMk1, XR369, Spartacus, takes-off from the island of Gan in the Indian Ocean for the last time. The airfield was handed over to the Republic of Maldives on 29 March 1976. Date: 1976
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Media ID 9899567
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10844302
Airfield Belfast Cmk1 Handed Spartacus Takes Maldives Short
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the historic moment when RAF Short SC-5 Belfast CMk1 XR369, affectionately known as "Spartacus," takes off from the island of Gan in the Indian Ocean for the last time. The date was 1976, and the airfield was being handed over to the newly independent Republic of Maldives on March 29. The Short SC-5 Belfast was a versatile transport aircraft, widely used by the RAF for various roles, including search and rescue, cargo transport, and maritime patrol. XR369 had served the RAF faithfully for many years, and its departure from Gan marked the end of an era. The island, located in the central Indian Ocean, had been a significant military base for the British since the late 19th century. With the Maldives gaining independence, the RAF was withdrawing its forces, leaving Gan and its runway behind. The sun casts a golden glow over the scene, adding to the sense of nostalgia and closure. The Short SC-5 Belfast, with its distinctive silhouette, lifts off the ground, leaving behind a trail of dust and memories. This photograph is a poignant reminder of the passing of time and the changing political landscape of the Indian Ocean region.
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