Left behind but not forgotten
Posted 21/04/2010 - 09:11
Link
As a documentary series I think that the story needs more telling for the shots to be poignant enough - either in words or more pictures.
Ken
Ken
Photography is putting one’s head, one’s eye, and one’s heart on the same axis. HCB
K20D and various stuff.
K20D and various stuff.
Posted 21/04/2010 - 09:26
Link
The plaque is interesting - are the numbers beside each of the deceased's names their years of birth in chronological order? Can't work out what else they would signify...
I've not seen just the years of birth appended on a plaque.
I've not seen just the years of birth appended on a plaque.
Posted 21/04/2010 - 09:50
Link
Monday 22nd September 1980.
Sadam had ordered an air strike against Tehran Mehrabad airport.
This resulted in an Iran attack on Basrah airbase later that day.
Many people watched the airbase being bombed from the roof top of the main labs at the complex. They witnessed dog fights between Iraqi Mig's and Iranian Phantoms.
A fair bit of panic followed. No one was aware of what was going on. Some news was available on the BBC world service (radio).
That evening, the majority of the thousand or so employees were at the bars, those having wives and children were at there homes, both on the same site.
It was quite a display that night as the sky was full of AA fire, tracers and ironically, the site lights and complex flare were still on.
The following morning was very still, quite warm and quiet. People were making their way to work (alongside the accommodation).
At approximately 06:20hrs, two Iranian Phantoms flew in low, behind the Petrochemical Complex and lined up to hit the accommodation area.
They did not attack the plant.
They flew in over the garage and vehicle service area, bombing it as they passed.
They then, within several seconds hit the main canteen and pool area.
Two bombs hit. One directly hitting the chalet of Mr Ronald Derrick Ritchie.
The windows of the canteen blew in as it was within fifty yards of an impact.
Many people were in a state of panic. The dust was making it impossible to find a way out from the canteen.
As people finally made it outside, they were met with horrendous images of the victims of the bombing.
At this point, women and children were on the main compound roads and in open area's, still in nightdress, in a state of shock and mostly crying.
Within an hour of the event, there were large numbers of families at the Safwan border trying to get across into Kuwait. They were not allowed to cross as they did not have exit visas.
Five people had exit visas and were allowed through.
They travelled by bus into Kuwait city and went directly to the British Consul to report the attack. After being debriefed and offered food etc, they were taken to the Kuwait Marriott Hotel to await the arrival of KLM jumbo's that the parent company, Lummus Thysen had chartered.
The irony of the event was that the Iraqi authorities refused to send remains of those killed to the various countries of domicile.
It remains unknown to me whether or not these remains were recovered from the site during the following two wars.
Similar situations have occurred on a regular basis since 1980. We just never seem to learn any lessons.
Regards
Sadam had ordered an air strike against Tehran Mehrabad airport.
This resulted in an Iran attack on Basrah airbase later that day.
Many people watched the airbase being bombed from the roof top of the main labs at the complex. They witnessed dog fights between Iraqi Mig's and Iranian Phantoms.
A fair bit of panic followed. No one was aware of what was going on. Some news was available on the BBC world service (radio).
That evening, the majority of the thousand or so employees were at the bars, those having wives and children were at there homes, both on the same site.
It was quite a display that night as the sky was full of AA fire, tracers and ironically, the site lights and complex flare were still on.
The following morning was very still, quite warm and quiet. People were making their way to work (alongside the accommodation).
At approximately 06:20hrs, two Iranian Phantoms flew in low, behind the Petrochemical Complex and lined up to hit the accommodation area.
They did not attack the plant.
They flew in over the garage and vehicle service area, bombing it as they passed.
They then, within several seconds hit the main canteen and pool area.
Two bombs hit. One directly hitting the chalet of Mr Ronald Derrick Ritchie.
The windows of the canteen blew in as it was within fifty yards of an impact.
Many people were in a state of panic. The dust was making it impossible to find a way out from the canteen.
As people finally made it outside, they were met with horrendous images of the victims of the bombing.
At this point, women and children were on the main compound roads and in open area's, still in nightdress, in a state of shock and mostly crying.
Within an hour of the event, there were large numbers of families at the Safwan border trying to get across into Kuwait. They were not allowed to cross as they did not have exit visas.
Five people had exit visas and were allowed through.
They travelled by bus into Kuwait city and went directly to the British Consul to report the attack. After being debriefed and offered food etc, they were taken to the Kuwait Marriott Hotel to await the arrival of KLM jumbo's that the parent company, Lummus Thysen had chartered.
The irony of the event was that the Iraqi authorities refused to send remains of those killed to the various countries of domicile.
It remains unknown to me whether or not these remains were recovered from the site during the following two wars.
Similar situations have occurred on a regular basis since 1980. We just never seem to learn any lessons.
Regards
Too far from a shore.
Posted 21/04/2010 - 10:03
Link
Hmm... Sometimes getting out old lenses unearths a bit more than good glass, eh?
It sounds like you were not only close to the people, but also to the events of the day.
Vale to those people, and a penny for your thoughts. Chin up (easy to say - I know).
It sounds like you were not only close to the people, but also to the events of the day.
Vale to those people, and a penny for your thoughts. Chin up (easy to say - I know).
Posted 21/04/2010 - 12:09
Link
A shot from Sulymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan. Soldiers were always happy to pose and were very friendly.
Regards
Regards
Too far from a shore.
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6436 posts
17 years
I knew some of these people and it was a terrible loss to their families and friends.
Two years later and the war with Iran was well under way. Safe place to be as everyone in Iraq was against Iran rather than each other.
Regards