Posted on Jul 20, 2017

Taif Mountains - holding a millenia history, remarkable story !

LTC Orlando Illi

2.3K

2

4

2

0

Spent 13 Months in Taif as a Military Advisor to the Saudi Arabian Ordnance Corps (1987-88). The drive down from Taif (at @ 5400 ft) to Jeddah (where we would Scuba Dive on weekends in the Red Sea) was breath taking as we descended the escarpment to the valley below. Truly a beautiful place

Posted in these groups:

Saudi Arabia Fc80b3ca45996546ef76f27f58f1124a 400x400

Military Advisor

Posted >1 y ago

Responses: 2

0

LTC Stephen Franke

Posted >1 y ago

Greetings. This interesting post brings back many memories. I was assigned to US Advisory Station (USAS) Taif, USMTMSA (1970-1971). ** Well remember that bi-weekly convoluted and interesting drive down the mountain escarpment road, and then stopping before the sign announcing the "Tareeq al-Nazrani" ("Christian Bypass Road") before the entry to Mecca, and then turning left so we could proceed long that highway onward to Jeddah to collect our mail from the APO in USAS Jeddah, USMTMSA.

(0)

Comment

(0)

SGT Richard Seward

>1 y

i was USMTMSA Dhahran in 1968 and used to fly to Taif, Jeddah, Riyadh for supply drops on our GUTS airline (ancient C54 that broke more than flew). Supplied a SF bunch at Taif and Jedah.

(0)

Reply

(0)

LTC Stephen Franke

>1 y

Greetings.
Many thanks for your note.
** I was USMTSA at USAS Taif, 1970-1971.
** Well remember the almost-weekly GUTS flights to RSAF airbase just Taif.
** Was always amazed that that ancient C54 still flew so reliably, and often wondered where, and how, USMTMSA found and got the spare parts needed to maintain those birds.

Regards,

Stephen H. Franke
San Pedro, Californoa

(0)

Reply

(0)