I just read an article about your book Operation Trojan Horse. I look forward to the book. On August 2nd 1990 in the early hours I was on the runway in Kuwait as a KLM air hostess. Our plane was not yet refueled and we evacuated to Oman on the dregs left in the plane, with a random group of passengers who where able to board the plane in time. The aircraft behind us in line was a BA one, that did not manage to depart. I presume this was another aircraft than the one landed some hours later, and the subject of your book. We evacuated further to Bangkok 2 days later I think when we were allocated fuel. From there we flew back to Amsterdam with an empty aircraft with the exception of 2 men with big cameras who did not speak at all, just taking fotos when we were over Afghanistan flying very low, you could see all the little wadis and a few sparse trees. We did not have a technical stop and flew over Tashkent, not usually allowed in those days, and we were told our low flying was to save fuel as this was not the 747-400 yet. We were secretly scared of being plucked out of the sky by a rpg by the afghanis.
The skies were red and black from Kuwait burning, the ground was shaking and we shared the hotel in Oman with American marines. I took up smoking there, as it was the natural thing to do after being a passive smoker for years before working in the aircraft. All crews and soldiers were smoking. I could not stop this until I fell pregnant years later.
We were met by psychologists upon return to Schiphol to discuss our ordeal, but we all just wanted to go home. What we went through was nothing and we were lucky compared to the British airways crew and passengers. I am shocked to learn that Britain had military motives and let the flight land in Kuwait after everybody who could evacuate did.
KLM had a plane on the runway before us, scheduled to depart inbound to Schiphol, they were fully fueled , took off, but were told to turn around and land back in Kuwait. To fly in circles dumping fuel above a new war zone was not the preferred thing to do so the Captain, J.Plesman, decided to ignore the orders and continue flying out of there as fast as he could, telling the frightened passengers, who were unaware that war had actually started, that this was a military exercise to prevent panic on board. He delivered passengers, crew and aircraft safely in Amsterdam a little ahead of schedule.
These were some snippets of information to supplement the picture of what happened there. Even though my English is not perfect, and writing sometimes an ordeal as I am dislexic, I have been working on a book about my 12years plus, working for the airline. Mostly light stories are in there, with one or two exceptions.the book is miles away since there does not seem enough time to write. My experience in Kuwait was allowed for some closure when
I was rostered in to pick up the desert rats from Dahran in March when the war was over, but that is a different story and a very emotional one too..
My family and I live in New Zealand now( Netherlands,Kenya 20 years,Somalia, South Africa 4 years, uk 2 years before),and my boys studied in Dunedin. We have all seen and lived through stories that most people cannot even imagine and it is important that people tell the truth, in journalism especially. In my job we do not always hear the full truth and it is not always appreciated to have an opinion, so please keep educating people that the truth is only what counts.
Best regards,
Karin Dougherty
Dear mr Davis,
I wrote a comment recently,in this space, but am not familiar with this medium and was not aware the comment is for all to read, on an open forum. It looks like I need to upskill technological knowledge. If you should have any comments please send to email as above, thank you. Kind regards,
Dear Stephen
First, congratulations on your most interesting ‘Operation Trojan Horse’, and it is certainly about time for the truth behind this story to be told. I have a particular interest in this topic as I was living in Dubai during 1990/1, and have been writing a TV series with the working title ‘Guests of Saddam’ (you are welcome to read the first two episodes). Two of my friends (a married couple) were captured in Kuwait City and held as hostages near Basra until December 1990, and my story is based on a journal kept by the wife. If you don’t mind could I ask you for some help: writing a TV script is one thing, but finding someone who will possibly develop it is something else. With all your contacts, can you suggest anyone I can initially approach about this?
Many thanks and with kind regards, Julian (01884 842508)
3 Comments
Karin Dougherty
I just read an article about your book Operation Trojan Horse. I look forward to the book. On August 2nd 1990 in the early hours I was on the runway in Kuwait as a KLM air hostess. Our plane was not yet refueled and we evacuated to Oman on the dregs left in the plane, with a random group of passengers who where able to board the plane in time. The aircraft behind us in line was a BA one, that did not manage to depart. I presume this was another aircraft than the one landed some hours later, and the subject of your book. We evacuated further to Bangkok 2 days later I think when we were allocated fuel. From there we flew back to Amsterdam with an empty aircraft with the exception of 2 men with big cameras who did not speak at all, just taking fotos when we were over Afghanistan flying very low, you could see all the little wadis and a few sparse trees. We did not have a technical stop and flew over Tashkent, not usually allowed in those days, and we were told our low flying was to save fuel as this was not the 747-400 yet. We were secretly scared of being plucked out of the sky by a rpg by the afghanis.
The skies were red and black from Kuwait burning, the ground was shaking and we shared the hotel in Oman with American marines. I took up smoking there, as it was the natural thing to do after being a passive smoker for years before working in the aircraft. All crews and soldiers were smoking. I could not stop this until I fell pregnant years later.
We were met by psychologists upon return to Schiphol to discuss our ordeal, but we all just wanted to go home. What we went through was nothing and we were lucky compared to the British airways crew and passengers. I am shocked to learn that Britain had military motives and let the flight land in Kuwait after everybody who could evacuate did.
KLM had a plane on the runway before us, scheduled to depart inbound to Schiphol, they were fully fueled , took off, but were told to turn around and land back in Kuwait. To fly in circles dumping fuel above a new war zone was not the preferred thing to do so the Captain, J.Plesman, decided to ignore the orders and continue flying out of there as fast as he could, telling the frightened passengers, who were unaware that war had actually started, that this was a military exercise to prevent panic on board. He delivered passengers, crew and aircraft safely in Amsterdam a little ahead of schedule.
These were some snippets of information to supplement the picture of what happened there. Even though my English is not perfect, and writing sometimes an ordeal as I am dislexic, I have been working on a book about my 12years plus, working for the airline. Mostly light stories are in there, with one or two exceptions.the book is miles away since there does not seem enough time to write. My experience in Kuwait was allowed for some closure when
I was rostered in to pick up the desert rats from Dahran in March when the war was over, but that is a different story and a very emotional one too..
My family and I live in New Zealand now( Netherlands,Kenya 20 years,Somalia, South Africa 4 years, uk 2 years before),and my boys studied in Dunedin. We have all seen and lived through stories that most people cannot even imagine and it is important that people tell the truth, in journalism especially. In my job we do not always hear the full truth and it is not always appreciated to have an opinion, so please keep educating people that the truth is only what counts.
Best regards,
Karin Dougherty
Karin Dougherty
Dear mr Davis,
I wrote a comment recently,in this space, but am not familiar with this medium and was not aware the comment is for all to read, on an open forum. It looks like I need to upskill technological knowledge. If you should have any comments please send to email as above, thank you. Kind regards,
Julian Raymond
Dear Stephen
First, congratulations on your most interesting ‘Operation Trojan Horse’, and it is certainly about time for the truth behind this story to be told. I have a particular interest in this topic as I was living in Dubai during 1990/1, and have been writing a TV series with the working title ‘Guests of Saddam’ (you are welcome to read the first two episodes). Two of my friends (a married couple) were captured in Kuwait City and held as hostages near Basra until December 1990, and my story is based on a journal kept by the wife. If you don’t mind could I ask you for some help: writing a TV script is one thing, but finding someone who will possibly develop it is something else. With all your contacts, can you suggest anyone I can initially approach about this?
Many thanks and with kind regards, Julian (01884 842508)