Frank Pole who served with both SOAF and the ROP Air Wing recently lost his battle with cancer and died earlier this month.
Frank's early career was with the RAF as well as a secondment to the Army Air Corps. He served with 3 sqn SOAF from 1977 - 79 and then returned to the RAF. Around 1974 he served in Germany with Tommy Collins in 651 squadron, AAC and both he and Tommy were stalwarts of the AAC ski team. Tommy later bumped into him unexpectedly at Saiq with his then girlfriend and wife to be Lorna in 1978 and Frank and Tommy both served together flying helis in Salalah.
Frank returned to Oman to the ROP Air Wing during the 1980s. One of his colleagues in the Air Wing, Randy Mains, writes:
I first met Frank in 1988 in the Sultanate of Oman when we both flew with the Royal Oman Police. He was a thoroughly competent pilot and a mentor to many of the young Omani junior officers teaching them 'by example' the admirable qualities they needed to learn to become a safe and competent pilot. Frank and I flew in Saudi Arabia, too, in EMS support to the king and the royal family.
One anecdote about Frank I'd like to share that highlights the measure of the man is this: He had placed an ad for a Bell 214ST pilot for the operation in Saudi stating the minimum hourly requirements and that as chief pilot, he was looking for pilots with 214ST time. He received several responses from pilots who were low-time pilots with Robinson-22 time in their log books. Instead of relegating those CVs into the trash bin as being totally unacceptable, Frank took the time to personally write a letter to each and every one of them, thanking them personally for applying but that they did not meet the minimum requirements at the time. He always ended by wishing them good luck in their aviation career. I always thought that was a classy, kind and compassionate thing to do.
His funeral arrangements, with contact details are set out below:
Squadron Leader Frank Pole BSc
His funeral will take place at Balldaroch Crematorium, Crathes, on Friday 22nd July at 1330
The service will be streamed on-line and here is the link:
Frank’s favourite Scottish music will commence around 1315 and the service proper will start at 1330.
If you would like to attend in person, please contact Alastair Montgomery (Monty) at the following address: alastairmonty@btinternet.com
There is the opportunity on leaving to make a donation to two charities selected by Frank - Friends of Anchor and CLAN
Anchor: https://www.friendsofanchor.org/
Those kind enough to donate should reference in memory of Frank Pole
If you have any anecdotes you wish to pass on to the family send them to Monty
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