848 Sqn in Malaya

[TRX75]

Some fascinating footage of 848 Sqn in action in Malaya in 1953 was shown on BBC2's Home Movie Roadshow this evening. It was shot by one of the pilots and was a personal account of the Squadron's role in the conflict rather than an official one. The programme includes an interview with the pilot.

For anyone who missed it it's available on the BBCiplayer here and starts at about 41 minutes in.
BBC iPlayer - Home Movie Roadshow: Episode 5 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tnpx3/Home_Movie_Roadshow_Episode_5/)

Would any PPruners have any reminiscences?

[Tankertrashnav]

No reminiscences although I did fly as pax with 103 & 110 from Seletar about 10 years later and the jungle didnt look any different!

Love the shot of the guy climbing into the Whirlwind wearing his naval officer's cap! FOD risk? Phooey! Some of the guys on the pilot's hat thread over on JB should take note!

[lauriebe]

TRX75, thanks for posting the link. Unfortunately, only available within the UK. Would have very much liked to have seen that footage.

[green granite]

lauriebe Try finding a UK based 'public proxy server' and access it through that, it might work.

[pasir]

.. Yes saw the prog - although very brief. On the Jungle aspect - I doubt much remains today. Served there 1952-3 when most of Malaya AND Singapore were mostly jungle, rubber trees and a few Kampongs. 50 years later flying down from KL to S'pore observing the huge jungle clearance projects bares little resemblence to the Malaya of Maj. Freddie Spencer Chapman - A forgotten stay behind anti-jap resistance hereo
who survived evaded and operated a lonely existance in the jungle with little or no white contacts for three years.

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[lauriebe]

GG, many thanks for the tip on 'public proxy servers'.

I have tried a couple off my search list but, although the BBC site seems to download, can't seem to get the programme. Will try a couple of the other proxies and see what that results in.

[kilwhang]

Lauriebe - check your PM's

[Lancastrian]

Did a year early sixties mostly at Labuan and a short spell at Tawau. For a break from security duties a couple of us would bag a "jolly" either on the Beverly when doing a drop to the forward posts on the big island or with the "chopper" crews........big mistake!:ooh: Bad enough on the back of the Beverly looking out into space especially when the pallettes had been released!!Next,went up with one chopper test crew as the ground bods stood round laughing! The test was to be a simulated engine failure!! Sat on the edge with a single strap tethering us to the craft.Hells teeth,......I had piles in me ears for weeks. When we hit the runway I thought we would carry on through to Oz! Great lads though...they certainly could sink a Tiger or two.:D

[Al R]

pasir,

Before I attended Jungle Warfare Instructors Cse, I was advised to read Chapman's 'Jungle is Neutral'. He opened my eyes and it remains my 'favourite' environment - partly because of his philosophy. It is a sad irony that a man who fought so hard and who put it all onto paper so well, ended up taking his own life (Frank Collins too, come to think of it).

Being dumped in Brunei for 4 months or so was a great way to miss wall to wall Olympics coverage. :ok:

[lauriebe]

Thanks for the PMs on VPNs chaps. About to give them a try.

[SilsoeSid]

In a similar vein,
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/383321-indonesia-1960s.html

[flying jocks]

Hi Folks,

I am looking for any stories or pictures you may have about my grandfather whose first names were Peter De Burgh. I believe that he was in either 194 or 81 sqn based in Malaya (1958) flying Sycamore helicopters when he was killed in action.

If you know of him or care to share any photos, I would be very grateful as my elderly grandmother still has strong memories of her time there.

FJ