Indonesia 1960s

[BingoBob]

Good afternoon

I am new to the board so be gentle.....

That said I am going impose on you my impudence by asking for assistance straight off, if I may?

I realise this is a 'history' post but there may be a few chaps out there who might be able to help so I have double posted.....

I am cataloguing a few images of the Indonesian Confrontation for the Imperial War Museum and I don't recognise the location of these images. Can anyone help, please?

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005243.jpg

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005247.jpg

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005217.jpg

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005225.jpg

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005233.jpg

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005240.jpg

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005263.jpg

Many thanks for any help comments, insults etc..!

Bob

[Cornerstone958]

Hi BB
Try going to Britains Small Wars this site will offer you other options
Good luck
CS:ok:

[Ewan Whosearmy]

Bob

I know the RAF attache to Indonesia from a three-year period (1969-1972, IIRC). If you let me have an email address, I'll let him know you need help.

He has a vast slide collection from when he was there (most taken from the air), and seemingly has a crystal clear memory of the whole place. He should be able to help.

Cheers

[SilsoeSid]

Bob,

I have in front of me an article from Aircraft Illustrated August 1985 entitled RAF 'Heavies' in Borneo. Seems to be the sort of thing you are after.
Photography by A.F. Porter.

A picture taken a few seconds after this pic, http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005263.jpg, is the main pic of the article. XG451

The caption says, "A pleasing study of RAF Belvedere HC1 XG451, unloading troops at Lundu, Sarawak in 1966. Operated by No66 Squadron from Labuan in Borneo, Belvederes were active throughout the campaign.

There is a picture of Pioneer XL517 (formerly G-AOGK) at Lundu, which could be the pic http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005240.jpg

There are also pics of;
Argosy C1 XP445 at Kuching Airport in 1964.
"Based at Singapore from July 1963, the Argosies of No215 Squadron played a notable part in the operations in Borneo during the confrontations with Indonesia."

Hastings at Kuching - a photograph taken in late 1964 featuring TG569 in the foreground and an overall view of WD488.

Bristol Freighter NZ5904 leaving Kuching 17 April 1965

US Navy visitor - C-47 BuAer No17218 allocated to the Naval Attache, about to leave Kuching for Singapore 16 April 1965

Returning to RAF Kuching after supply dropping mission, No48 Squadron Hastings C2 WJ337 and No60 Squadron escort, Javelin F9 XH885 (on detachment to Kuching from Tengah) as they pass over the airport before landing on 4 April 1965

Malayan Airways Comet 4. BOACs G-APDN with removable Malayan Airways fleet name concealing BOAC lettering, as it passes a trio of Army Air Corps Auster AOP9s at Kuching on 22 September 1963.



I'll get it scanned and post it here. If it's what you are after, give me a PM and I'll send it off to you.
:ok:
SS

[BingoBob]

Thanks SS, sounds just what I am after. Sent you a PM!

Cheers :ok:

Bob

[SilsoeSid]

Amazing what you pick up from old air museums. In this case one of the guys from Wellsbourne Air Museum gave us a load of old aircraft mags.


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/DSC_0667.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/DSC_0674.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/DSC_0671.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/DSC_0672.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/DSC_0673.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/DSC_0675.jpg

Strange thing is, I was going to throw it away 2 days ago during a big clean out, but only kept it because I thought I would post a 'Who Is This' on the forum. I don't have the full mag left unfortunately, bu there is a lot of info on the pages and I'm sure there is a back issue/archive section at the Aircraft Illustrated office/British Library.


So....Who is this?

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/DSC_0670.jpg

[Gainesy]

5217 and 5225 are from a Blackburn Beverley, but I guess you know that already.

[Chugalug2]

Talk about All Our Yesterdays! The Hastings doing the Run-In and Break at Kuching took me back to my days as a callow co-pilot, and sure enough my Logbook tells me that we did the very same thing in the same aircraft (WD337 not WJ) but on 30 Dec 1964. We had chatted to the Javelin crew beforehand and suggested that they would shoot down any Indonesian fighters that tried doing that to us. "You've got to be joking", we were told, "They've got Mustangs and if they get behind you while you're down there in the valleys supply-dropping there's not a lot we can do for you". "Oh, why?" Because we only have Firestreak and if we launch that it's just as likely to hit you as them!". "So what should we do if we are bounced?" " How slow can you fly?" We provided a figure assuming flap was run out. "And how low can you fly?" "Very" "And how tight can you turn?" Again info duly given. "Then do all three and just pray that he will go away!" Fortunately the occasion never arose and we arranged a post drop transit close escort and break at Kuching. Interestingly with us going flat out, the Javelin was still at a most alarming nose-up attitude throughout!

[Fareastdriver]

Going to the original pictures.
No 1 Ops and accomodation at Sepulot. The chap with the hat is the FATOC. Cannot remember his name.
No 2 Sepulot Airstrip.
No 3 Beverley dropping somewhere outside my operational area.
No 4 Beverley dropping at Long Sumado.
No 5 Twin Pin unloading fragile items at Sepulot.
No 6 Single Pin doing the same.

All our stuff was thrown out of the back of a Beverley. Food, fuel (four drums on a pallet), beer and anything else that woudn't break too badly. Important things like spares and explosives used to come by 209 Sqn.

[Lancastrian]

Guarded a lot of that stuff at Labuan and Tawau...Sepilok is now a the reserve for the Orangutans. Went back on a holiday in 99.....what a difference. Some of the things that stood out on service there....Ted Heath visiting Labuan care of Comet...quite a hushed job at the time. The Vulcan that was spotted on approach to Labuan with many saying.."What the f...." only to witness a touch and go visit:). Javelin that locked a nose wheel and did time in the monsoon ditch. Petronas and the oil rich workers have transformed both areas. Labuan has a massive marble shopping arcade with moving walkways. Problem is, no shops open inside. Sandakan still has its pirates though working the mangroves. The Malay authorities have or had quite a few machine gun posts located there. By the way, the workhorse for many of us going to and from Tawau was the Herald....

[henry crun]

SilsoeSid: can you resize those pics so we don't have to scroll from left to right to read the replies ?

[SilsoeSid]

Sorry Henry,

I posted them large to get the detail for anyone who wanted to download them.
I'll adjust the link so that it is a link and not the img.

(people could always use the return key a bit more!)

[Biggles225]

Great pics! Took me back a few years.

I think they look more than likely taken at Sepulot, but after only a couple of visits years ago I could be wrong! Lundu doesnt (or didnt) look like that, and there is no way you could put a Twin Pin down on the football field we operated from. Whirlwind Wessex and Belvequeers only. :}

It could be that the pics of Twin and Single Pin credited to Lundu are at the strip at Sematan, which wasnt that far away.

[Fareastdriver]

If I had a gizmo that would transfer 35mm slides to a computer I would show you lots more pictures of Sepulot in 1966.

[BingoBob]

Thanks chaps for all your help. Sepelot, is where I have been leaning towards with these but could find very few photographs which could confirm it either way. The Museum thanks you!

How about here? Are these No 66 Squadron Belvederes at Kuching?

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005252.jpg

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005253.jpg


While I have your attention. For those who were out in Borneo and Malaya any ideas about the location of this non-airfield scene?

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_005283.jpg

Once again thanks!

BingoBob

[Blacksheep]

Beach Road, Singapore. Outside the Britannia Club just opposite the entrance to Raffles (which is marked by the tree at the left of the picture, just behind the trishaw driver's head).

[Gainesy]

...and her name is Susan.

[sycamore]

S-Sid,I don`t think the Bevelgear is at Lundu,or the S-Pin,nor Sematan either; `Who is it` I think is John Zmitrovicz?,known as `ZZ`,and believed to be living in the Shoreham area.A `gentleman `aviator..Syc. Any more ?

B-B,5252,5253 are both at Kuching..

[BingoBob]

Thanks Blacksheep, excellent - very precise, information received and understood.

Sycamore, thought they were Kuching but just wanted to check.

Cheers chaps...:ok:

http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/media/images/Photographs/Image/RAF_T_000772.jpg
Changi Sea Sports club, Changi?

[John Purdey]

Perhaps a forlorn hope, but can anyone shed further light on the loss of Flt Lt Bert Fraser, who was shot down just over the Indonesian border while flying his RAF helicopter on 17 November 1965. A most thorough trawl through the available records produced no useful results, and nor did two visits to the area of his crash by the then Def Attache. Local villagers recalled the crash, and the recovery of the body of his passenger; but no-one could explain what had happenened to Fraser.
I can supply more details of the research that has been undertaken so far if anyone can help.
John Purdey

[Madbob]

It's wonderful to see threads like this when we really had an Air Force! Mind you we didn't have C17's then so hence this question.....

Did the likes of Twin Pioneers, Single Pins, Austers have to self ferry? If so it must have taken ages and required numerous stages - some might see such a trip as quite a jolly, but fraught with difficulties en route...

Same goes for the helos.....the Belvedere I guess would have been a more than even a Belfast could "swallow".

I was 20 years too late joining the RAF (in 1979) but even then I ended up flying nothing but 1960's vintage ac! :yuk:

MB

[oxenos]

The photo T 772 is Changi Officers Club.

[Jaggs]

My father was on HMS Albion in 1963 off Borneo, and has pictures of a Belvedere on deck fitting very snug on the hangar lift. I believe they took it out there, along with Wessex from 845 NAS, and some RAF Wessex/Whirlwinds which were picked up along the way.
There are also the Army Austers and Pioneers on deck, which I understand were literally caught and pulled down.
Funny how we regard "Joint Ops" as being a modern concept, when they worked sucessfully over 40 yrs ago. Shows the usefulness of having assets like carriers, helicopters, and enough boots on the ground.:ok:

[Fareastdriver]

Helicopters went by ship. When 230 Sqn was sent out to Borneo IIIRC they went on the Albion. The Navy had stacks of carriers then so it was quite easy to arrange a lift.
Flying was far too difficult. When 110 Sqn disbanded in 1971 we looked at flying our oldest aircraft, XD183 back home. This aircraft had spent all its time in the Far East apart from forays back to the UK to be changed from a Whirlwind 2 to a 4 then to a 10. It would have taken 28 days and involved a fair amount of servicing at Sharjah. That is assuming it stayed servicable and all the diplomatic clearances fell into place.
There was a system of returning household items like furniture back to the UK called indulgence freight. When there was space available, normally quite quickly, your stuff would be freighted back to the UK. Those that could afford it would buy cars duty free oversea confident that when they were posted home a conveniant carrier would be sailing for the UK for a refit or something. So it was when Confrontation started. This carrier that was heading westwards across the Indian Ocean turned about and at the same time they were tipping Mercedes, Fords etc over the side.

XD 183 solved the flying back question by having an engine failure and was written off.

[sycamore]

Bingo bob,and John Purdey-PMs..

[Chugalug2]

Kuching Apron December 1964
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x199/chugalug2/KuchingPanMedium.gif

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x199/chugalug2/TrgacKuching38Medium.jpg

[Chugalug2]

Before this thread slips into the bottomless pit of the PPRuNe archives, another couple of DZ's whose names I've long forgotten. They'd be in the Southern Borneo Operations (Kuching) area, and self evidently in the lower lying area of the Rajang's headwaters or tributaries. Anyone?

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x199/chugalug2/TrgacBorneoDZ02.jpg


http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x199/chugalug2/TrgacBorneoDZ01.jpg

[LXXIV]

Apologies for the slight thread drift, but while on the subject of DZs in the Far East, are there any other ancient Ppruners watching who recall some of the more hairy DZs in Malaysia? I remember Yankee Three Bar among others. It was a bit hairy, needing the throttles on the Hastings to be brought right back to get down into the DZ amongst the trees. Our engineer, Mel P*****n, would look out of his window, see the trees alongside, and in spite of himself push the throttles open. The result was a battle for the power between him and the captain.

[Gainesy]

I remember seeing a pic of what looked like a bamboo platform on top a a large garden shed with a Whirlwind perched on it... Naanga Gat?

[Jig Peter]

For big loads there was the incredible Beverley ... Just a bit faster than a Navy boat ("If there wasn't a headwind", the unkind would say).
It could also carry paras in the "boom", which was said to be as big as a Dakota's fuselage.
What a majestic sight, almost from another age - also said to be derived from the Hamilcar glider by General Aircraft (as woz), with big input from the "boots on the ground" brigade ...
:)
What a pleasant trip to the great days of Confrontation - thanks to all contributors !

[941]

Flt Lt Bert Frazer, wasn't he in a 103 Sqn Whirlwind and I seem to recall hearing that he was caught in some artillery fire on the wrong side of the border?

[forget]

Flt Lt Bert Frazer. Whilrwind shot down See Page 19 HERE. (http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GFpPF9tDgZkC&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=RAF+103+Sqn+history+indonesia&source=bl&ots=t9Sd39xZHx&sig=PaqoayOF6yrSX4S41I_u6r2_LdM&hl=en&ei=UAR7StThJ87D-Qb-iZxI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8#v=onepage&q=&f=false)

[Chugalug2]

Gainsey:
I remember seeing a pic of what looked like a bamboo platform on top a a large garden shed with a Whirlwind perched on it... Naanga Gat?

Well could be indeed, if so I should have remembered it from a version of a well known song which went something like:

They wouldn't send me to Tawau, Tawau,
They wouldn't send me to Tawau, Tawau,
Oh, I've been to Nanga Gaat, but I didn't fancy that
And I'd rather be in Tawauwau!

With the wonders of the Internet it is indeed on a tributary of the Rajang, the Baleh. Has Gainsey cracked it, and what about the other site? About the only DZ name that comes readily to mind is Long Jawi that I seem to remember straddled a ridge and was thus very unforgiving of CARP (Calculated Air Release Point) errors.

[Gainesy]

Only reason I remember it is because I was a Cadet in 103 Sqn Air Training Corps at the time and 103Sqn RAF used to send us photos and updates on their doings. The Naanga Gat pic was the (Large) central pic of a display board we had.

[Fareastdriver]

I don't know what Kuching was like but Labuan, for somebody on a one years unaccompanied stint was, shall we say, quite pleasant. Very nice bars, the Victoria Hotel rings quite a big bell. A few names there too, but, no names no pack drill.
Tawau on the east end of Borneo was faily laid back as far as RAF SH was concerned. The RMAF had just arrived and they were very keen to make their mark so they did all the difficult jobs. One could get away with a quiet 1.30 resupply in the morning and waterskiing in the afternoon. An excellent mess and downtown there was an Australian who ran an incredible steak bar.
It was hell, absolute hell! Believe me

[John Purdey]

Forget. Many thanks; am still looking for info on what happened to Fraser after he was shot down. Any help gladly ack. JP

[forget]

It seems that his body was never recovered. From;

Dead of the British Armed Forces During Confrontation with Indonesia December 1962- August 1966 (http://www.britains-smallwars.com/malaya/ROH/rafborneo.htm)

In Commemoration of those who Died and have no Known Grave
The Memorial Wall. Terendak Military Cemetery, Malacca

Frazer Flt. Lt. 17.11.65

PS. Picture of Memorial here;

Memories - Terendak Garrison (http://www.fight4thepjm.org/memories_terendak.htm)

[OLLY HOLBROOK]

Please can anybody help,we are a group of ex ground crew trying to get
a bit of recgnition.We maintain that we went to Borneo, as 26 Squadron
(Belvederes) part of 38 Group.The RAF form 540 says likewise.The Squadron
History does not mention this.The main desire now is for pictures of
belvederes clearley showing both Sqdn letter and reg No.can any body supply such a commodity?

[sycamore]

If you `google` RAF Khormaksar,Aden,you will find that 26 Sqdn Bevelgears (4 a/c) flew there in 1963,then moved to Seletar in 1965 to amalgamate into 66Sqdn,until it disbanded.Hope that helps- don`t mix 26 Sdn RAF Regiment with 26 Sqdn..

[virgo]

Did anyone come across (the late) George Warren, Whirlwind pilot, in Borneo ? I was told he got the DFC out there - can anyone confirm ?

[Biggles225]

As far as I remember Bunny got his DFC in 64, at Kuching. You could try the London Gazette.

[Saint Jack]

Farestdriver:

Reference your post beginning "Helicopters went by ship....", In addition to using HMS Albion, I recall at least two 66 Sqdn Belvederes were also shipped from Labuan to Singapore on the MV Maxwell Brander, which looked like a regular cargo steamer but which I believe had some sort of MOD contract. This would be some time in 1966. On two occasions I was part of the ground-crew that assembled them on the dock-side prior to being flown to Seletar. Once, we ran out of daylight and left the aircraft on the dockside, I was detailed to be an (unarmed) 'aircraft guard' and spent the night on the ship which was a lot more comfortable that the helicopter. Next morning I left my pride-and-joy new Seiko watch, all S$40 worth, in the washroom and imediately went back to retrieve it, of course it had gone in a flash, so if anyone spots an old Chinese sailor wearing a Seiko watch with a clasp engrave with a Caucasion name please let me know.

[Old-Duffer]

Just done a check of the DFC register - no G W Warren except a guy on 10 Sqn in the last unpleasantness with Herr Hitler and Co

[virgo]

Thanks, old-duffer. I was mis-informed.(Maybe I was told he "should have got a decoration "...........??????
(I'm part way through a rather good book titled "The Savage Wars of Peace" by a historian, Charles Allen. The Malayan Emergency was very interesting and I'm now reading about the Borneo "confrontation" (in which I played a small part myself) Although it mainly concerns the army, there's lots of references to the RAF and RN in the support roles - particularly helicopters. (The book is thoroughly recommended to anyone interested in post world war 2 military history...........very easy to read a bit at a time)

[SilsoeSid]

Just about to send the pages off to BB and woukld you believe it I found the rest of the magazine!!...missing a page :-(

As luck would also have it, I was looking at a pic on the wall in 'young sid' s room of an F-4G Wild Weasel during air to air refulelling and noticed the blu tack was about to give way. On looking on the other side of the pic there is the beginning of the article by AF Porter!

F4 AtoA Refuel
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/F4aarefuel.jpg

Begining of article.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/borneo.jpg

XP444 (eventually to go to the School of Technical Training at Cosford) gathers speed on Kuching Airports runway with Gunong Serapi of the Matang Range in the background.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/borneo2.jpg

[OLLY HOLBROOK]

please believe me 26 was split in two.The 38 group detachment is noted in both RAF Kuching's and 66sqdn's ORB as comprising of 225(whirlwind )and 26 sqdn (Belvedere)I Know I was that airman To misquote .

[sycamore]

Olly,I`m only going by what what the Squadron histories show,and that is that the 4 Belvederes of 26 went to Seletar,were amalgamated into 66; now 66 was a Far East based Sqdn, as was 103 ,and 110 Sdn,part of 224 Gp. 38 Gp involvement comprised 225 and later 230 Sdns as full-up tactical Sdns.225 disbanded,God knows why,but nobody else at the end of Nov `65,aircraft and crews distributed amongst 103,and110. It`s probably fair to say that this was as a result of having 2 38Gp. Sqdns ,`tresspassing` in someone elses yard..... we(on 225) had a helluva problem with spares,as they got to S`pore,then went to 103/110;engines/blades/g`boxes,as the Stores only sent them to Seletar. It took the intervention of the Inspectorate General,Sir Gus (one arm)Walker,on his visit,to kick arses and take names,literally,for Hastings and Allsoggys to arrive the following weeks with lots of spares from Seletar. It was probably the same for 230 Sdn in Labuan......224 Gp. did not recognise anyone else on `their patch`,were too busy with 0700-1200 hrs operating M-F,sailing/golf/swimming club,etc,and the Stn Cdr gets a medal,....

[OLLY HOLBROOK]

Do we all remember the Air Force poster "Don"t Assume Check" ?
Well as there are apparently so many "histories" of 26 Squadron floating about, I thought I would write one.
However before Assuming I knew because I was there, I became a reader at The National Archive at Kew,to Check.
The squadron was reformed at Odiham in 1962.Then in 1963 sent an advance party to Khormaksar.The remainder to stay at Odiham , the administation of groundcrew and aircraft taken over as from 1st March 1963 by 72 Squadron, to await the call from the parent unit. Please note no merger or any other word for joining .It can be read in TNA AIR 27/2940 Operations Record Book RAF Form 540 and from this day forward until November, that aircraft movements are reported in two entries one for each squadron.
However Fred (Su) Karno's army put paid to that plan and 26 went to Kuching with 3 Belvederes and 33 groundcrew ,well allright ,11 of 'em were 72 squadron's finest.As reported in TNA AIR 24/2682 the ORB for Kuching dated December 1963 "11. No.38 GroupDetachment. During December No.26 Squadron (Belvedere) and No.225 Squadron (whirlwinds) arrived at Kuching to operate as support in the Borneo Territories."
I now turn to TNA AIR 27 / 2949 the ORB for 66 Squadron which each month from December 1963 till May 64 religiously refers to XG 453,XG 464 & 466 as 26 Squadrons aircraft.Also for the finale, of the tour that never was, the Squadron Commander's notes for July 1964
" The last day of the month saw the repatriation to the United Kingdom of the first party of groundcrew from 26 Squadron. This occasion should not pass without record being made of the excellant work these men have done in support of No.66 Squadron in Kuching."
Finally the demise of 26 in Aden, the aircraft went To No.66 Squadron, groundcrew went to No.78 Squadron.

[Amos Keeto]

If anyone has any good quality 35mm colour slides of any aircraft taken in Borneo or Singapore during the '60s, I have a dedicated Nikon Coolscan slide scanner and can make good quality scans for you that I can put on a CD, so you can upload them here or make prints from them as you wish?
I am particularly looking for any slides of Belvederes, Pioneers, Twin Pioneers or literally any aircraft taken in this theatre. All I ask is you provide a blank CD. My reward is the priviledge and enjoyment of scanning your slides!

[Fareastdriver]

If I had a gizmo that would transfer 35mm slides to a computer I would show you lots more pictures

Santa has given me one for Christmas.

The pictures were taken between January to September 1966.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-1-2010_004.jpg

The main site in January. Much of Post 1 & 2s shacks have moved or have been blown away. The dark, square Japanese building is the continuity.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-1-2010_002_1.jpg

Two 230 Sqn Whirlwinds. The nose doors are pre-FEAF modded and the yellow thing on the starboard u/c swing arm is the mounting for the German Zwicky pump for emergency refuelling.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-1-2010_006.jpg

Rations and fuel coming out of the Beverly.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/12-27-2009_004.jpg

The DZ was not that far from the helicopter pads.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-1-2010_008.jpg

This was taken in September just before I left. The RAF and RN had swopped between Nanga Gaat and Sepulot. The Wessexs were on progressive servicing but their spares were not progressing fast enough so they were both AOG. I was there to do all their tasking for them. The nose door is now the FEAF type sand filter.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/12-27-2009_011.jpg

Sepulot village, some 500 yards down river. The only way there.

I post some more when I dig out some more slides.

[Amos Keeto]

Well done 'fareastdriver', some great atmosphere shots there. As no one has responded to my offer to scan their Far East slides, I thought I would show a few Whirlwinds from my collection taken in Borneo during 1966-67.

First up is XK986 of 230 Squadron with an armed guard in a very tight jungle clearing
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/Amoskeeto/XK986WhirwindHAR10230SqnBorneoAPR67.jpg

There we have a nice air-to-air of XP329 of 110 Squadron.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/Amoskeeto/XP329-CWhirlwindHAR10110SqnFEAFBorn.jpg

I guess safety and being seen become more important than camouflage as here we have XR456 of 110 Squadron heavily adorned with orange dayglo and also with the sand filter fitted to the nose.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/Amoskeeto/XR456WhirwindHAR10110SqnNrKuchingBo.jpg

Even more colourful was XP303 which not only has the dayglo strips but also
appears to have a replacement tailboom from a yellow 'Rescue' Whirlwind'..unless this one was actually used as a dedicated rescue chopper?
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/Amoskeeto/XP303WhirlwindHAR10110SqnFEAFBorneo.jpg

[sycamore]

Amos,thanks for the memories; flown all of those, `329 still has the 225 Sdn badge on the nose, 303 flew with 103/110,,same with `458 and later at Ternhill,and `986 was 230 Sdn..
Got photos ,but no slides..

[Fareastdriver]

You picture of 329 reminds me that we had the last of the NCO pilots out there. 230 Sqn had two brand new sergeant pilots and my old Master Pilot Piston Provost instructor was flying Single Pins at Labuan.

Not this time.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-2-2010_010.jpg

This Pioneer took off from Long Sumado and found that the topo exceeded its angle of climb. It was flopped into the trees and the occupants were back at Long Sumado looking for a cup of tea within thirty minutes of take off.

The local Murat clan boundaries bore no relation to political borders so when they a big meeting the Intelligence Officer (an ex-Colonial Office chap who had been there before the Japanese and who could speak the lingo) would go and see what was happening over the other side. It was a day trip and these pictures were taken at Kabu, a longhouse right on the border with Indonesia.

When we landed and took off the kids would all hold the roof down.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-2-2010_008.jpg

The chief plus wives and sons. I had lunch with him and the I O, monkey fillet and hill rice.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-2-2010_020.jpg


As I mentioned in a previous post Tawau was fairly laid back.

The flight line with RMAF Allouettes who did most of the work.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-2-2010_007.jpg

Tawau Officers Mess.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-2-2010_011.jpg

Back in Labuan the squadron accomodation was similar but the living accomodation was not because aircrew lived in the Membedai, the Shell Oil Holiday resort.

230 Sqn accomodation, Labuan.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-3-2010_015.jpg


The bedroom block.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-3-2010_905.jpg
The bar resturant from the outside.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-3-2010_903.jpg

The inside.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-3-2010_904.jpg

There is, of couse, a private beach. The dug out canoe was a squadron effort which floated successfully but difficult to navigate in waves.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee224/fareastdriver/1-3-2010_907.jpg

Anybody can be miserable fighting a war, It takes very little effort to make it comfortable.

[Steve Bond]

Lovely shots Amos, haven't seen those for a while.

[BingoBob]

Wonderful photographs guys. Very nice.

[sycamore]

F-E-D,would I be right in suggesting the chap looking at the S-P wreck,was a loadie ,who later had an early E-Type at Odious..?

[Fareastdriver]

Dead right 10/10.

[patrickmcgarry1]

just found the website yesterday,knew where it was right away i was with 230sqn
on labuan and sepulot 1965 1966.

[stevew62]

SilsoeSid wrote :

Amazing what you pick up from old air museums. In this case one of the guys from Wellsbourne Air Museum gave us a load of old aircraft mags.

....
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...d/DSC_0672.jpg (http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/silsoesid/DSC_0672.jpg)
..........


Strange thing is, I was going to throw it away 2 days ago during a big clean out, but only kept it because I thought I would post a 'Who Is This' on the forum. I don't have the full mag left unfortunately, bu there is a lot of info on the pages and I'm sure there is a back issue/archive section at the Aircraft Illustrated office/British Library.




The caption in the magazine reads

"Returning to RAF Kuching after supply dropping mission, No48 Squadron Hastings C2 WJ337 and No60 Squadron escort, Javelin F9 XH885 (on detachment to Kuching from Tengah) as they pass over the airport before landing on 4 April 1965"




My dad flew Javelins in Borneo around this time, so I checked his log book.... JACKPOT !! It looks like the Javelin pictured was being flown by my dad.

Here's his log book showing that he flew XH885 on the 4 April 1965 whilst escorting Hasting & Valetta's

http://www.linton-gin.com/misc/4_april_1965_Aircraft%20Illustrated%20August%201985.jpg


So is his navigator F.L Thomas still around ?

& the article shows the photographer as being A.F. Porter. Does anyone have any idea how I can track him down ? ( I'll obviously write to the Magazine )


:-)

[patrickmcgarry1]

i remember a Beverley drop at Sepulot when the sky lite up,
our beer ration for the week had gone adrift. all we could do was run for cover.
848 SQN RN where next through and true to their word sent our TIGER the
following day.
i never got to thank you JOCK QUINN

[greywings]

Dear All,

Many thanks for this interesting thread which I have only just come across. It sent me scrambling for my first (of many) log book, to check on some details.

As a spotty-faced student at 1 FTS I was fortunate enough to have been instructed by a Flt Lt Bert Fraser. Bert made it abundantly clear that instructing was not his first love and all he really wanted to do was to escape to the helicopter world and do some 'real' flying. I was subsequently sad to learn that Bert had been killed flying choppers during the confrontation. Several posts here about Bert reminded me of what a nice man he was and, despite saying how much he disliked instructing, he saw to it that I received the best guidance possible in those early days.

When Bert wasn't railing about his dislike of instructing, Flt Lt Dave Thomson took over, with his strong desire to escape from instructing as soon as possible and fly 'real' aeroplanes - Hunters in this case. Dave subsequently joined 20 (?) Squadron in Singapore, banged out following some sort of problem and ended up being medevaced back to the UK for treatment. I believe that he was killed in a tragic rail accident while back in the UK.

Both were excellent instructors and if it wasn't for their efforts on my behalf I would not have gone on to enjoy a very enjoyable and productive flying career.

My own (first) near-demise occured on the evening of April 26th, 1966. I was briefed, with my two observers, to fly a 'screen' sortie for Ark Royal which was transitting the Malacca Straits. Shortly after take-off, on a very dark night we were suddenly surrounded by what was obviously tracer fire from a surface position. The fact that both observers said, "Oh, s**t, what the f**k was that?" at the same time made it obvious that both sides of the aircraft were covered and that we should get the hell out of there.

I stuffed the nose down and we levelled off very close to the water, with the fire following us for a while. The suddeness of it all took us totally by surprise and it was a while before we were speaking and thinking coherently.

We subsequently made a report to ATC, flew the sortie and landed back at RAF Changi, where we made a full written report. The next day we embarked in Ark Royal and heard nothing more about the incident, which seemed rather surprising.

If anyone heard about this incident and can shed any light on who did the shooting and from where, I would be interested to hear about it.

Yours aye,

GW

[Amos Keeto]

...and what were you flying with your two Observers...a Gannet maybe?

[sycamore]

Greywings, it looks like my paths crossed with both your instructors,sadly; in the first case, Bert Fraser was tasked to do the task I was going to do,but my aircraft was not ready,and the LZ was a `milk-run`,but the route was always flown as a `tactical` one ie <100 ft usually,as just a couple of KM across the border was a known 23/37mm HMG.
In the second case,Feb.20,1967, I was on SAR stby at Seletar and we were scrambled for a Hunter ejection NW of Malacca,so off we set at 95kts.I`m sure there was still another Hunter orbiting so locating DT was relatively easy,can`t remember if his Sarbe was working or not.Unfortunately,on the descent which was to a pepper plantation,surrounded by forest his parachute had snagged a tree,and he had fallen the rest,again unfortunately into an area of cut -down trees, rain-forest trees,and broken his back/neck. We managed to lower the winchman and stretcher and then back off and orbit whilst the winchman struggled to get to DT and then try and treat him and get him in the stretcher on his own as there was nowhere I could land and get the winch-op to help.Eventually,he signalled that we could pickup,but as the Whirlwinds winch was only 60 ft,and we didn`t have a `long-line` (224 Gp.didn`t approve of our previous `tactical` use of it, particularly with the `Hereford hooligans`) and as the other trees prevented an overhead hover,we had to sort of `pendulum` them out,up and sideways. Anyway, it worked and they were both on board.Off we all went at a very high speed,having called that the pilot had very serious back injuries ,and requested to go to the BM Hospital ,which had an LZ there and good back treatment facilities.No ,we were to go to Changi ,another 10-15 mins flying time; we repeated our request about 3 times ,but the answer was the same,must go to Changi,so we did..all the time I could hear DT crying in agony in the back,as the winchman had not/was not allowed to administer morphine... eventually we arrived,almost out of fuel as well and shut down awaiting an ambulance ! DT was still in agony and screaming when he was put in the ambulance to Changi Hospital.I think I just went around the aircraft and shed a few tears as well. Anyway ,I got a bollocking next day for being so stroppy to `Control` as it was not for me to judge......
The Boss told `them ` to F O.
I learned later from DT`s wingman who was now my flight commander at Bedford that DT had eventually recovered,and was doing a jet refresher at Manby/ Strubby,and was travelling back on a Sunday night when the train crashed,and he was killed. Sorry if all this sounds so morbid, Iaways seem to get dust in my eye when I remember it..Syc..

[greywings]

Syc,

Thanks for the additional detail. That is pretty much how I heard the two stories but it is good to have the confirmation, albeit very sad.

As I said, both Bert and Dave were great characters. Sadly, it isn't usually until much later in life that one realises what an influence instructors had on one's early development and I owe them both a large debt of gratitude.

I was sorry to read the additional details about Dave's accident and the needless suffering he had to endure, despite your best efforts.

Interesting that you were involved in both chaps' incidents. It makes one realise how lucky we were!

GW

[Proplinerman]

"If I had a gizmo that would transfer 35mm slides to a computer I would show you lots more pictures of Sepulot in 1966."

You need a film scanner with a slide cartridge. I've got a Minolta Dimage Dualscan IV and it gives excellent results, but it's obsolete now, though I'm sure you could easily find a model still in production.

[Old-Duffer]

Silsoe Kids post in Aug 09 - the Belvedere pilot is Flt Lt Dennis Southern

[Amos Keeto]

I have a Nikon Coolscan slide scanner and would be delighted to scan and upload your slides for you? If interested please pm me. That goes for anyone else that has 1960s slides they would like digitised and improved with Photoshop?

[OLLY HOLBROOK]

try : 26 Squadron Far Eastern Air Force (http://www.feaf-26sqdn-pix.co.uk/GalleryPage.php)

Now tell all those blokes in the photos that 26 squadron did not have a prescence

in Kuching. Can't find 'em well try "Jury's Inn " Swindon 4/5/6 June 2010.

[albatross]

Does not open for me.

[OLLY HOLBROOK]

Bingobob,

I know no one asked but the picture T525 shows one Cpl. Gibbons

I.D. Elec.A wandering in front of the Bevelgear,and yes it is one of 66's, the crewman

is too well wrapped up to identify, and the man, rather boy on the fire bottles may be

me.