Indonesia 1960s
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Bury St. Edmunds
Age: 64
Posts: 539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pins and Austers Question.....
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!
MB
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!
MB
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: australia
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bingo bob,and John Purdey-PMs..
Kuching Apron December 1964
Last edited by Chugalug2; 5th Aug 2009 at 17:24. Reason: Updated date
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?
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: WILTSHIRE
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
DZs in Malaysia
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.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Toulouse area, France
Age: 93
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Borneo lifter ...
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 !
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 !
Gainsey:
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.
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?
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.
Yes, Him
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: West Sussex, UK
Posts: 2,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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
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
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: 58-33N. 00-18W. Peterborough UK
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It seems that his body was never recovered. From;
Dead of the British Armed Forces During Confrontation with Indonesia December 1962- August 1966
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
Dead of the British Armed Forces During Confrontation with Indonesia December 1962- August 1966
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
Last edited by forget; 7th Aug 2009 at 17:31.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Crickalde Wilts
Age: 80
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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?
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?
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..