Kai Tak video
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Great Southern Land
Age: 73
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry to be a little off topic but have just seen this whilst on an "overnight" in Hong Kong.
I arrived in Hong Kong when I was six in '58 and left in '68, it brought back memories of growing up there and the old Kai Tak where I spent a bit of time, the new terminal and runway were built in about '61 I think. Yes there was some use of the old and new runways in the video.
My dad worked for HAECO at the airport and had something to do with a partial restoration of the spitfire in about '87. I remember him saying it would not be flying again, must go to Duxford and have a look next time I go to London.
I arrived in Hong Kong when I was six in '58 and left in '68, it brought back memories of growing up there and the old Kai Tak where I spent a bit of time, the new terminal and runway were built in about '61 I think. Yes there was some use of the old and new runways in the video.
My dad worked for HAECO at the airport and had something to do with a partial restoration of the spitfire in about '87. I remember him saying it would not be flying again, must go to Duxford and have a look next time I go to London.
Last edited by Offchocks; 18th Jul 2010 at 09:49.
Thanks for the info on the Spitfire guys. Interesting to hear about its trips across the harbour to Hong Kong side, but I dont think this happened in 68 when I was there, probably as the security situation was a bit dodgy with the cultural revolution raging just over the border.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Surrey
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am sure you are right, Tankertrashnav, as 1966 and the Cultural Revolution put a stop to many such things. I think an added incentive to display the Spitfire in the early 60s was the 'influence' of two Battle of Britain veterans in post as AOCs Hong Kong, Air Commodore (then) Crowley-Milling in 1964, followed I think by Air Commodore Bird-Wilson.
More interesting info coming out about the Spit from D120. By the time I was there the post of AOC HK had gone, and Air House up on The Peak was flogged for the breathtaking sum of HK$1m (£85k)! A couple of noughts on that sum nowadays I'd guess. The CO at Kai Tak, Gp Capt Rex "Sexy Rexy" Williams was however determined that the RAF was not seen as the poor relation in the colony, and styled himself "Commander RAF Hong Kong" without any authority from FEAF to do so.
Another nice pic, forget, reminds me that the Governor, Sir Crawford Murray MacLehose was always known as Jock the Sock!
Another nice pic, forget, reminds me that the Governor, Sir Crawford Murray MacLehose was always known as Jock the Sock!
