RAF Changi 1950s

[cardmaker]

Old memories

My father was posted to 52 Squadron in 1958 and the whole family flew to Singapore in June, but were only there for a month before he was sent to Katunayake, and the family decamped to Ceylon. He was flying Valettas back and forth to Gan until April 1959 when the runway was complete and we all returned to Singapore. I have an old photo of the Gan aircrews seated in front of a Valetta. Dad was posted to Far East Comm Squadron on his return to Singapore and spent the next 2 years ferrying VIPs around the Far East.

[overfly]

DATE

roving - re-reading posts #2 and #3 the date of OP interest is 11/11/53.

[Warmtoast]

Cardmaker

My father was posted to 52 Squadron in 1958

A couple of photos of 52-Sqn Valetta aircraft taken by me at Gan in 1958. One showing an engine change and the other a group who are "tour-Ex" and homeward bound.

The aircrew in white overalls was Jack Trainer, a navigator.

[qwerty2085]

Came across this post recently and saw some replies concerning accidents of singapore/changi based aircraft from the 50's. My father died a couple of years ago, he had a brother, who was in the RAF, who died in an accident in 1958.

It was never really talked about, but i believe it might have been in a shackleton, his body was never recovered. Anyone know anything about this or where i can find info, apart from google. My uncle, fathers brother will be next of kin, but i don't want to bring it up with him at the moment.

Thanks

[Brian 48nav]

qwerty

According to the Ian Allan book 'Avro Shackleton' by John Chartres, there was the loss of a 205 Sqn aircraft from Changi in December 1958 off the northern coast of Borneo.

The author states that there is brass plaque alongside the grave of one of the crew in the parish church of St Eval, Cornwall, that records the names of the crew.

I have a feeling this accident has been discussed before on Prune, try a search with 'B205'.

[lauriebe]

querty,

Have a look at the link below. It lists the crew of Shackleton VP254 which crashed in the South China Sea near Sin Cowe Island on 9 December 1958.

Is your uncle's name among those listed?

Flight Details

More details on that accident can be found on the site.

Hope that helps.

[qwerty2085]

Thanks for your help guys, that is the one.

[LenP]

Old memories

I was one of three navs. on 52 Squadron based at Negombo (became Katunayake) from Sept. 1957 until April 1959 at which time I returned to the UK and joined Bomber Command Comm. Squadron at Booker near Marlow.

The 3 pilots on the Ceylon detachment in April 1959 when I left Katunayake were F/L Douglas, F/O Les Sands and M/P Morris. I would therefore have flown with your father quite often during the 112 round trips I made from NG to Gan! The other 2 Navs. were F/L Jack Trainer and F/O Bernie Aslett. My log book would indicate that your Dad was Dougie as I first flew with him to Gan on the 13 Aug. 58 on what was my 67 trip to Gan.

Thereafter most of my remaining trips were flown with Dougie who had been sent to Katunayake as the flight commander to replace the current one who was in a bit of strife with the station commander. I heard nothing of any of the others after I left but thought that Dougie had said he was going on to the Argosy when he returned to the UK. He was without doubt one of the 2 best pilots I flew with during my 12 years in the RAF. Be interested to know if indeed he was your Dad, but the timing seems to be right. Cheers

[Warmtoast]

LenP

I was one of three navs. on 52 Squadron based at Negombo (became Katunayake) from Sept. 1957 until April 1959 at which time I returned to the UK and joined Bomber Command Comm. Squadron at Booker near Marlow.

You may remember your low fly-bys along the runway to alert workers that you were about to land as seen here:

[LenP]

Homeward Bound

I think the "aircrew" in the photo is probably "Jack" Trainer who was a Nav. on 52 Sqd. based at Katunayake. The nickname Skid was that of Master Pilot Morris who was one of the three 52 Sqn. pilots who were also based at Katunayake in 1958. In a previous post I mentioned the 3 navs. and 3 pilots but omitted the 3 signallers who were Sgts. Cullis, Denman and Hines. Remember the "beat-ups" well as also one done on Hans & Lotte Haas's yacht Xarifa which was parked in the Lagoon on one occasion. We met Hans but not, unfortunately, Lotte!

[Warmtoast]

LenP

Thanks for the clarification as to the identity of the 52 Sqn aircrew in my photo. The names you mention bring back memories - please check your PMs.

As regards Hans and Lotte Hass. It was only Hans who visited the island in late 1957 and early 1958 as Lotte was at home in Vienna about to give birth to their first child together. Below a couple of photos from my album taken at the time.

Hans died at the age of 94 earlier this year. His obituary here:
Hans Hass - Telegraph





...and with his glamorous wife Lotte on an earlier occasion, but not at Gan.

[cardmaker]

I obtained my father's service record in 2004 and had to have a Certificate of kinship signed by my mother before they would let me have it.

Re the photo of the 52 Squadron Valetta, it looks to be VX 522, which was frequently flown by my father.

[patkinson]

I think a lot has been said on this and most of the info has been given by those who were directly involved..I think there is a bit more and it may be that the Changi association ..http://www.rafchangi.com/ can supply a bit more info..
I was an engine fitter on 48 and we did the air support when 52 sqdn finished up in '66.. I think it was .The detachment at Butterworth was a very pleasant experience and a lot different from more recent times when working for MAS and enjoying the ambience of Penang!

[DaveGW]

Sgt. David Bennett who died along with the others on 11/11/1953 was my uncle (mother's brother). It happened before I was born, but I've a few pictures to add for interest.

David Bennett

Newspaper snip about his wife joining him in Singapore

I don't know the names of the others in the following pictures, but maybe someone might find a relative amongst them?

David with some RAF pals

Enjoying a drink

Crowd

[G3LMO]

VP254 - SIN COWE ISLAND

Hi All:

I was on the crew in December 1958 that helped find F/S DANCY (VP254 Flight Engineer) on Sin Cowe Island.

Anyone interested please contact me at;

[email protected]

205 Changi 1957/1960

FECS Changi (VIP Mk4 Hastings WJ325) for C-in-C Far East 1961/1964

Now long since retired MAEO living in very rural and peaceful Wiltshire.

73

Nev (G3LMO/VS1GC/VS1GZ/DL5XD/DL2ZN/VS9MB/VE3MSH/VK5XD/PA9JI)

[oldchina]

DaveGW

Where on earth did they pick up those girls?

[ChrisSk]

Photo album

A friend of mine has oosted this...
It's always really sad to find an old photo album full of pictures in an antiques place. Someone's memories that have been forgotten. We had to buy one we found today, and if anyone knows of a Sgt. Ayres from Lincoln who served with 48 Squadron in Singapore in the early 50's we'd love to find out more about him. Looks like you had a great time over there my friend!
Anyone help in finding this chap or family? Please message me.

[Woodward 13]

Hi

I have recently stumbled upon a site where you have written about your involvement in the search for the Shackleton aircraft which disappeared in the Far East in Dec 1958.

At that time I was a 5yr old living in Singapore with my parents, based at RAF Changi. I remember the awful event and how it affected the squadron. My dad was involved in the search for the missing aircraft. His name was Ron Woodward (lofty) and he was a Flight Seargant signaller on 205 squadron. I wonder if you remember him?

Sadly my dad passed away in 2019. But I am in touch with Peter Sampson and Mike Farrer who were both with us at the time in Singapore, and who flew with my dad.

It was a memorable time for all, mostly good, and we all have fond memories of the Changi days, as I'm sure do you!

Best Regards

Deborah Morgan-Smith (Woodward)[QUOTE]

[patkinson]

re Changi..There is also the RA F Changi association..

Originally Posted by zerofeetaboveground

Hello all.

I am posting this hoping some of you may be able to help with a family mystery.

My Grandfather was based at RAF Changi in the 1950s as maintenance staff repairing the planes based there - I believe he worked on the radio equipment.

Sometime in 1956 he had been involved in repairing a plane and took off on a test flight, the story goes there were 6 on board and sadly this plane disappeared during the flight and was never seen again. I am told no wreckage was discovered from the plane during the searches for the craft and its crew. I am wondering if anyone would know if the RAF would still have a record of the disappearance and possibly any report they wrote at the time? Would it be possible to obtain a copy?

Could anyone give a hint as to the types of plane based at Changi in the period my Grandfather was working there or indeed which type of plane he may have been working on that took a 6 man crew (or capacity for 6 for the test flight).

This has always fascinated me but I've never known which way to go about gaining information on what happened. Thank you in advance for your help

reply
The association has archives which no doubt will have info of interest.The latest newsletter has a couple of new members also from the '50s.
I was an engine fitter on 48sqdn but that was in the early 60s..

website www.rafchangi.com

[Peter47]

My father sadly passed on a few years ago, but I remember him telling me that in, I believe, the late 40s he was flying four engine bombers out of Changi. A new formulation of (american sourced) oil was put in all of the engines which had the effect of dislodging a lot of sludge and blocking all four oil filters. He therefore had to land with no fully functioning engines. Its a shame he's not around to give me more details but it says a lot about what happened in the days before the gremlins were engineered out.