Any Borneo Whirlwind veterans here?
IIRC, and I'm pretty sure about this the fuel drums were black. The tops were dirty white with a light blue stripe for Avtur or a red one for Avgas.
At Sepulot we used to lob our old drums into the river as there was no way of getting them back to Labuan because the river flowed south to Indonesia. The Whirlwind being quite a good oil drum herder. The locals used to fish them out, use the dregs of Avtur for cooking, lighting etc., and use the drums for storage, building or whatever. Then a Sioux detachment arrived when they built a Gurka Company HQ. Allofasudden there were muffled thumps downstream as their cooking fuel detonated. The next day saw two charred remains of longhouses which took a couple of days to rebuild. Nobody hurt, fortunately, but they learned the reason for different colours.
During the last months of confrontation when the Navy took over Sepulot the practice of throwing the old drums into the river stopped. The locals now had to buy the drums and contents off the Petty Officers. A full, unopened drum was available at $50. My second picture above was taken when I went back to Sepulot because both Wessexs pictured were U/S and I was told this by my groundcrew.
At Sepulot we used to lob our old drums into the river as there was no way of getting them back to Labuan because the river flowed south to Indonesia. The Whirlwind being quite a good oil drum herder. The locals used to fish them out, use the dregs of Avtur for cooking, lighting etc., and use the drums for storage, building or whatever. Then a Sioux detachment arrived when they built a Gurka Company HQ. Allofasudden there were muffled thumps downstream as their cooking fuel detonated. The next day saw two charred remains of longhouses which took a couple of days to rebuild. Nobody hurt, fortunately, but they learned the reason for different colours.
During the last months of confrontation when the Navy took over Sepulot the practice of throwing the old drums into the river stopped. The locals now had to buy the drums and contents off the Petty Officers. A full, unopened drum was available at $50. My second picture above was taken when I went back to Sepulot because both Wessexs pictured were U/S and I was told this by my groundcrew.
Last edited by Fareastdriver; 3rd Jun 2012 at 09:42.
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Gents; were there any vehicles inside Nang Gaat Camp beyond a Trolley-Ack? - Aircraft tug? I am looking for things to add interest to the ground plan, although I suspect the area was so small that walking was the only way. Cycles perhaps?
There was bound to be a helistart landrover; airlifted in if neccessary. This was a 24 V version with a platform above the tilt for servicing aircraft. IIRC the ladder went up the nearside at the rear.
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Nanga Gaat transport....
....was by Shank's Pony.
That's during the times I went there '66 to '67, to when it was packed up.
I cannot recall any motorised vehicle be it four-wheeled or two-wheeled at Nanga Gaat at all, either on the RAF camp or KOSB/Gurkha camp. The place was too small for that. Good clue would be that Main Street between the accomodation huts and also the bridge over the mini-Sungei between the RAF camp and the Army camp was only two-man wide.
DB
That's during the times I went there '66 to '67, to when it was packed up.
I cannot recall any motorised vehicle be it four-wheeled or two-wheeled at Nanga Gaat at all, either on the RAF camp or KOSB/Gurkha camp. The place was too small for that. Good clue would be that Main Street between the accomodation huts and also the bridge over the mini-Sungei between the RAF camp and the Army camp was only two-man wide.
DB
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There was a 'hangar' in which a Whirlwind with blades folded could be inserted. What provided the muscle power to get helicopters from the single adjacent HLS along the albeit very short (1.5 aircraft length) taxi track into the hangar?
In the absence of helistart I assume one of the quite small hand operated motorised tugs that looked like something you buff the floors on a bull night with. (only with wheels x3)
In the absence of helistart I assume one of the quite small hand operated motorised tugs that looked like something you buff the floors on a bull night with. (only with wheels x3)
Last edited by Tiger_mate; 5th Jun 2012 at 06:27.
T-M, if you wanted to move an aircraft at Nanga ,then you `asked` the local RSM to provide a `working party`....No W-P,no helo,,,simples....
See DB`s pics of NG on his link....other places had Landrovers,some of which are probably still doing the `rounds`,like,Iraq,Afg,MPA...!!
See DB`s pics of NG on his link....other places had Landrovers,some of which are probably still doing the `rounds`,like,Iraq,Afg,MPA...!!
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Apparently the small tractor unit that I am expecting any forward operating base to have as a minimum is called a "Donkey" in groundcrew circles, and consisted of what appears to be a lump of concrete with a small petrol engine and three wheels steered by a broom stick type controller attached to the single castored forward wheel. It also appears to have been a cow to start and sqns were known to use a little avpin to encourage it!!!!! Gutsy move if true 
Thirteen years as an SH pilot with the RAF; two tours in the UK and two in the Far East. Never ever saw one of those. Possibly it a deck handling donkey used by the FAA and brought ashore to NG.
Last edited by Fareastdriver; 5th Jun 2012 at 19:13.
Apparently the small tractor unit that I am expecting any forward operating base to have as a minimum is called a "Donkey" in groundcrew circles, and consisted of what appears to be a lump of concrete with a small petrol engine and three wheels steered by a broom stick type controller attached to the single castored forward wheel. It also appears to have been a cow to start and sqns were known to use a little avpin to encourage it!!!!! Gutsy move if true
Also known as a 'Yellow Peril'. - When ground equipment was painted yellow.
Aaron.
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Can anyone confirm if the long prefabricated building the the left of the aircraft shed (not big enough to be a hangar!) was an accomodation block? I never did Borneo but I did do Belize and blocks such as this were broken down into 4 man rooms. I need to include some element of detail but am unsure of what they were. Nang Gaat - Borneo.
Also would the landing surface have been stones or tarmac/concrete.
Also would the landing surface have been stones or tarmac/concrete.
Looks like a super picture coming up. I would suggest leaving the nose of the grounded Whirlwind the same as the airbourne one.
I never went to NG but I would think it would be unlikely to be concrete or tarmac; more like crushed gravel or stone.
Looking at websites of NG at the time it looked like scraped pads.
I never went to NG but I would think it would be unlikely to be concrete or tarmac; more like crushed gravel or stone.
Looking at websites of NG at the time it looked like scraped pads.
Last edited by Fareastdriver; 10th Jun 2012 at 20:46.
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It may be that this one spot adjacent to the hangar would be tarmac or concrete in order to manouvre the helicopter by people-power into the shed, with other dispersed spots - gravel pads. Anybody know if proper chocks or bastardised palette corners were used as chocks. Puma guys will know what I mean with the palettes. If anybody has a photo of a stripped down 105mm gun; I would welcome eyes-on a great deal.
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Nanga Gaat
Tiger Mate:
The building by the side of the corrugated iron hangar was the HQ/Administration building and it bore the "Station" sign board proudly proclaiming "R.A.F. Nanga Gaat" and had the rampant tiger of 110 Squadron on it. I know the sign was there because I repainted it in my spare time. When I was there the Gaat C.O. was a Flt. Lt and the building housed his office, the comms room and the administrative staff. That was a "permanent" type building made of sawn timber, not planed but rough sawn and it was stained brown or creosoted.
One of the amazing things at the Gaat was the display board on the side of the hangar with the weird insects that existed there, including flying lizards with folding wings...weird.
The only other "permanent" machined timber building was the Airmen's accomodation and Stores building and Mess hall which was closer to the river on Main Street. All other accomodation buildings were basha's with atap rooves and split bamboo sides and split bamboo floors nailed together with roofing nails.
The helicopter "pads" were a mix of stones, mud, PSP and some concrete and were reached by sawn planking boardwalks all over the helicopter pad area. You had to watch your footing.
See the Key Publishing thread "Confrontation", which I referenced in an earlier post there are quite a few pics of the pads.
DB...
The building by the side of the corrugated iron hangar was the HQ/Administration building and it bore the "Station" sign board proudly proclaiming "R.A.F. Nanga Gaat" and had the rampant tiger of 110 Squadron on it. I know the sign was there because I repainted it in my spare time. When I was there the Gaat C.O. was a Flt. Lt and the building housed his office, the comms room and the administrative staff. That was a "permanent" type building made of sawn timber, not planed but rough sawn and it was stained brown or creosoted.
One of the amazing things at the Gaat was the display board on the side of the hangar with the weird insects that existed there, including flying lizards with folding wings...weird.
The only other "permanent" machined timber building was the Airmen's accomodation and Stores building and Mess hall which was closer to the river on Main Street. All other accomodation buildings were basha's with atap rooves and split bamboo sides and split bamboo floors nailed together with roofing nails.
The helicopter "pads" were a mix of stones, mud, PSP and some concrete and were reached by sawn planking boardwalks all over the helicopter pad area. You had to watch your footing.
See the Key Publishing thread "Confrontation", which I referenced in an earlier post there are quite a few pics of the pads.
DB...
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Thanks David; can I assume that with regards to the HQ building it had a walkway under the roof on this side: ie offices set back into the building. Any other memories of the same would be helpful, such as a ganga bush that once lived in the Sgts Mess in Belize which raised a smile every time a policeman walked by. Can I assume that the GC dress of the day was a pair of shorts and boots and little else?
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dress tropical 1st line
I was never at Nanga Gaat but dress in 64/5 on the line was shorts and sandals at Lundu & Kuching, but if flying was long kd and jungle boots. Only the zobs had flash Aussie flying suits 
Last edited by Bill4a; 11th Jun 2012 at 10:46. Reason: Forgot about the guys up front!
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Just found this thread, don,t know why it does not have its own main heading, but I have some Borneo photos. that may be of interest.
First is a Whirlwind from Simangang at hill station Jambo.
First is a Whirlwind from Simangang at hill station Jambo.
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Nanga Gaat
Tiger Mate...
The HQ Building had a Verandah about six feet (sorry, "two Metres") wide. I seem to recall the Western end of the verandah had an office which was the width of the building, which was entered from the verandah.
Dress at The Gaat was very casual. Everybody knew one another and what their purpose was there. Only the "Base Commander" wore a K.D. shirt with his rank, he was the only officer on a one year tour there, all other officers were transients and all would normally be aircrew based at Seletar, Singapore. Aircrew officers and "airmen aircrew" arriving for their one month rotational tour would be in flying suits anyway and rarely wore K.D. shirts when not flying, except for some Flight Commanders, that is. Aircrew officers off-duty walked around in shorts and singlets or casual shirts. Dress usually was K.D. shorts and a civvy short sleeved shirt if going to a meal for instance. Displays of rank were not always on show.
The Line guys wore K.D. shorts, K.D. socks rolled down and S.D. Shoes (black), not boots. The Army "runner" type fabric ankle boots with rubber soles were popular and the Army freely gave those out together with their nice good quality grey wollen socks, I used to wear that combination. Some guys wore thongs (no not that kind), the kind called flip-flops... but that was frowned on due to the danger of foot injury.
See the "Confrontation" thread on Key, there are pics of the Line guys working on the beasts.
The thing about The Gaat and indeed other detachment places was that with the spirit that existed there the choppers were always serviceable as the guys willingly worked until they were "S". Same thing in Bahrein on the 6 Argosies of the detachment, they were always serviceable. It was the nearest thing to the old type "Squadron" life for a lot of the guys even though by then the RAF had what they called "Centralised Servicing" where personnel worked on different Squadron numbers with different a/c types.
DB...
The HQ Building had a Verandah about six feet (sorry, "two Metres") wide. I seem to recall the Western end of the verandah had an office which was the width of the building, which was entered from the verandah.
Dress at The Gaat was very casual. Everybody knew one another and what their purpose was there. Only the "Base Commander" wore a K.D. shirt with his rank, he was the only officer on a one year tour there, all other officers were transients and all would normally be aircrew based at Seletar, Singapore. Aircrew officers and "airmen aircrew" arriving for their one month rotational tour would be in flying suits anyway and rarely wore K.D. shirts when not flying, except for some Flight Commanders, that is. Aircrew officers off-duty walked around in shorts and singlets or casual shirts. Dress usually was K.D. shorts and a civvy short sleeved shirt if going to a meal for instance. Displays of rank were not always on show.
The Line guys wore K.D. shorts, K.D. socks rolled down and S.D. Shoes (black), not boots. The Army "runner" type fabric ankle boots with rubber soles were popular and the Army freely gave those out together with their nice good quality grey wollen socks, I used to wear that combination. Some guys wore thongs (no not that kind), the kind called flip-flops... but that was frowned on due to the danger of foot injury.
See the "Confrontation" thread on Key, there are pics of the Line guys working on the beasts.
The thing about The Gaat and indeed other detachment places was that with the spirit that existed there the choppers were always serviceable as the guys willingly worked until they were "S". Same thing in Bahrein on the 6 Argosies of the detachment, they were always serviceable. It was the nearest thing to the old type "Squadron" life for a lot of the guys even though by then the RAF had what they called "Centralised Servicing" where personnel worked on different Squadron numbers with different a/c types.
DB...
Last edited by David Billings; 11th Jun 2012 at 20:27. Reason: spellin.
Any Borneo Veterans Here
Tiger Mate
I was stationed at Nanga Gaat for many periods between October 1965 and August 1966 when I was one of the small party who closed Nanga Gaat down. I have some old slides of Nanga Gaat both from the air and on the ground, personnel and Helicopters, Whirlwind, Belvederes and I believe an Army Scout. My work dress was KD shorts and flip flops, and night time attire was a sarong and shirt for drinkies in the Anchor bar. Between work and drinkies we used to play volley ball every evening. When I first arrived at the Gaat there was a Navy landrover left over from when they were there, Its anybodies guess why it was there as it could go nowhere, It was finally removed by the Navy but thats another story. My nickname was Swede I was a 19 year old engine mechanic at the time. If you would like some photos please pm your e-mail address and I will forward some to you. Will shortly be putting the photos on here as have photos of fellow staff at Nanga Gaat whos names escape me. Oh by the way the pads were psp with a large log at the rear of the pans which was a fixed chock.Finally also have photos of the Blue Peter team who paid us a visit in 1966.
I was stationed at Nanga Gaat for many periods between October 1965 and August 1966 when I was one of the small party who closed Nanga Gaat down. I have some old slides of Nanga Gaat both from the air and on the ground, personnel and Helicopters, Whirlwind, Belvederes and I believe an Army Scout. My work dress was KD shorts and flip flops, and night time attire was a sarong and shirt for drinkies in the Anchor bar. Between work and drinkies we used to play volley ball every evening. When I first arrived at the Gaat there was a Navy landrover left over from when they were there, Its anybodies guess why it was there as it could go nowhere, It was finally removed by the Navy but thats another story. My nickname was Swede I was a 19 year old engine mechanic at the time. If you would like some photos please pm your e-mail address and I will forward some to you. Will shortly be putting the photos on here as have photos of fellow staff at Nanga Gaat whos names escape me. Oh by the way the pads were psp with a large log at the rear of the pans which was a fixed chock.Finally also have photos of the Blue Peter team who paid us a visit in 1966.
