Is this RAF Kallang?
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C2j,
They have more important things to think about. Last week I saw a poster on Orchard Road, outside Tangs. They are sponsoring "LKY - The Musical"
They have more important things to think about. Last week I saw a poster on Orchard Road, outside Tangs. They are sponsoring "LKY - The Musical"
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Saw this link on another forum. Searched for an appropriate thread to post in and most were 4+ years old! LOL.
http://kiantecksan.wix.com/rafinsingapore#!images/ckiy
Click on th first Beverly image and then scroll through.
C2j
http://kiantecksan.wix.com/rafinsingapore#!images/ckiy
Click on th first Beverly image and then scroll through.
C2j
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There is, of course, no chance that the original shot could be Seletar with the Sunderland slipway on the bottom left?
That would make the strip in the distance Tengah.
Just a thought?
G'day
That would make the strip in the distance Tengah.
Just a thought?
G'day
There is, of course, no chance that the original shot could be Seletar with the Sunderland slipway on the bottom left ?
If you're referrring to the OP by I42 – You are correct. I think we have defo established its Changi. – Looking towards the NW and the Johore strait. The AWM has been informed of their watermark misident.
If you're referring to Dave Reids pic Post 3, you are again correct, that's defo Kallang, looking towards the north from over Singapore harbour.
Here's a pic of Seletar in the 50s - Looking towards the south west down runway 20, with the flying boat anchorage in the Johore strait at bottom left. I don't think Seletar ever had more than one paved runway.
The runway at Seletar has recently been extended from about 4800 ft to about 6000 and the airport is planned to be significantly upgraded to handle more commercial airline flights up to 737 size, in addition to the bizjets etc., taking pressure off Changi Int. I rather think Changi Int plc owns Seletar. The north end of the runway used to terminate at water's edge (as in the pic) but is now well inland after the construction (by reclamation) of Pulau Punggol Barat.
HTH ...... LFH
Last edited by Lordflasheart; 8th Jul 2015 at 19:09. Reason: clarification
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"Last week I saw a poster on Orchard Road, outside Tangs. They are sponsoring "LKY - The Musical""
Ye Gods!!!!! I'll wait 'till it makes it to the West End I think
Is it written by Lord LLLLoyyyddd Webber??
Ye Gods!!!!! I'll wait 'till it makes it to the West End I think
Is it written by Lord LLLLoyyyddd Webber??
"Last week I saw a poster on Orchard Road, outside Tangs. They are sponsoring "LKY - The Musical""
Ye Gods!!!!! I'll wait 'till it makes it to the West End I think
Is it written by Lord LLLLoyyyddd Webber??
Ye Gods!!!!! I'll wait 'till it makes it to the West End I think
Is it written by Lord LLLLoyyyddd Webber??
What's LKY's favourite color ? ...... LFH
Thread Starter
Ye Gods!!!!! I'll wait 'till it makes it to the West End I think
Here's what to look out for.
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My father worked for the original Malayan Airways - operating DC3 Dakota in the early 50's as a result I have flown out of and landed at all three civil airports - my first flight out of Kalang was in a Tiger Moth about 1952 - my next Tiger flight was last year!
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Kallang
It was never "RAF Kallang", Kallang Airport was Singapore's first purposed-built civilian airport whereas RAF Seletar was the first purpose-built airfield/aerodrome in Singapore. Prior to the opening of Seletar, aircraft used the race course for landing and takeoff.
Despite the major changes that have taken place across the whole of Singapore the seaplane ramp at Seletar is still there (although it's in a military facility and therefore off-limits to the public) and can be seen on Google Earth etc.
"By George's" comments in his Post #15 that his old school is now a brewery can be compared to the fact that the old Guardroom at RAF Seletar (now known as Seletar Aerospace Park) is now a kindergarten - oh the irony!
Despite the major changes that have taken place across the whole of Singapore the seaplane ramp at Seletar is still there (although it's in a military facility and therefore off-limits to the public) and can be seen on Google Earth etc.
"By George's" comments in his Post #15 that his old school is now a brewery can be compared to the fact that the old Guardroom at RAF Seletar (now known as Seletar Aerospace Park) is now a kindergarten - oh the irony!
Hello Saint J.
I suggest that it would certainly have been 'RAF Kallang' from some time in 1941 until the surrender to the Japanese in February 1942, and from the end of WWII until sometime in (say) 1946 when RAF Changi became useable/operational. During those two periods, it seems Kallang was used operationally and controlled exclusively by the RAF, making it de facto "RAF ..." I would have little doubt that the site would have had a perimeter fence and appropriate RAF signboards etc. I have also seen it reported that RAF Kallang did not revert to civilian control until 1949, though obviously accepting 'civilian' aircraft from late 1945. The Australians seem to prefer the title 'Kalang Aerodrome' or 'Kalang Airstrip.'
This from Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallang_Airport
and ............
I am led to believe the runway at Kallang was built by the Japanese, and that the airfield was under the control of the Japanese Army Air Force. The airfields in the north of the island - Tengah, Seletar and Sembawang, were apparently controlled by the Japanese Navy. As Changi was also north of the 'Army/Navy demarcation line' perhaps it too was Navy. I got the impression Changi was barely operational by war's end.
HTH ......... LFH
I suggest that it would certainly have been 'RAF Kallang' from some time in 1941 until the surrender to the Japanese in February 1942, and from the end of WWII until sometime in (say) 1946 when RAF Changi became useable/operational. During those two periods, it seems Kallang was used operationally and controlled exclusively by the RAF, making it de facto "RAF ..." I would have little doubt that the site would have had a perimeter fence and appropriate RAF signboards etc. I have also seen it reported that RAF Kallang did not revert to civilian control until 1949, though obviously accepting 'civilian' aircraft from late 1945. The Australians seem to prefer the title 'Kalang Aerodrome' or 'Kalang Airstrip.'
This from Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallang_Airport
The Kallang Airport also known as the Kallang Aerodrome, Kallang Airfield and RAF Kallang,
When the Japanese launched their invasion of Malaya and Singapore on 8 December 1941, Kallang was the principal fighter airfield. By January 1942, it was the only operational fighter airfield in Singapore, as the other airfields (Tengah, Seletar and Sembawang) were within range of Japanese artillery at Johore Bahru.
Brewster Buffalo fighters of 243 Squadron RAF, 488 Squadron RNZAF and a detachment of 2-VLG-V of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force operated from the airfield, defending Singapore from repeated Japanese air raids. They were joined later by Hawker Hurricanes of 232 Squadron RAF, but attrition took a steady toll on men and machines, and by the last days of January 1942, the airfield had been badly damaged by the bombing and only a small number of aircraft were serviceable. The last of the fighters left in early February, escaping to carry on the fight just before Singapore was surrendered to the advancing Japanese.
Brewster Buffalo fighters of 243 Squadron RAF, 488 Squadron RNZAF and a detachment of 2-VLG-V of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force operated from the airfield, defending Singapore from repeated Japanese air raids. They were joined later by Hawker Hurricanes of 232 Squadron RAF, but attrition took a steady toll on men and machines, and by the last days of January 1942, the airfield had been badly damaged by the bombing and only a small number of aircraft were serviceable. The last of the fighters left in early February, escaping to carry on the fight just before Singapore was surrendered to the advancing Japanese.
HTH ......... LFH
From "Action Stations - Overseas":
"Two of the first RAF units to be based at the airport (Kallang) were 11 and 39 Sqns, both flying Blenheim Is, which were sent from India to reinforce the Far East Command in September 1939............
"Early in the following year (1940), Kallang became a fighter base when 67 and 243 Sqns both reformed here with Brewster Buffalos...........
"At the end of the Pacific war it was, purely by chance, at Kallang that the first British personnel set foot in Singapore. On the morning of 31 August 1945, some days before the actual signing of the Japanese surrender document, a PR Mosquito of 684 Sqn (landed at Kallang with engine trouble). The crew received a friendly reception from the Japanese who produced RAF engineers to effect the necessary repairs......
"The first administrative body to move in formally after the war was 903 Wing (part of HQ 224 Group) which in effect formed RAF Kallang. No 31 Sqn arrived from Burma with its Dakotas in September, 1945.........
"The RAF, for its part, decided to hand over its interests at Kallang to the Singapore Government and to concentrate its transport aircraft operations at Changi (in 1955).....
Hope that helps.
"Two of the first RAF units to be based at the airport (Kallang) were 11 and 39 Sqns, both flying Blenheim Is, which were sent from India to reinforce the Far East Command in September 1939............
"Early in the following year (1940), Kallang became a fighter base when 67 and 243 Sqns both reformed here with Brewster Buffalos...........
"At the end of the Pacific war it was, purely by chance, at Kallang that the first British personnel set foot in Singapore. On the morning of 31 August 1945, some days before the actual signing of the Japanese surrender document, a PR Mosquito of 684 Sqn (landed at Kallang with engine trouble). The crew received a friendly reception from the Japanese who produced RAF engineers to effect the necessary repairs......
"The first administrative body to move in formally after the war was 903 Wing (part of HQ 224 Group) which in effect formed RAF Kallang. No 31 Sqn arrived from Burma with its Dakotas in September, 1945.........
"The RAF, for its part, decided to hand over its interests at Kallang to the Singapore Government and to concentrate its transport aircraft operations at Changi (in 1955).....
Hope that helps.
