Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK East Anglia
Age: 66
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
leaflets
Prompted by this mornings news about the new Pyops Brigade: When was the last time any of you airdropped leaflets? I know they were dropped during the movement of the turbine up to Kajaki dam.
On the latest Changi chapter. We staged through there on the way to KL. Britannia in VC10 out 67 - 70.
The pictures of the old buildings remind me of my boarding house (Kinloss housed and Bourne School) Kinloss house had been an Army Officers mess and was latterly used by the Singapore Police as a training establishment.
Wind forward to 2000 and something. I sat at my desk at Wyton. 4 seats away was an old school chum from KL and Kinloss house. We shared photos of the era. He was fortunate enough to have gone back in the 90s and taken similar photos of our dormitories etc in a similar vain to those above.
Small world.
On the latest Changi chapter. We staged through there on the way to KL. Britannia in VC10 out 67 - 70.
The pictures of the old buildings remind me of my boarding house (Kinloss housed and Bourne School) Kinloss house had been an Army Officers mess and was latterly used by the Singapore Police as a training establishment.
Wind forward to 2000 and something. I sat at my desk at Wyton. 4 seats away was an old school chum from KL and Kinloss house. We shared photos of the era. He was fortunate enough to have gone back in the 90s and taken similar photos of our dormitories etc in a similar vain to those above.
Small world.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Changi again.......
Thanks for that dragartist,
With today's depleted Air Force, we tend to forget just how big some of the overseas bases were. Take Akrotiri and Changi for example - thousands of personnel and lots of aircraft. Both bases had their own transport squadrons.
Have a look at this picture of the Airmens Swimming Pool on Turnhouse Rd:
This was a large, modern, facility which - in the late 60's - would have been the envy of any military base. I took the pic in 2009. Singapore Airlines used it for dinghy drill for a while, but that was years ago. The red roofed buildings in the background are the Yacht Club.
Changi had two periods of major construction. One was in the mid 1930s and the second was after the Second World War.
According to a plaque over the front porch, Fairy Point Officers Mess was built in 1935 and this building, on Turnhouse Rd, has a plaque dated 1934.
According to the Changi map, this was the Chalet Club:
It is now a fish restaurant.
Last picture for today........the sports pavilion on the Padang Sports Field:
I bet a few of you have memories of that.
With today's depleted Air Force, we tend to forget just how big some of the overseas bases were. Take Akrotiri and Changi for example - thousands of personnel and lots of aircraft. Both bases had their own transport squadrons.
Have a look at this picture of the Airmens Swimming Pool on Turnhouse Rd:
This was a large, modern, facility which - in the late 60's - would have been the envy of any military base. I took the pic in 2009. Singapore Airlines used it for dinghy drill for a while, but that was years ago. The red roofed buildings in the background are the Yacht Club.
Changi had two periods of major construction. One was in the mid 1930s and the second was after the Second World War.
According to a plaque over the front porch, Fairy Point Officers Mess was built in 1935 and this building, on Turnhouse Rd, has a plaque dated 1934.
According to the Changi map, this was the Chalet Club:
It is now a fish restaurant.
Last picture for today........the sports pavilion on the Padang Sports Field:
I bet a few of you have memories of that.
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK East Anglia
Age: 66
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kilwhang,
I would have swam in that pool around 1969. Our normal haunt some evenings and most week ends was the one at Tanglin Army barracks, or Tengah. One of my Dads mates at Tengah would occasionally put me up for the weekend where we would visit the Brit club, Pool and the slot car racing circuit.
Most of all I enjoyed the jungle on the mainland
I would have swam in that pool around 1969. Our normal haunt some evenings and most week ends was the one at Tanglin Army barracks, or Tengah. One of my Dads mates at Tengah would occasionally put me up for the weekend where we would visit the Brit club, Pool and the slot car racing circuit.
Most of all I enjoyed the jungle on the mainland
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Mainjafad ... many thanks for your info @2386 
I believe the Bloodhound was deployed with 65 Squadron based out of RAF Seletar, Singapore. When the RAF pulled out in 1968, I believe Singapore bought the entire Bloodhound assets of 65 Squadron to form part of their then Air Defence System.
Best ...
Coff.
I believe the Bloodhound was deployed with 65 Squadron based out of RAF Seletar, Singapore. When the RAF pulled out in 1968, I believe Singapore bought the entire Bloodhound assets of 65 Squadron to form part of their then Air Defence System.
Best ...
Coff.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bloodhound
In 1976 or '77 I spent 10 days shuttling between Angelholm in Sweden and Marham. The Swedes had updated their Air Defence System and didn't want to keep their Bloodhounds. The RAF bought them back and we transported them.
The best bit of the trip was that we were based in Sweden and did 2 hour turnarounds in Marham
The best bit of the trip was that we were based in Sweden and did 2 hour turnarounds in Marham
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: uk
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
http://www.singas.co.uk/changi/changiswimmingpool1.jpg
This is the Airmans pool I remember from 1966.
This is the Airmans pool I remember from 1966.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
kaitakabowler,
That is a great website, with a detailed map of the Transit Hotel for those interested.
I remember when the Society came to SIN in 2008. I met some of them when they were having the meal and presentation. As I'm sure you know, they presented the village with a Comet on a plinth which stands at the corner of Village Rd and Telok Paku Rd.
By the way, did the Society know that the Comet would be positioned outside two girlie bars?
That is a great website, with a detailed map of the Transit Hotel for those interested.
I remember when the Society came to SIN in 2008. I met some of them when they were having the meal and presentation. As I'm sure you know, they presented the village with a Comet on a plinth which stands at the corner of Village Rd and Telok Paku Rd.
By the way, did the Society know that the Comet would be positioned outside two girlie bars?
kaitakbowler,
thanks for the pic. That is where my daughter learned to swim during our tour at Changi. Some wonderful memory stirring pics now appearing of what was IMHO the best tour on the 'K'.
thanks for the pic. That is where my daughter learned to swim during our tour at Changi. Some wonderful memory stirring pics now appearing of what was IMHO the best tour on the 'K'.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not much of a surprise but the Comet on the corner of Changi high street is now in a very run down state which is a shame but time marches on I guess.
I have a few pics of Changi which I will post should the Changi interest continue.
I have a few pics of Changi which I will post should the Changi interest continue.
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Erewhon
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
KaiTakbowler
I learned to swim in that pool at Changi in 1964 (Scaley Brat). We were accomodated at Changi Creek until my dad got his ex-officio quarter at Tengah (he was incoming SWO).
Ah memories . . .
Ah memories . . .
kilwahang,
not sure how many we had on strength during my tour but there are 14 different frames recorded in my log book from that time. This of course does not mean we had 14 on strength as some may have replaced earlier a/c that were sent back to the UK. For example on 15 Jan 1971 we airtested XV179 and then on set off for the UK on 17 Jan via Gan, Muharraq, and Akrotiri. The captain was a F/O ! We all returned back to Changi on a VC10.
not sure how many we had on strength during my tour but there are 14 different frames recorded in my log book from that time. This of course does not mean we had 14 on strength as some may have replaced earlier a/c that were sent back to the UK. For example on 15 Jan 1971 we airtested XV179 and then on set off for the UK on 17 Jan via Gan, Muharraq, and Akrotiri. The captain was a F/O ! We all returned back to Changi on a VC10.
When 48 reformed with the Herc' we had 12 a/c, XV198-209 inclusive. In my time there up to Oct' 69 the only replacement received was 307 - not sure which airframe it replaced.
Upgently - good to see your post, love the picture of the flightline. Did you receive my email from before Christmas?
Upgently - good to see your post, love the picture of the flightline. Did you receive my email from before Christmas?
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 2nd Feb 2015 at 15:07. Reason: Addition
