What about Tengah?
My first trip overseas after 3 years as a Halton brat, as a new corporal, was to RAF Butterworth to service our detached Sqdn of Canberras sent from Binbrook to bomb the Malay Communist rebels in the jungle. Half-way thru' we were sent back to UK as the Suez Canal epic was brewing. I flew on the jump seat of a Canberra all the way back as one of the servicing crew.
Soon after bombing the airfields in the Suez we were returned to Binbrook where I had a notice of an overseas posting...to Singapore. I went on the maiden voyage of the Oxfordshire and, after landing in Singapore, a group of us were given a train ticket and told to go to Butterworth....alamat!
I served at Butterworth on the 'transit aircraft servicing flight' and occasionally went to Penang (Glugor) to work on visiting Sunderlands. The Australian Air Force took over Butterworth and the later leader of the "Baron Knights' (another story) and I drove my 'pride and joy' Riley one and a half litre to Singapore...we stopped at RAF KL for a night. The road then was hairy and full of twists and we saw a few accidents, where we took some people to hospital.. There was also a possibility of hijack by rebels so they gave us machine guns, unfortunately, they didn't instruct us how to fire them so they lay in the back seat.
My post was to RAF Tengah to be a seconded member of the Malay Aux Air Force. We had a couple of Chipminks and would fly them at weekends. Our two RAF pilots instructed the potential aircrew while we lectured the ground crew during a couple of weeknights at Paya Lebar and then practical at Tengah on the weekend..I flew on the Chipmunk so often I was able to return to UK and easily get my PPL.
I think that must have been when Tengah started to get more active with fighter aircraft as we were sent to Seletar to do the same job on the far side of the runway...which had traffic lights.
Exciting times for a young 18-21 year old.
Soon after bombing the airfields in the Suez we were returned to Binbrook where I had a notice of an overseas posting...to Singapore. I went on the maiden voyage of the Oxfordshire and, after landing in Singapore, a group of us were given a train ticket and told to go to Butterworth....alamat!
I served at Butterworth on the 'transit aircraft servicing flight' and occasionally went to Penang (Glugor) to work on visiting Sunderlands. The Australian Air Force took over Butterworth and the later leader of the "Baron Knights' (another story) and I drove my 'pride and joy' Riley one and a half litre to Singapore...we stopped at RAF KL for a night. The road then was hairy and full of twists and we saw a few accidents, where we took some people to hospital.. There was also a possibility of hijack by rebels so they gave us machine guns, unfortunately, they didn't instruct us how to fire them so they lay in the back seat.
My post was to RAF Tengah to be a seconded member of the Malay Aux Air Force. We had a couple of Chipminks and would fly them at weekends. Our two RAF pilots instructed the potential aircrew while we lectured the ground crew during a couple of weeknights at Paya Lebar and then practical at Tengah on the weekend..I flew on the Chipmunk so often I was able to return to UK and easily get my PPL.
I think that must have been when Tengah started to get more active with fighter aircraft as we were sent to Seletar to do the same job on the far side of the runway...which had traffic lights.
Exciting times for a young 18-21 year old.
Last edited by Davita; 25th May 2018 at 14:35.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,810
Received 136 Likes
on
64 Posts
@ Blacksheep ... Oh, I remember Changi. It was where our controllers were sent when they couldn't cope with the pace and intensity of Tengah. I worked in Changi Tower for a couple of weeks with a colleague, training them on their shiny new PAR. It took quite a while, due to the lack of traffic 
@ roving ... no, furthest north I got was the public-funded fortnight’s mid-tour leave in the Cameron Highlands, where I discovered that Golf and MPN11 were not natural companions
@ roving ... no, furthest north I got was the public-funded fortnight’s mid-tour leave in the Cameron Highlands, where I discovered that Golf and MPN11 were not natural companions
I arrived at Tengah in Oct 63 as a 19 Year old Pilot Officer Navigator on a Bomber squadron. The land of Tiger Beer (Tiger Tops is for wusses) and numerous schoolteachers. In two and a half years I learnt all my bad habits which stood me in good stead on the Tanker Force.
I can back up MPN11's assessment of "the pace and intensity" of Tengah ATC. One day, in a four ship of Canberras, we broke into the Visual Circuit as " Numbers7,8,9 and 10 Downwind with 4 in the Instrument Pattern". The traffic could vary from any/all of the Tengah based types plus a Single Engined Pioneer, a Beverley and a couple of FAA Buccaneers. Quite a range of airspeeds downwind.
"The pace and intensity" also applies to the Social life. Details of which can be read in my autobiography after the 50 year embargo has expired.
Flying was also amazing with most of it being at 250ft AGL over the 200 ft trees covering most of Malaysia. One attack profile was level at 60ft. It is "rumoured" that a Canberra hit two Flying Fish over China rock range. These days you would be grounded before your first 6 months was up!!
I can back up MPN11's assessment of "the pace and intensity" of Tengah ATC. One day, in a four ship of Canberras, we broke into the Visual Circuit as " Numbers7,8,9 and 10 Downwind with 4 in the Instrument Pattern". The traffic could vary from any/all of the Tengah based types plus a Single Engined Pioneer, a Beverley and a couple of FAA Buccaneers. Quite a range of airspeeds downwind.
"The pace and intensity" also applies to the Social life. Details of which can be read in my autobiography after the 50 year embargo has expired.
Flying was also amazing with most of it being at 250ft AGL over the 200 ft trees covering most of Malaysia. One attack profile was level at 60ft. It is "rumoured" that a Canberra hit two Flying Fish over China rock range. These days you would be grounded before your first 6 months was up!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,810
Received 136 Likes
on
64 Posts
Oh, getting Single Pins in amidst all the jet traffic was always ‘fun’. I recall telling one once to orbit the Officers Mess at 250ft .. “and I’ll call you back”! Or another one, on a rare brisk crosswind day, who I cleared to land effectively across the rw at the 36 threshold ... from where he gently taxied straight ahead into F Dispersal, where 20’s SPins lived in ‘69.
However, that’s enough ATC for now. Who else has printable Tengah memories?
However, that’s enough ATC for now. Who else has printable Tengah memories?
In July 64 the Navy were preparing for a major exercise. All the ships were giving cocktail parties before sailing. The Monday night party lead to invitations to the Tuesday night party on a different ship on 21 July. I duly arrived, clad in white DJ, with 3 lady schoolteachers, wearing low cut tropical Cocktail Dresses. The party continued normally until it was time to leave. One of the ladies was remaining overnight on the ship, so the other 3 of us left to go home. When we got to the North Gate we were told by a Sikh guard that the gate was closed because " All of the natives were revolting!". We went to the South gate where an RN Policeman told us that there were massive riots taking place and that a curfew was in place. We then went to the Wardroom for news and refreshments, quite a good impromptu party occured. Eventually we were told that the curfew was on over night.
I arranged for the ladies to stay in the RN Teachers Mess and, since there were no spare cabins, shared the settees in the Ladies Room with a Canadian and an Australian Lts. The first few Lt Cdrs to say " It's nice to see sombody dressing for Breakfast" were quite funny, but it did pall with repetition. The curfew had been lifted so I collected the ladies to take them home. We were stopped every few hundred yards by roadblocks manned by British, Gurkha and local forces. They all seemed to enjoy the low cut dresses of my companions! Late morning I arrived at the Mess and phoned the squadron, to be told to report as soon as I was ready.
At the squadron I was told to report to the boss's office. He said " I hear you are a bit of a ladies man." I replied " Possibly, Sir". " Good" he says "All of the station wives have come in to the Coffee Morning, and the curfew has been reimposed. You are the Convoy Commander to take them home. Get your pistol from the Armoury and report to the Regt Flight to meet your escort". At the Regt Flight I was briefed on the situation - which was that all of the husbands were confined to base and the wives were on base for the Coffee Morning, leaving the kids at home with the Amahs. The wives had to be got home in convoy sharing cars. The escort was a Plt Off and 15 Regt personnel. If we were stopped by rioters I was to deploy the troops to protect the dozen or so cars and occupants, and stand in front pointing my .38 pistol at " The Ringleader" and say "Halt or I Fire" three times. If the attack continued and I ordered "Open Fire" I was now standing between the rioters and 16 Regt firing Rifles or Sterling sub machine guns!!. In those days General Duties officers were required to carry out " General Duties", hence me as a 20 year old Navigator as Convoy Commander.
We successfully delivered several wives home before we got to a large hirings patch.We were then told that the riots had broken out in the patch and one of the wives, who was at home, had rung Tengah to ask if somebody could remove the head that had just come over the garden hedge. I sent one of the Landrovers and crews up Chestnut Drive to recce the situation before attempting to take the ladies home. Followed shortly thereafter by a Landrover giving a passable impression of a Formula One car on its return. The Sgt briefed me that there were "Fahsands of the F******" so I decided to take the ladies to the nearby Bukit Gombak GCI site, until it was safe to take them home. We delivered the other ladies home safely and were recalled to Tengah. I never saw any rioting but had to negotiate my way through several Police and military roadblocks, none of whom knew we were coming. That was my entire career as a soldier. It seems not a lot had changed since the " Virgin soldiers " days!
I arranged for the ladies to stay in the RN Teachers Mess and, since there were no spare cabins, shared the settees in the Ladies Room with a Canadian and an Australian Lts. The first few Lt Cdrs to say " It's nice to see sombody dressing for Breakfast" were quite funny, but it did pall with repetition. The curfew had been lifted so I collected the ladies to take them home. We were stopped every few hundred yards by roadblocks manned by British, Gurkha and local forces. They all seemed to enjoy the low cut dresses of my companions! Late morning I arrived at the Mess and phoned the squadron, to be told to report as soon as I was ready.
At the squadron I was told to report to the boss's office. He said " I hear you are a bit of a ladies man." I replied " Possibly, Sir". " Good" he says "All of the station wives have come in to the Coffee Morning, and the curfew has been reimposed. You are the Convoy Commander to take them home. Get your pistol from the Armoury and report to the Regt Flight to meet your escort". At the Regt Flight I was briefed on the situation - which was that all of the husbands were confined to base and the wives were on base for the Coffee Morning, leaving the kids at home with the Amahs. The wives had to be got home in convoy sharing cars. The escort was a Plt Off and 15 Regt personnel. If we were stopped by rioters I was to deploy the troops to protect the dozen or so cars and occupants, and stand in front pointing my .38 pistol at " The Ringleader" and say "Halt or I Fire" three times. If the attack continued and I ordered "Open Fire" I was now standing between the rioters and 16 Regt firing Rifles or Sterling sub machine guns!!. In those days General Duties officers were required to carry out " General Duties", hence me as a 20 year old Navigator as Convoy Commander.
We successfully delivered several wives home before we got to a large hirings patch.We were then told that the riots had broken out in the patch and one of the wives, who was at home, had rung Tengah to ask if somebody could remove the head that had just come over the garden hedge. I sent one of the Landrovers and crews up Chestnut Drive to recce the situation before attempting to take the ladies home. Followed shortly thereafter by a Landrover giving a passable impression of a Formula One car on its return. The Sgt briefed me that there were "Fahsands of the F******" so I decided to take the ladies to the nearby Bukit Gombak GCI site, until it was safe to take them home. We delivered the other ladies home safely and were recalled to Tengah. I never saw any rioting but had to negotiate my way through several Police and military roadblocks, none of whom knew we were coming. That was my entire career as a soldier. It seems not a lot had changed since the " Virgin soldiers " days!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,810
Received 136 Likes
on
64 Posts
Ah, Chestnut Drive and the hirings known as The Squash Courts! A quick Google Earth shows that they've been demolished and replaced by a large estate of something entirely different. Well, they were a rather strange design! Another bit of nostalgia gone - my girlfriend's parents lived there. And, my subsequent little hiring at 18 Jalan Selanting in Bukit Timah has also been replaced by a bigger/better property. Vandals!!
Your mention of the riots in 1964 has resonance. I guess it was 1968, when I was driving my 'topless Sprite' back from Kranji ranges after a morning out with the Stn shooting team. On the way, whilst passing through a village (Mandai?) I encountered a small crowd of protesters. I had little option but to floor the accelerator and get through as quickly as possible before they noticed me ... as I had half a dozen small-bore rifles in the boot!
Your mention of the riots in 1964 has resonance. I guess it was 1968, when I was driving my 'topless Sprite' back from Kranji ranges after a morning out with the Stn shooting team. On the way, whilst passing through a village (Mandai?) I encountered a small crowd of protesters. I had little option but to floor the accelerator and get through as quickly as possible before they noticed me ... as I had half a dozen small-bore rifles in the boot!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South of Old Warden
Age: 87
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I was detached to Tengah in ‘64 with 32 Sqdn. Most of it is now rather hazy but I do recall the FAA guys placing a Citroen 2 cv ( the CO’s staff car!) on the roof of the officers mess.
I was most impressed by the extravagant ‘Christmas bars’ and doing the rounds was most enjoyable
I was most impressed by the extravagant ‘Christmas bars’ and doing the rounds was most enjoyable
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: over the rainbow
Age: 75
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The only time I ever recall my dad being 'the worse for wear' was when he visited all the messes at KL on his leaving do.
When we arrived in KL in January 1956, we lived in a letting some distance from the Camp. I really liked it. I used to be transported in an Army truck to school, which was on an Army Camp known as Batu Cantonment.
When we eventually moved on to the R.A.F. Camp, I had a clear line of sight of the runway from the garden of the MQ, which was on the hill side above it. Saturdays in 1958 provided the highlight of the week. The scheduled passenger aircraft included a Bristol Britannia. I can smell the intoxicating perfume of its engines now.
When we arrived in KL in January 1956, we lived in a letting some distance from the Camp. I really liked it. I used to be transported in an Army truck to school, which was on an Army Camp known as Batu Cantonment.
When we eventually moved on to the R.A.F. Camp, I had a clear line of sight of the runway from the garden of the MQ, which was on the hill side above it. Saturdays in 1958 provided the highlight of the week. The scheduled passenger aircraft included a Bristol Britannia. I can smell the intoxicating perfume of its engines now.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: over the rainbow
Age: 75
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
goudie, a favourite of my mother's -- see photo above -- was Sandy Johnstone, a man of great charm. He was the founding father of the RMAF. Its pride and joy was a Twin Pioneer.
add:
This one.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/comm...-tourist-draw/
add:
This one.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/comm...-tourist-draw/
Last edited by roving; 29th May 2018 at 13:29. Reason: added link
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,810
Received 136 Likes
on
64 Posts
Ahem ... meanwhile, back at Tengah ... 
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,810
Received 136 Likes
on
64 Posts
BALLS. Towards the end (whimper) we had a very prolonged detachment of RAAF Mirages from Butterworth in 1969, as their runway was being resurfaced. To be more precise, Nos 3 and 75 Sqns RAAF moved in en masse, and operated their Mirage IIIs from Tengah for a couple of months or so. This event had a dramatic effect on Mess funds! So much so, in fact, that at a Mess Meeting it was considered that the under-used Mess tennis courts could be excavated and replaced by an Officers Mess Swimming Pool. This was generally regarded as a ‘Good Idea’, as it would save having to travel to the other side of the Stn to use the community pool.
And then Politics intervened, with the “Withdrawal from East of Suez”. Tengah’s days were numbered, the Pool became a bad idea. A further Mess Meeting was convened to determine what to do with the accumulated largesse kindly provided by our RAAF mates’ drinking habits. “Decision: It was agreed that a Ball would be held, at no cost to Mess Members and Guests attending.” It was a belter!! Bands of various types here there and everywhere, including the Gurkha Signals Pipe Band. Food and drink in profusion, enhanced by half a dozen Makan Stalls imported from downtown to provide constant nourishment inbetween the main dining offering (they were installed on the croquet pitch). The RAAF flew in by Mirage, with wives/squeezes/etc coming by RAAF Dakotas.
It was an amazing night of festivity and comradeship, helping slightly to overcome the fact that we were approaching the end of an era.
When the Ghurka Pipers had finished their performance I went across and asked, through their officer, how they ended up as Pipers. I was told by one Piper, “They came along the line and said ... Signaller, Driver, Piper, Signaller ... I became a Piper, Sir!” With the officer’s permission, I swapped a Mess Kit button with ‘my’ Piper. I’m not sure who was most pleased (although I was told he was thrilled to have an RAF Officer’s button) but that Gurkha button still lives on my Mess Kit link to this day.
And then Politics intervened, with the “Withdrawal from East of Suez”. Tengah’s days were numbered, the Pool became a bad idea. A further Mess Meeting was convened to determine what to do with the accumulated largesse kindly provided by our RAAF mates’ drinking habits. “Decision: It was agreed that a Ball would be held, at no cost to Mess Members and Guests attending.” It was a belter!! Bands of various types here there and everywhere, including the Gurkha Signals Pipe Band. Food and drink in profusion, enhanced by half a dozen Makan Stalls imported from downtown to provide constant nourishment inbetween the main dining offering (they were installed on the croquet pitch). The RAAF flew in by Mirage, with wives/squeezes/etc coming by RAAF Dakotas.
It was an amazing night of festivity and comradeship, helping slightly to overcome the fact that we were approaching the end of an era.
When the Ghurka Pipers had finished their performance I went across and asked, through their officer, how they ended up as Pipers. I was told by one Piper, “They came along the line and said ... Signaller, Driver, Piper, Signaller ... I became a Piper, Sir!” With the officer’s permission, I swapped a Mess Kit button with ‘my’ Piper. I’m not sure who was most pleased (although I was told he was thrilled to have an RAF Officer’s button) but that Gurkha button still lives on my Mess Kit link to this day.
Last edited by MPN11; 29th May 2018 at 16:34.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,810
Received 136 Likes
on
64 Posts
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: over the rainbow
Age: 75
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MPN11
Was this crash during your time in Tengah?
The BoI must have been difficult for all involved.
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=143816
Was this crash during your time in Tengah?
The BoI must have been difficult for all involved.
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=143816
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,810
Received 136 Likes
on
64 Posts
Yes, roving. Indeed I knew Frank W fairly well ... I have a couple of photos of him in my albums. A very sad event, and IMO un-necessary. I could add other comments, but that would be disrespectful.
At the time there was an opinion that he tried to fly it out of the super-stall using power, instead of just grabbing the stripey handle. I am in no position to comment on that.
We lost a few, although thankfully less than a handful in my time. Peter (?) T was the only other fatal I can remember (reheat bay fire, ejected too late downwind on his first F.6 trip on 74). I had met him for the first time the night before.
Athough a few bent airframes did occur on or adjacent to the airfield ... including Pete Squire’s VERY late ejection over Tengah Village when I was doing Local. His ‘chute deployed just as he reached the tree-line. As he said in the Bar later, “The chute deployed, the harness snapped, my visor dropped down, and as I reached up to lift it ... I hit the ground.”
At the time there was an opinion that he tried to fly it out of the super-stall using power, instead of just grabbing the stripey handle. I am in no position to comment on that.
We lost a few, although thankfully less than a handful in my time. Peter (?) T was the only other fatal I can remember (reheat bay fire, ejected too late downwind on his first F.6 trip on 74). I had met him for the first time the night before.
Athough a few bent airframes did occur on or adjacent to the airfield ... including Pete Squire’s VERY late ejection over Tengah Village when I was doing Local. His ‘chute deployed just as he reached the tree-line. As he said in the Bar later, “The chute deployed, the harness snapped, my visor dropped down, and as I reached up to lift it ... I hit the ground.”
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: over the rainbow
Age: 75
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts