RAF CHANGI ASSOCIATION including HQ FEAF

RAF CHANGI ASSOCIATION

including HQ FEAFAugust 2019 Issue No. 70

Changi-ite Newsletter 2 August 2019

Chairman/Archivist: John Dicks

4 Langley Crescent, Kings Langley, Herts. WD4 8EW. Tel: 01923 400221

[email protected]

Founding Member/Newsletter Distributor: Mike James

12 Shiners Elms, Yatton, Bristol BS49 4BY. Tel: 01934 833170

[email protected]

Secretary/Regalia Officer: Pat Holt

14 Burrowfields, Basingstoke, Hants RG22 4XJ. Tel: 01256 477253

[email protected]

Treasurer: Richard Collins

115 Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex CM0 8HQ. Tel: 01621 785096

[email protected]

Newsletter Editor: Les Davies

4 The Bryceway, Liverpool L12 3HJ. Tel: 0151 228 9874

[email protected]

Membership Secretary: Malcolm Flack

14 Highfield Close, Amersham, Bucks. HP6 6HG. Tel: 01494 728562

[email protected]

Publicity/Press Officer: Brian Lloyd

Apartment 26, Hardy Lodge, Coppice Street,, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8GY

Tel: 01747 850898 • [email protected]

Webmaster: Tony Holt

14 Burrowfields, Basingstoke, Hants RG22 4XJ. Tel: 01256 477253

[email protected]

Reunion Liaison Officer: Peter Mersh

24 Asher Reeds, Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0AN Tel: 01892 862643

[email protected]

Overseas Liaison Officers

Iberia: Brian Morgan Tel: 0034 952 196446 • [email protected]

Australia: David A. Wood Tel: 0402 195390 • [email protected]

New Zealand: Brian Churcher Tel: 0064 7 549 4230 • [email protected]

Singapore: Lim Tow Soon Tel: 0065 9647 2953 • [email protected]

RAF Changi Association(Including HQ FEAF)

Founded May 1996

The aim of the RAF Changi Association is to bring together all thosewho were stationed at RAF Changi (including HQ FEAF) Singapore,

in order to renew old friendships and make new ones.www.rafchangi.com

© RAF Changi Association. No part of this Newsletter may be reproduced in any form or by any means, graphic, electronicor mechanical, including photocopying, without the prior written or verbal consent of the chairman or secretary.

August 2019 3 Changi-ite Newsletter

Many thanks to all the members and friends who kept Tony and myself busywith the raffle tickets at the Reunion. People seemed pleased with all theitems I had bought for this.

Margaret Dicks, the winner of the table prize was very happy with thehand made coasters that she won.

Because of hospital visits for both Tony and myself, it is possible thatthe Regalia Shop will be closed at some time, but notice will be put on the rafchangi.com websiteas and when that happens. Pat Holt (Secretary)

The year started off very quietly as far as enquiries and new members go.However, March through to June eventually has brought four new membersand, including in mid-June, a surprise telephone call from a nanogenarianwanting to be a member – only just having heard about the ChangiAssociation and who was scheduled in the ensuing days to be flying off tovisit Changi with his family. Let’s hope the trip was successful and maybe

we shall hear all about it in due course.Sadly we are still learning of the demise of many of our members as you will see in the

Obituary Listing. This then leaves the membership total now at the end of June at 805, which isvery close to my previous report prediction.

May I remind members that the accuracy of the Association Database is dependent on thereceipt of any changes in membership details, such as changes of Address, Telephone Numbersand E-mail addresses. So remember, if these are wrong, not only will you miss out on potentialfriendship contacts, but your Newsletter may go astray!

Malcolm Flack (Membership Secretary)

Unfortunately, we are unable to include a report from John Dicks, ourChairman, in this issue.

Sadly, John recently suffered two mini strokes and was admitted tohospital. Although he is now back in his home, I felt it would be animposition to ask him to submit his usual report.

We offer John our good wishes and send vibes for a speedy recovery tofull health! We look forward to seeing him “back in the saddle” very soon.

Take care, John!

Chairman/Archivist’s Report

Secretary’s Report

THE Singapore Bicen-tennial in 2019 marksthe 200th anniversaryof Sir Stamford Raffles’arrival in Singapore – akey milestone in the country’s richhistory; and each of us are in someway a small part of that history as,indeed, their beautiful country hasbeen a small but memorable partof our own lives.

I feel confident their successwill continue for many more yearsto come.

The Annual Reunion in Notting-ham proved extremely successfuland it was good to see that DavidWood, our Australia LiaisonOfficer, had made the long trip tobe present. Well done, David!

Thanks must go to Peter Mersh,the Association’s liaison officerand also the hotel staff. It was myfirst visit to this venue and itproved a good experience. Once Ihave discovered the correct buttonto press in the lift to get me to theright floor, it will be even better.

The Saturday trip into Lincolnwas memorable and our visit toBomber Command outstanding,enhanced by the knowledge andpresentation of an extremely goodtour guide.

Your contributions for inclusionin the Newsletter have been sparseto put it mildly, accompanied by adearth of letters. I know postalrates have risen sharply sinceprivatisation, guys, but rememberthat members’ contributions arethe lifeblood of our magazine!Let’s try and make it a ‘bumper’Christmas Newsletter. Finally, mythanks to all those who didsubscribe to this issue.

Les Davies (Editor)

EDITORIAL

CONTENTSCommittee Reports......................3Annual Reunion 2019 ..................4/5Postcards from the Past..................6Searchline .................................7The Shackleton Boys .....................8Memories from the 1940s ...............9Your Letters...........................10/11Britain’s Secret Vietnam Missions ...12Bukit Timah Races ......................13A Flight Engineer’s Tale ............14/15The Cunning Dragons ..............16/17Singapore Bicentennial ................18New Members/Obituaries/Cenotaph .19Regalia Shop ............................20

Membership Secretary’s Report

The Association’s audited accounts for 2018 were presented at the AnnualGeneral Meeting on Sunday, 12th May 2019.

The Association continues to be in a sound financial state. Expenditurefor the year exceeded income by £1109. This was almost entirely due to theincreased postage caused by the GDPR exercise so ably managed by ourMembership Secretary, Malcolm Flack.

Income from membership fell this year from £9400 in 2017 to £8928, a continuing trend. Itis a sad fact that income from subscriptions will continue to reduce over the years. A very roughcalculation shows that our membership could reduce to around 400 in five years or so when wemay have to consider the future of the Association. Other expenditure across the board remainedbroadly in line with that of 2018.

Regalia, now incorporated in the main account, shows an excess of income over expenditureof £713. Well done to Secretary and Regalia Officer Pat Holt.

Funds held in the bank at the end of 2018 were £49 in the Current Account and £27,067 inthe Capital Deposit Account .

A full summary of the accounts is available to members on request to the Treasurer.Richard Collins (Hon. Treasurer)

Treasurer’s Report Financial Year 2018


IN early May we returned toNottingham for our second visit to

the Novotel for our Annual Reunionand AGM. Attendance dropped from114 last year to 94 this time, but thisis most likely an inevitable trend sinceour membership numbers aregradually depleting.

It’s not every year that we have amember from ‘down under’ joiningus, but our Australian liaison officer,David Wood, made the long journeyand we were all extremely pleased toextend a particularly warm welcometo him.

David’s trip seemed all the moreworthwhile since he was able to meetup with one of his airframe mechanicfriends who had stayed in Block 144(ground) at the same time as he did.

Unlike last year there was no artexhibition on at the hotel, so thingswere much easier to arrange.

e Gala Dinner on the Saturdaynight followed the usual format andwas regarded as a great success bymost of those present.

e traditional raffle followed thedinner with, as always, a variedselection of prizes purchased by Patduring the year. Ticket sales totalled£420.

Saturday’s excursion was to theInternational Bomber Command

Centre and Lincoln city centre. eSunday trip was a River Trent cruise(with cream tea). It had originallybeen planned for last year but wascancelled for reasons beyond ourcontrol.

At the AGM on Sunday morninga show of hands clearly indicated adesire to come back here again nextyear. At this point it was pointed outby a member that there was a proposalto shift the Mayday bank holidayfrom Monday 4th to Friday 8th tocommemorate the 75th Anniversaryof VE Day. In view of the uncertaintywe decided to avoid both weekendsby arranging our 2020 Reunion forthe 15th to 18th May. egovernment eventually confirmed thechange of date about a month later.

Royal Air Force Changi Association

23rd ANNUAL REUNIONheld at the Novotel, Nottingham, from 10th to 13th May 2019

Report and picturesby Tony Holt

Vanessa from Isle of Wight Tours welcomes guests at the hotel’s reception desk while Pat is busy selling raffle tickets.


RAFCA

23rd

Annual

Reunion


Postcards from the pastCompiled by Mike James

View of Penang Road, Penang (1960s). Courtesy Mike Horwood (M63)

Aerial View of Telok Ayer Basin, (1950s). Courtesy of Malcolm Flack (M119)


Searchline

No. 70

Compiled by Brian Lloyd(Please respond directly to: [email protected])

1. SGT. L. HAY 3033105. Vague enquiry from

someone who found some old newspapers. No

other information available.

2. JOSEPH (Jude) MELLON. Flight Sgt.

Family enquiry. No other information to hand. Any

Memories?

3. OWEN MASTERS M2447. Clerk 57/58,

Personnel. Part served at Seletar. Taught Sunday

School at Trafalgar Home Leprosy Colony. Did you

do any similar charity work off site? Including

Scouts, Cubs and Girl Guides; any rewarding

memories?

4. MT Section. Where are they now? Circa

1963/64. See picture at bottom of page, taken after

wedding of Tony Robinson. Note Fancy dress. Can

you name any of the people in the picture or know

of their present locations. All are from Block 128.

Picture provided by Association Member Bev

Steed (M348). Pictured (from left to right):

Unknown, ‘Chalky’ White, Bev Steed, Unknown,

Tony Robinson (Bridegroom) and John Palmer.

5. JAMES PARRY, J/T, known as Jim. Where is

he now? Early 1960s at CCS, ‘D’ watch. Resided

in Block 128 (top).

6. SPITFIRE TP205. Had an enquiry. Does any

member have a picture of the aircraft? Apparently

a Gate Guard.

7. JOHN BENTLEY 1946-1948. Was M1521.

Deceased. Played football in RAF Malayan

Football League and were league winners in

1947. Family enquiry. John now deceased. Does

anybody have any memories of him?

8. LEN FLOWERS (1967-1969) Sgt. Dental

Section. Any memories or pictures. Family enquiry.


Dr. Steve Bond writes to Changi-ite . . .

The Shackleton Boys

Following the great success of the launch of Shackleton Boys (Volume 1) last year,please find attached details of the launch of Volume 2, covering all the squadronsbased overseas, which will again be held at the Newark Air Museum on 31 Augustand 1 September this year. Perhaps your Newsletter would be kind enough to bringthis to the attention of your members please. Thanks and best regards, Steve.

Enquiries to: Dr. Steve Bond PhD CEng FRAeS, Walnut Cottage,4 Pant Glas, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7HS

SURELY all of us will be aware that2019 marks the 70th anniversary

of the first flight of the prototypeShackleton, from Woodford, on 9thof March 1949. e pilot was AvroChief Test Pilot Jimmy Orrell,accompanied by co-pilot Sam Eslerand flight engineer Mr. A. Blake. eflight lasted for 33 minutes and wasquickly followed by a second,45-minute, flight. is year alsomarks the 35th anniversary of the lossof ‘Pelican 16’, the South African AirForce MR.3 that was force-landed inthe Sahara after engine failure whileon its way to England to take part inair shows, fortunately without injuryto the crew.

Last year (2018) saw the launch of

my book Shackleton Boys (Volume 1)(covering all the UK-based units) atNewark Air Museum, attended by 27chaps who had shared their stories forit and were signing copies, plusanother seven or eight ex-Shackpeople who came along with thecrowd. People had travelled from asfar away as France and Portugal to bethere. A good time was had by all inglorious weather and we were treatedto three magnificent flypasts by theBBMF Lancaster on the Saturday, andone of their Hurricanes on theSunday.Volume 2, which looks at all the

overseas-based RAF units plus theSouth African Air Force, is beinglaunched this year, once again with a

signing event at Newark Air Museum,on Saturday 31st August and Sunday1st September. So far a good numberof contributors have said they areplanning to be there, including twofrom South Africa.

is second volume is dedicated toRoy Chadwick, best known perhapsfor his design work on theManchester, Lancaster and Lincoln,but who also initiated the Shackletondesign a few months before hisuntimely death in an Avro Tudor testflight accident. I have been in touchwith his descendants and am hopingto persuade the family to berepresented at the launch and cut thebirthday cake!

Steve Bond


Clive Bentley, son offormer RAF ChangiAssociation member JohnBentley (M1521), nowdeceased, discoveredsome Changi memorabiliaamong his late father’sbelongings and kindlyforwarded copies to ourPublicity Officer, BrianLloyd. In the picture (topright) John is pictured thirdfrom the right on the frontrow.Below (bottom left):

Field Marshal Montgomeryis taken by car to board hisaircraft at Changi circa1946; and below (bottomright) the Sergeants’ MessChristmas Dinner Menu in1947.

ROYAL AIR FORCE MALAYA

Football League Winners 1947

A C F E

A trip down with your letters and photos to Changi-ite

READING John Dicks’ memories of‘Nasho’ made me think of my owntime.

I too had a deferment because ofan apprenticeship and was enlisted atthe age of 21.

I had also been a member of theATC, which gave me a slightadvantage, and had two olderbrothers, one who had served withthe RAF in Port Said and one whosigned up for life.

is gave me an advantage as towhat I could expect.

I must, in all honesty, say I reallyenjoyed my service time and when Igot my posting to Singapore I was sodelighted that instead of swatting forthe LAC exam I, along with twomates, went out to the pub tocelebrate: bad move!

When the results of the exam wereannounced every one had passedexcept the three of us.

After a short panic it was decidedthat we would have to sit the LACtest again, as we couldn’t go overseeswithout it.

After great embarrassment we allpassed and were on our way toheaven.

I’m quite sure that I couldn’t havehad a better posting and, as JohnDicks recalled, it also turned out to bethe best two years of my life. I feelsorry for the young men of today whodon’t get a chance to experience thesame adventures as we did.

Living in Australia is a great placeto be for travelling to Singapore, as it’sonly about eight hours’ flying time,one of our favourite places to visit.

Hope to see you all soon at theNottingham Annual Reunion.

David Wood (M2196)(Australian Liaison Officer)

We welcome your letters, whether they express concern, offer advice,present constructive criticism, or just recall happy memories or events from

Changi days. Please send your contributions to the editor by post or via emailto [email protected] and include your name and membership number.


I WAS pleasantly surprised to seethe photograph on page 17 of thelatest Changi-iteNewsletter as I wasat the Cost Analysis Section duringthe same period. I am enclosing aphotograph of a group ofsupporters of the ‘Lodgers’.

Unfortunately, due to chronicillness, I have not been able toparticipate in any of the RAFChangi Association’s activities but Isincerely appreciate my copy of theChangi-ite Newsletter.

William Allan (M2383)

AFTER turning out a couple ofdrawers the other day I came acrossthese two photographs (right). eywere taken in October 1971 just afew short weeks before thephenomenal Changi Air Base closedfor good.

Now 75 years old, I’m lookingback at a time long ago when I was 27years old; it came as quite a shock. Iam photographed with my Malaysiandriver (sadly I can’t remember hisname) and the Group shot is analmost complete RAF Police shift thatworked in that imposing guardroomwhich, I understand, has long sincebeen demolished.

Again, sadly names Ihave forgotten, buthopefully if you decide topublish my letter, some ofthe other members withbetter memories than minecan identify some of myformer comrades.

Keith Christian (M1390)

A neighbour of mine, Les Davies, was at Changi from September 1945 until his return tothe UK in April 1946. He was RAVR and travelled to Changi by ship with the RAF AirfieldConstruction Group with the original purpose of building an airfield in the Philippines for theAmericans. However, during the voyage the untimely dropping of a bomb forced the ship tobe diverted to Singapore. Mr Davies was a crane operator whose job was to lift the PSP, whichcame in huge rolls, and theoperation of a cutting machine.

The diversion of the shipturned out to be convenient forthe Allies since the items wereused to lay an airfield at Changirather than the Philippines.

Accommodation for allpersonnel at that time was intents on either side of the strip;these can be seen in thedistance in the picture (right).

B.W.L.


WHAT is an ‘Erk’? I would be mostgrateful if any member could give anexplanation. Research has left me per-plexed. It was a term frequently usedat square-bashing and I deemed it tobe a derogatory appellation orperhaps an alternative to “you ’orriblelittle man!” It is not listed in the OEDand the Urban Dictionary proved tobe of little help describing it to be“more like an onomatopoeia”(apparently a word used to describe asound). Other unreliable explanationsare: “a word to describe annoyance ordispleasure” (although I thought thatwould have been spelt ‘irk’) or,coupled with the word ‘jerk’, “slangfor E&J brandy” (whatever that is).

My parents taught me never to usea word unless I knew what it meantand I’ve always tried to follow thatrule. Research, however, was nottotally fruitless, since I can say withabsolute certainty that it is a validword in the game of Scrabble!

(Name and MembershipNumber supplied)

I FOUND the certificate (below)among my memorabilia and thoughtyou may like to use this in a futureedition of Changi -ite.

I am also a member of the RAOBhaving been initiated in Singapore in1957.

I do not know if this is particular

certificate is genuine; it was passed tome by a friend who knows I served atRAF Changi.

It looks hand made and if it isgenuine it would have to be. I hopeyou can use it since it may evokememories.

Leslie Kemp (M733)

Laying a new airfield at Changi in 1945

Please submit any items to be considered for inclusion in the Newsletter to

[email protected] and please include your membership number


Although response was light to our request in the April Newsletter forinformation from aircrew at Changi who could recall covert flights over Laos

during the second half of 1962, we did receive the following feedback.

Britain’s secret Vietnam missions

� In response to the story in page 12of the Changi-ite Newsletter No. 69,this offering might interest ProfessorRoberts since I believe it may suggestRAF involvement in covert Vietnammissions.

From 1963-65 I was stationed as anengine fitter with 48 SquadronHastings aircraft at RAF Changi. issometimes involved me in trips as‘flying spanner’ to service/fix theaircraft as best we could. We carriedboxes of bits which included sparemagnetos-spark plugs and a reel oflocking wire.

e picture (top right) shows thelogic for four engines, since magnetofailures over Calcutta were notuncommon.

Trips to Clark Field (American) inthe Philippines, Bangkok, Hong-Kong,Japan (Tachikawa, American base),New Zealand via Butterworth, CocosIslands.

On to Australia, Perth, EdinburghField, Sydney then to Whenuapai NZ.Also India, Madras, Bombay, NewDelhi, Calcutta, etc.

e second picture is Hastings TG612 at Zamboanga City - an

emergency diversion landing ground inthe Philippines. All this to demonstratethat 48 Squadron roamed about a lot.

Reading from my diary for 28thApril 1963: “From Changi, HastingsTG531 – stopped overnight in Bangkok;29th April 1963: “To Ubon Korat (NZ)+ (Yank) Bangkok again 1600-meal.T/O again1700 packed tight with yonxblokes and mountains of luggage. ArrivedChangi 10.30pm – home.”

e above diary is as I wrote it - andI have no idea what our passengerswere doing. It’s noisy in a Hastings.

e third picture down shows theoutpost in Korat. However, whatparticularly sticks in my mind were thelines of American aircraft on the mainairfield; but it was forbidden to takephotographs, because ‘they were notthere’. So that’s that!

e fourth picture shows theswampy terrain over which wesometimes flew and the bottom pictureis of Clark Field or Saigon (I can't besure which), but it was a stop/refuel/govisit. e aircraft door is guarded bycrew wireless-op Eric. Once again “nopictures”. Being naughty I did get a shotof the British Ambassador’s aircraft.

David Battye (M751)

DAVID BLOOMFIELD writes to us of an unusual incident regarding a Vulcan that landed atButterworth. David made several detachments to Butterworth from Seletar. In one he wasattached to 110 Squadron and during one weekend was called out to attend to a Vulcan bomberthat had holes in the underside, to be repaired as a matter of urgency. He, and others on the

job, were not told of the cause of the holes, and also were to remain quiet about them; and he has donesince 1961/62. It was thought the aircraft may have got too close to the Vietnam border. It was believed to befitted with cameras. A bit of a mystery this one. Robert Fleming, in his 2012 lecture at the National ArmyMuseum stated that Britain’s supposed non-involvement in the Vietnam War was something of a foreignpolicy oddity and mentions possible covert operations over Vietnam by the RAF. Vulcans, according to mysource, states that they were able to carry (in the bomb aimers compartment) the F95 aerial camera, initiallydesigned for taking high speed, low altitude oblique reconnaissance photographs.


THE SERVICE OF GROUP CAPTAIN GERALD EDWARD LIVOCKWITH FAR EAST FLIGHT NO. 2 IN AUSTRALIA 1928

� GROUP CAPTAIN GERALD EDWARD LIVOCKwas the first Officer Commanding No. 205 (MR)Squadron in Singapore on 28th Febuary 1928.

He was confirmed in his rank in 27th March 1915,and posted to HMS President, before finally seeing activeservice aboard the Seaplane tender HMS Engadine, basedat Rosyth, flying seaplanes on reconnaissance patrols overthe North Sea. On 28 June 1915 he was promoted toFlight Lieutenant. He was still at Rosyth during the Battleof Jutland on 31 May 1916, but was afterwards posted toRNAS Great Yarmouth to pilot flying Boats. On 30 June1917 he was promoted to flight Commander and receiveda mention in despatches on 1 October 1917.

On 1 April 1918, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)was merged with the Army’s Royal Flying Corps to formthe Royal Air Force, and the naval units at GreatYarmouth became No. 73 Wing RAF, in which Livockserved alongside Egbert Cadbury and Robert Leckie.Livock was promoted to the temporary rank of major on23 July 1918, and on 20 September was awarded the

Distinguished Flying Cross. His citation read:Captain (Temporary Major) Gerald Edward Livock

(Sea Patrol) has rendered valuable services on numerousoccasions on reconnaissance patrols in enemy waters, inattacks on hostile seaplanes, and in connection withanti-submarine patrol work.

On 1 January 1919 Livock received his secondmention in despatches “for distinguished service in warareas”. He was then attached to the North Russia RefliefForce, flying seaplanes from a base on Lake Onega, duringthe Russian Civil War and was again appointed atemporary major between 1 May and 29 June 1919.

Blast from the past Postmark C3 RAFChangi Singapore.The Disbandmentof No. 205 (M.R.)Squadron RAFflown in formationShackletons Mk. IIWR 952, WG 533and WR 966 fromTengah, Singapore,via Gan, Bahrain, Jedda, Akrotiri, Gibraltar, Plymouth toRAF St. Mawgan by Sqdn. Ldr. D. F. Wimble, Sqdn. Ldr.P. M. Stean and Flt. Lt. W. J. Howard.

Paddy Gough (M2363) remembers a day at the

Bukit Timah Race Courseon the 29th March 1958

The Grand Stand

No. 11 College Tutor and jockey Chadwick were placed fourth.

The finish of Race 6: 1st James Aitch (No. 5) and 2ndNazakat (No. 9). Course record over 9 Furlongs was

set in time of 1 minute 51 seconds.

PADDY’S WINNINGS

THIS story will tell you of myexperiences during my training as a

Flight Engineer and later on as asquadron member.

To be a F/Eng. you have to have fullknowledge of the aircraft you are flyingin and be able to respond quickly to anyproblems that may occur – there is nostopping and putting on the handbrakeand getting your tools out at 35,000 ft.

Initial training for me started at RAFKirkham, near Preston. is lasted sixmonths and we were taught a great dealabout Engines and Airframes, each partof the course ended in an exam whichwas Pass or Fail – Failure on any partmeant return to your old unit. Duringthis time I bought myself a DKRScooter and travelled to and fromDoncaster each weekend throughout thewinter. (Story already in previousNewsletter.)

On completion of the first sixmonths we were sent down to RAFMelksham and started another sixmonths’ training, this time on Electricsand Instrumentation. I was previouslytrained as an Aircraft Electrician so thiswas no hardship.

At the end of the course we were toldwhich aircraft we would be flying on; Iwas given the Hastings – much to mygreat delight because I had spent fiveyears servicing this aircraft and knewevery nut and bolt of it.

Stage three was the combinedGround and Flying training to becarried out at RAF orney Island inSussex. Another six months, but helpedby the fact that my wife’s family livedjust down the road from the camp. eground training of this part of the coursewas fairly easy because of my previousknowledge of the aircraft. I enjoyed theflying stage especially as we spent twoweeks in North Africa to do our nightflying. At the end of the course we weregiven our flying badges, but at this stagewe were told we would not be qualifiedto carry passengers until we hadcompleted 500 hours flying.

After orney Island I was posted toRAF Colerne, near Bath. is Squadrondid not normally carry passengers butconcentrated on freight, some droppedfrom the air to soldiers or supplies tofarms in the floods. Also we did a lot ofparachute dropping, on one occasiondropping S.A.S Reservists into PooleHarbour at night. is also allowed meto build up my flying hours to above the500. In addition, my Chief Tech. camethrough so I became F/Sgt. After twoyears I was posted to the Far EastCommunication Squadron (F.E.C.s). inRAF Changi.

Most of my Changi adventures havealready been documented in pastnewsletters. At the end of two and halfyears I was posted home to No.10Squadron at RAF Brize Norton.Another six months’ training to join

No.10 Squadron’s VC10 aircraft. I wasalso promoted to Master Engineer(Warrant Officer status). e first threemonths’ training was carried out byBritish Airways at Heathrow. I boughtmyself a three-wheeler Reliant to do thetravelling to and from Swindon,eventually to married quarters at Brize.is was a big change from the oldHastings; the VC10 was full of new (inthose days) electronics which, as anengineer, I had to learn thoroughly. eaircraft was very fast with fourRolls-Royce Conway engines giving aminimum thrust of 90,000 lbs. Part ofthe Pilot training was to take the aircraftup to 40,000 feet, increase speed toMach 0.92, then the autopilot wasswitched of and the pilots had to fly theaircraft manually.

Back to Brize for a further threemonths to learn how to operate theaircraft, some of this done in the flightsimulator with no end of faults put intothe system to keep you awake. As amatter of interest all Flight Engineershad to spend one hour in the Captain’sseat doing landings and take offs. Noautopilot was allowed. First flightoverseas was to be to Changi viaAkrotiri, Bahrein and Gan with fivetraining crews on board. I did the firstleg to Akrotiri with my captain Wg.Cdr. Palmer; this proved uneventful.

e second leg to Bahrein was todeliver an aircraft engine so we had touse the freight door for the first time. Alldelivered successfully then on to Gan onthe next day. We had only beentravelling for about 45 minutes when allthe oxygen masks came down and thefreight door opened up about two feet.e crew flying the aircraft at this timereduced the aircraft altitude and turnedto return to Bahrein. In the meanwhilethe freight door was lashed up to preventit opening any further and the rest of thecrew had the job of stowing the oxygenmasks back into their respectivestowages. Arrival at Bahrein wasachieved successfully.


A Flight Engineer’s TaleBy Gordon March

(M2194)

The original concept of theintegral part of the 10 SquadronCrest came from an ideaconceived by the SquadronCommander, Wing CommanderA. T. Whitlock in 1929.

A medieval arrow wasthought to depict a modernbomb and the wings to denotegreat speed. The Latin mottoRem Acu Tangere freelytranslates as “Hit the Mark”.

is proved to be a problem as far astraining was concerned, all the trainingstaff and the crew had to stay in Bahreinto attend a Court of Enquiry. e Seniorengineer asked me for my Cat card andsigned me off as a fully qualifiedEngineer; this meant I was now incharge of the remaining three engineersto fly on to Changi when the reliefaircraft arrived. During the return trip

to Brize Norton I supervised the otherengineers taking their turn in doing theirflying duties.

On return to Brize Norton I wasposted to 10 Squadron to start mynormal duties. It should be noted that at8’oclock in the morning every day of theyear except Christmas day an aircraftwould depart for Changi. Christmas evethe aircraft would fly out empty to

collect all the crews on route and bringthem home for Christmas. On BoxingDay the aircraft delivered all the crewsdown the route ready for the firstSchedule next day

I enjoyed my time in the service,especially the flying. I retired from theRAF after spending five years with 10Squadron and completing almost 25years in the service.


HM The Queen and HRH Prince Philip board a VC10 at Heathrow for a Far Easttour in 1972. VC10s were often used for VVIP trips were flown all over the world.

A VC10 landing at El Adem, Libya. A VC10 in dock.

Boarding a VC10 at RAF Lyneham.

The Queen boards a flight at RAF Güttersloh.

Gordon’s Scrapbook

BUT it was getting time to leave.ere was no longer a role for

Rosinante and her crew to play inHong Kong. e battle, as CaptainGibbs had said, was over and theBritish colonial defenders were in theprocess of being mopped up bysuperior forces under superiorleadership.

e twilight of the British Empire,in fact, was descending in the Far Eastfor any saronged and dhotied nativeto witness. Little Asian men whohated tall Occidental men were hereto frame Gotterdammerung in bloodand transform their hatred into amurderous frenzy that would beremembered for a hundred years.More and more Jap soldiers werepouring into the locality from literallyevery direction, Captain Gibbsnoticed, indeed a delay of onlyanother day or so on his part and theirfreedom to sneak out into the ChinaSea would be seriously threatened.

Glassing off the major Hong Kongisland, from Green Island to theDragon’s Back, he was aware thatwholesale capitulation had begun.White flags were seen to be danglingfrom the windows of the Hong KongHotel to the north and the Repulse

Bay Hotel in the north east. FortStanley was still holding out and theyhad a grandstand view of this valiantbut vain last ditch operation.

As night fell a tiny sampancontaining three exhausted RoyalNew Zealand Naval Reservelieutenants that Captain Gibbs hadhad contact with days earlier, paddledover to request passage out to the freeworld. ey were young, filthy andbloodied by nearly a week’s battle withthe invaders. Behind them as theystaggered aboard Rosinante thedarkening sky was lit up by explosionsand in parts made even darker bybillows of black smoke arising fromthe oil storage tanks destroyed by theBritish to keep the fuel from fallinginto Japanese hands.

e young men were soon partiallyrestored by alcoholic libations andunctions from the First Aid Box. eygasped out their story. eGovernor-General had at lastconceded defeat and ordered thedefenders to lay down their arms. Butthe men of Fort Stanley, from lack ofcommunications or sheer bravepig-headedness preferred to continuethe fight. e three ‘wavy navy’ ladshad seen the sense of discontinuing

battle but saw no reason to surrenderthemselves to the tender mercies ofthe merciless Japs. At the centralhospital, the lieutenants informedthem, medical men of some eminenceand achievement were lined upoutside and bayoneted. eyrecounted the attempts the victimshad made to ward off the nakedblades with their bare hands, to theintense amusement of their killers.

e nurses among them weremarched off to special yards fortorture and rape. e prettier ones, ofcourse, received the mostconcentrated attention. e officerhusband of one, on finding her tieddown and disembowelled hadimmediately collapsed. e Britishwounded were killed in their beds orpursued on their crutches untilcornered and impaled. is treatmentwas even meted out to those alreadyon the operating tables. Nor was thisbarbaric behaviour simply randombrutality by individual sadists amongthe Nipponese peasants but thedictated policy of General Dakai whosaw torture, especially visible tortureof brave defenders a strong physic forbringing other defenders to theirknees.


Frank Long (M1555) served at Changi from June 1948 till June 1950, probably earlier than most of our members.It was a period when evidence and memories of the Japanese occupation was still fairly fresh in the mind. TheJapanese were brutal to their prisoners, who were known to have eaten rats and grasshoppers for nourishment.Some were used for medical experiments and many Allied prisoners when liberated looked like those freed fromAuschwitz. Frank is an author and member of Croydon Writers. His books and plays are available from Amazon.

The following is an extract froman un-published war story of thesame name, which follows theadventures of warriors too old forwar but who go to war anyway,led by a rich British Soldier ofFortune who has anticipated theattack by the Japanese. Itappeared in “A Solitary Act -Croydon Writers Anthology 2013”

The Cunning Dragons

By this time, too, according totheir informers, the streets andpathways of the dozen islands thatmade up the colony were littered withthe corpses of young British soldiers,only a proportion of whom it seemedhad died in combat. While theJapanese extolled the martial virtue offighting until nothing might begained by continuing, the surrenderof an opponent was often merely justanother opportunity to bayonet himto death. Sadism was well in evidence,the three young lieutenants told them. . . in the control room where thecrew were to some extent assembledto listen to their visitors’ accounts.e speaking tube flapped and themate on watch up on the bridgeinterrupted them.

“Captain on the bridge! All handsup top to repel boarders!”

ere was an immediate scramblefore and aft. Captain Gibbs went upthrough the two hatches with acouple of stokers following him whileanother half dozen sailors made theirway to the forward loading hatch justfor’ard of the deck guns.

When Gibbs breathlessly joinedhis Number One, Abe Jackson, themate indicated an approachingmotorised sampan. Even in the darkthey could see it contained six orseven Jap soldiers with up front at theprow an officer and a senior NCO.ese two stalwarts were adornedwith the statutory samurai swords andat the same time while struggling toretain their balance with their lefthands their right fists enclosedworkmanlike Nambu pistols. CaptainGibbs now unloosed from a carvedwooden holster at his belt his ownfavourite sidearm, a fifty-year-old9mm Mauser semi-automatic thathad been in his family since Teddy theSeventh’s time.

“Keep your head down, Abe,” heinstructed, “till I get down on thecasing. Stall them with your take-offof Clark Gable if you like while theboys take up positions!”

With that, Captain Gibbs wasunder the attap and down the rungsto the steel deck aft of the bridge.From this position, concealed, hewaited for the Jap visitors to comecloser and pause awhile, well withinpistol distance. e Jap officer was acaptain with the three stars signifyingrank on the epaulettes. A gold,five-pointed star adorned his peakcap. He now threw an order over hisshoulder to the helmsman and theengine was immediately disengaged.e sampan continued to make alittle way towards the waitingRosinante. At this moment Abe’s headbreasted the conning tower parapetand he shouted a spirited, “Bansai!Bansai!” in the way of welcome.

is halloo was accompanied by araised clenched fist as if the first matewas saluting Emperor Hirohitohimself. Astonishment on the face ofall the little Asiatics so harangued waswrit large. e captain and his NCOexchanged a glance of enquiry. Butonly for a moment for the captain,immediatelly recognising a lunatic ora hated Occident, screamed someunidentified imprecation at AbeJackson and pointed his Nambustraight at him. is could only beinterpreted as a demand forimmediate and unconditionalsurrender.

At this, Abe laughed and bobbeddown out of sight, whereupon the fiveJap soldiers with their neck flaps andhelmets, responding to an order fromtheir samurai lord, directed theArisaka rifles and loosed off a volley ofangry fire towards the space butrecently vacated by Abe’s head.

en suddenly everything wentwrong for the Japs. From the foredecka Mills bom with pin removed arckedaccurately and plopped into thesampan. Immediately there was ajabbering panic of Jap soldiery andseveral of them, recognising thedanger, flung themselves overboardwhile braver comrades began toscrabble in the thwarts in an effort to

locate the rolling pineapple. eywere unsuccessful in getting theirhands on it in time.

e bomb exploded, destroyingthe sampan as a floatable artefact,flinging maimed and dead Japs intothe bay to accompany their livingcomrades who had prudently takenoff earlier. is gave Captain Gibbsthe chance to put a couple ofwell-directed slugs into the chest ofthe Jap captain, who was at that timeclinging to the severed prow of thesampan. e rest of Rosinante’s crewnow revealed themselves and poureda withering small arms fire into theJaps in the water, who seemed anxiousto make their way to land.

Amidst the carnage Captain Gibbshad time to inch his way down to thewater’s edge and drag the Jap captainaboard long enough to relieve theofficer of his ornamented sword. eJap captain was still alive if in extremisand his eyes consumed Gibbs with aferal hatred.

“I know just the way you feel,Captain,” Captain Gibbs com-miserated, unhitching the sword. Hethought the sword would look justgreat mounted over his mantelpiece inPortsmouth, if he ever lived to see hishome-town again. en Gibbsslipped the un-sworded Jap back intothe water and the waves closed overhim. e Jap owed both God and hisEmperor a death and Captain Gibbsdidn’t want to stand in his way.

e shooting didn’t cease untilCaptain Gibbs’ crew were convincedthat every last Jap was dead. It wouldhave been foolish to leave even one tocarry the word that a Britishsubmarine was skulking in LammaIsland inlet. e skipper now madehis wishes known.

“at’s it boys. We can’t hangaround here any longer. ere’ll bemore coming over soon to look fortheir friends. So we’re strictlysuperfluous to requirements. Securethe forward hatch and prepare tobend a course for Singapore.”



THIS year will celebrate the 200thanniverary of Stamford Raffles

and William Farquahar first arriving inSingapore and a new book, by TommyKoh, Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large, and Scott Wightman, BritishHigh Commissioner to Singapore, hasbeen published by Straits Times Press.

ey tell afresh the story of therelationship between Singapore and theUnited Kingdom through a long andeventful journey.

e book recalls fascinatingaccounts of personalities and eventsthat have shaped Singapore from itsestablishment as an East India

Company trading post to the end ofthe British Empire. Two years afterSingapore separated from Malaysia, theUK Government brought forward itsplanned withdrawal of British Forces,originally arranged for the mid 1970s,to 1971. e decision triggered dismayamong Singapore’s political leaderssince the young nation had cherishedhopes of economic salvation through acommon market through a largerentity.

A recommended read for all wholove Singapore.www.stpressbooks.com for details.

L.D.

Singapore and the United Kingdom

The Singapore Bicentennial 2019THE Singapore Bicentennial marks the 200th

anniversary of Sir Stamford Raffles’ arrival inSingapore – a key milestone in the country’s rich andstoried history. But their story did not start in 1819.It actually began 700 years ago in 1299.

For over 700 years, Singapore has been open toa diverse flow of people and ideas, and connectedto wider geopolitical currents, all of which shapedher evolution. Singapore’s history is a rich and expansiveone – the journey of an island that has never beenconstrained by its shores, but has always been made frommore.

e people of Singapore are in many ways connected

to and intertwined with others in this history and thisbicentennial is therefore the time for them to explore howtheir past has formed them, discover what it means for

their future, and find their way for the years to come.Many of our members who served in Singapore

in the middle years of the 20th century havere-visited the country several times; we have

witnessed the phenomenal development in such ashort time which has resulted in a country that hasbecome the envy of the world.

e Royal Air Force Changi Association offersSingapore our congratulations and fraternal good wishesfor the years ahead.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong with Kayla Choy, 11, the youngest participant in the bicentennial launch.

© Singapore Bicentennial Office


OBITUARIESIt is with deep regret that we report the deaths of the following members.

We offer our sincere condolences to their families and friends.

Mem. First Name Surname Rank at Service No. Trade Squadron/Section/ Arrival Departure DeceasedNo. Changi School Date Date

35 Brian Fox SAC 5020564 Typist HQ FEAF - (u) Feb. ’57 July ’59 Mar. 2019

418 (LM) Eleanor Roxburgh Flt. Off. (W) 2819203 Secretarial (C&C) S.S.C. June ’55 June ’57 Jan. 2018

444 Graham Humberstone Sgt. 4144174 Air Signaller 110 Sqn. - F.E.C.S. Nov. ’55 May ’58 Jan. 2018

455 John Deering LAC M4005261 Clerk Accounts Catering March ’48 Oct. ’51 April 2019

561 Peter Dorricott AC 2329745 Flight Mech. (Engines) R&I Servicing July ’47 Aug. ’48 Jan. 2018

580 Peter Jackson Cpl. 2541722 Clerk G.D. July ’52 Oct. ’53 May 2019

639 Donald Thompson AC1 2357817 Pay Accounts ACFE - Base Accts. April ’48 Aug. ’49 Feb. 2019

787 Russell Farman Civilian n/a Schoolmaster RAF Changi Primary Jan. ’58 Aug. ’61 Oct. 2018

849 John Lear AC1 3125371 Wireless Operator Signals Nov. ’50 Dec. ’50 Mar. 2019

1366 Dennis Shipton Sgt. S4082242 RAF Police HQ P & SS FEAF Aug. ’64 Aug. ’67 Aug. 2018

1493 Walter Bennetts Snr. Tech. B0584926 Airframe Fitter A.S.F. Aug. ’57 Feb. ’60 Mar. 2019

1564 Peter Dolby SAC 4245516 Air Movements Clerk Air Movements Feb. ’60 Oct. ’61 April 2019

2041 Norman Blacker SAC 5037381 Clerk Accounts HQ FEAF Nov. ’57 Nov. ’58 April 2019

2091 John McQuistan Cpl. C4125172 M.T. Driver M.T. Section Mar. ’65 Sept. ’67 Jan. 2018

2092 Samuel Adair AC2 3504061 F.M.E. F.E.C.S. June ’49 June ’51 June 2019

2109 Norah Holland SAC(W) 2826665 Telephonist Signals PBX Jan. ’55 Dec. ’56 Jan. 2018

2296 Vivian Greengrass Sgt. 3516660 Air Signaller 110 Sqdn. June ’55 Dec. ’57 Sep. 2018

Mem. No. First Name Surname Service No. Trade Squadron/Section/School Arrival Departure Block No.

2445 Graham Turner 505788 Flt. Lt. Physician Changi Hospital T.1 Jan. ’59 July ’61 Lloyd Leas

>>

Wg. Cdr. Changi Hospital T.2 Mar. ’70 Sept. ’72 Netheravon Rd.

2446 Frederick Ackrill 4182500 Cpl. Telephone Supervisor Communications May ’60 May ’63 ?

447 Owen Masters 4172748 Cpl. Clerk Personnel HQ(u)FEAF Orderly Room Nov. ’57 Aug. ’58 81

2448 Eric Harvison 3103903 AC Signals Clerk S.S.C. Jan. ’47 Dec. ’50 125 (Top)

WELCOME ABOARD!We welcome the following four new members of the Association who have joined

between 15 February 2019 and 26 June 2019

Rank orFather’s Rank

HQ FEAF CTST &Command Equipment

LM=Lapsed Member

Tony Parrini, the chairman of the RAF Butterworth and Penang Association, has written to Changi-ite toremind us of the correct procedure for those members who wish to be part of the ‘Units of the Far EastAir Force’ for this year’s Cenotaph Parade on Remembrance Sunday in London. Places have beenreserved for up to 30 people and this will be made available on a first come, first served basis.Applications are required by 30th August 2019 and should include the following details: Full name (as itappears on a photo identification which must be carried on the day - driving licence, passport, etc.), fulladdress (including post code), date of birth, service (RAF/RN/Army) and service number, email address,mobile phone number. If you wish to attend, please send your individual details by 30th August 2019 to:Mr A. L. Parrini, Hamethwaite, Lonning Foot, Rockliffe, Carlisle CA6 4AB or email [email protected]


Documents

RAF CHANGI ASSOCIATION including HQ FEAF