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TheRAAFandFEAF

FEAF,theFarEastAirForce,wasbasedinMalaysiaandSingaporefrom1949until1971.ItwasaproductoftheColdWar,partoftheWest’soppositiontoCommunistregimesseekingworlddominationinthepost-warera.FEAFoperationswereoftenasmuchpoliticalasmilitary.ThesurroundingregionwasmuchchangedbythePacificWarandconstantlyre-shapedbyrapidandunpredictablepost-warchange.Mapswerefrequentlyredrawnaspoliticalboundariesandalliancesshiftedoneafteranother.Itwasatimewhenfewgrandplansreachedfruition.Japan,inparticular,hadbittenoffmorethanitcouldchewinWWII.By1945itwasobviouslylosing,butstillfightingtenaciouslywithnosignofgivingin.Unabletoseeanendtofightinguntilatleast1947,theAlliesplannedaccordingly.Thisplanningdidnottakeintoaccounttheatomicbombs,theexistenceofwhichwasknowntoveryfew.ThebombsdroppedinAugustandJapansurrenderedon3September1945-atleast18monthsearlierthanmostAlliedplannersexpected.Asaresult,whenJapansurrendered,Alliedplansweremuchmoreaboutcontinuingthefight,thanaboutmanagingthepeace.TheWWIIAlliesknew,ofcourse,thattheywouldonedayhavetomanagethepeace,anddrewupplansbasedonmeetingslikePotsdamandYalta.Theseplansoutlinedgeneralagreementaboutwhowoulddowhatandwhere,butwithfewspecifics.Notsurprisingly,whenthewarendedsounexpectedlyandabruptly,thesmoothtransitiontopeacetheAllieshadhopedfordidn’thappen.Instead,therewerewidespread

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decolonisationstrugglesandCommunisttake-overattempts–sometimesasseparatethings,moreoftenasablendofboth,andoftenviolent.TheBritishreturntoMalayaandSingaporein1945hadtocopewithboth.Thereturn,withitspromiseoffreedom,tradeandrebuiltinfrastructure,wasgenerallywelcomed,buttheMalayanCommunistPartyhadotherideas.HavingfoughtwithBritishsupportagainsttheJapaneseoccupiersduringWWII,theynowturnedtheirattentiontotheBritish‘colonialoppressors.’InTheRoyalAustralianAirForce,anIllustratedHistory,GeorgeOdgerstellsusthatintimethey:mountedaterroristcampaignfromthejunglesofMalayainabidtoaddthatcountrytotheSovietBlocbytheexpulsionofBritishcontrol….Armedviolencebecameanevery-dayoccurrenceinthePeninsula.Terroristsattackedpolicestations,rubberplantations,tinminesandcommunicationsinabidtocreateturmoilanddestroylawandorder.EuropeansandChinesewereslaughteredmercilesslytoundermineconfidence.TheBritishinitiallyrespondedwithpoliceandtroopstomaintainlawandorderinpopulatedareasandrestrictterroristmovement.Atfirst,mostaircraftusedtoopposetheCommunistTerrorists(CTs)weretransports.TheBritishplan,however,includedallusesofairpowerandin1946theforerunnerofFEAF,theRAFAirCommandFarEast,wasformedtomanagetheaireffort.ThesituationinMalayawas,inmanyways,simplyamicrocosmofbiggerthingselsewhere.Althoughnotyetlabelledassuch,theseactivitieswerepartoftheColdWaralreadyunderwayasWWIIdrewtoaclose.CommunismwasonthemarchoutofRussiaandtheSovietUnion,as

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someEastEuropeancountrieshadalreadyfoundtotheirdetriment.Earlypost-warSovietexpansioninEuropewascheckedwhentheBerlinAirliftpreventedacompletetake-overofthecityin1948,butsupportforCommunistsinChina,Koreaandelsewhere-andanoft-statedwishtospreadCommunismworld-wide-continuedunabated.ThingscametoaheadinMalayaon16June1948whenabandofCTssetuponthreeEnglishrubber-plantersandviciouslycutthemtopieceswithmachineguns.WhatbecameknownastheMalayanEmergencyhadbegun.Itwouldlasttwelveyears,involveover500000policeandmilitarypersonnelandcost12000lives–alltosupressaCTforcethatnevernumberedmorethanabout8000.Suchisthetacticaladvantageofterroristsandguerrillaswithjungletohideinandsomesupportfromciviliansympathisers.(Ofnote,itwascalledanEmergencyandconductedasapoliceactionbecausemostinsurancepoliciescoveredonlypropertydamagedordestroyedinacivilemergency,butnotinawar.Thiscreatedcomplexcommandarrangementstoavoidputtingthemilitaryinoverallcharge.)Malayawasinnowayuniqueintheregion.TheBritishwerealsofacingnationalistde-colonisersinIndiaandBurma.TheDutchinIndonesiaandtheFrenchinVietnam,LaosandCambodia,hadsimilarproblems.WithscantAlliedplanningtoguidethemtheDutchandFrenchactedindependentlyandsoonstrucktrouble.TheDutchwerethefirsttogo.Onreturntotheirformercolony,theyweremetbywellentrenchedanti-colonialIndonesiansandafterfouryearsofsporadicfightingconcededdefeat.

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IndonesiathereafterwasrunbythecharismaticanderraticPresidentSukarno,someelectedpoliticians,thearmedforcesandpolice.Officiallynon-aligned,theirlikingforSovietweaponrymadetheneighboursuneasyandIndonesiabecameanunpredictableelementintheregion.Confrontationwiththenewly-formedMalaysiamadeSukarno’sIndonesiaamajorpartoftheFEAFstoryfourteenyearslater.Francetooquicklyreturnedtoitspre-warcoloniesinVietnam,LaosandCambodia.Butagain,localanti-colonialandCommunistelementshadmovedevenquicker.On3September1945,thedayJapanformallysurrendered,NorthVietnamcommunists,ledbyHoChiMin,declaredindependenceofthe‘DemocraticRepublicofVietnam’.Thoughmilitarilyweak,theyhadstrongpublicsupport.Unhappywitharrangementsforapeacefultransitiontogreaterself-governmentlinkedtoFrance,theCommunistsquietlymusteredtheirforces.Sporadicfightingbeganin1947andcontinueduntil1954whentheybeattheFrenchdecisivelyatDienBienPhu.Divisionalongthe17thparallelresulted,followedinlateryearsbytheinvasionofthenon-communistsouthbythecommunistnorth.FEAFwasnotdirectlypartoftheensuingVietnamconflict,buttwoofitsmembers,AustraliaandNewZealand,were.BothroutinelyusedFEAFinfrastructureduringtheconflictandAustralia’scontribution,inparticular,wouldhavebeenmuchmoredifficultwithouteasyaccesstoFEAFairbasesinMalaysiaandSingapore.Andwhileallthisstrifewasbrewing,twomajoreventschangedregionalpowerbalancesfordecadestocome.In1949theCommunistswoninChinaandRussiaexplodedan

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atomicbomb.BotheventsemboldenedCommunistseverywhereandaddedfueltotheColdWar,especiallyinAsia.NowtheColdWarislonggone,itiseasytoforgethowseriousitallwas.Initially,theCommunistcountrieswereunitedinaquesttospreadtheirchosenutopiaworld-wideandbehavedaccordingly.Seenas‘theCommunistBloc’intheWest,theywereoftenencouragedbyidealisticWesternsympathisersblindtothebrutalrealityofCommunisminaction.Britishauthorities,however,wellunderstoodtherealitiesofCommunismandwereveryconcernedbyitsseeminglyrelentlessspread.Somuchso,infact,thattheydevotedupto10%oftheirGDP–moneytheycouldillaffordaftermassiveWWIIcosts–toarmedforceswellintothe1950stohelpcheckthespreadaspartofwhatbecameknownasTheWesternAlliance.ItwaswithinthiscontextthatBritishmilitarypowerbuiltupsteadilyinMalayaandSingaporefromsoonaftertheirreturninlate1945.ThesewerechallengingtimesfortheBritish,andplanstostopthingsgettingoutofhandinMalayaandthenearbyregionsoonemerged.TheresultantplansincludedstrategicplanningbytheUK,AustraliaandNewZealandunderarrangementscalledANZAM–Australia,NewZealandandMalayanArea-andrequestsforhelpfromAustraliaandNewZealand,mainlyfortroopsandaircraft.Nooneexpectedaquickvictory;thinkingwasinyears,notmonths.InpreparationforsustainedairoperationsRAFAirCommandFarEastbecametheFarEastAirForce(FEAF)on1June1949.RequestsforasquadronofRAAFDakotasand

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someLincolnbombershadalreadybeenmadeinearlyApril.Bothrequestsweresoongranted.No38Squadron,witheightDakotas,(somewithcrewsrecentlyreturnedfromBerlinAirliftduty)arrivedinSingaporeon19June1950andwasbasedinChangi,anRAFtransportbaseonthenortheasterntipoftheisland.No1Squadron,withsixLincolns,arrivedamonthlateron16JulyatTengah,ontheisland’snorthwesterncorner.ThedecisionontheLincolnswasmadethedayafterthedecisiontocommitNo.77SquadronMustangsinJapantohelpSouthKoreafighttheinvadingNorthKoreancommunists.ThismeantthatonlyfiveyearsafterWWIIended,AustraliawasatwaragainintwotheatresandtheRAAFwasactiveinboth.TheEmergencywasfoughtmainlyonpeninsularMalayainjungleareasandaroundKampongsandregionaltowns.Airtransportwasanessentialelement,providingeverythingfromregularcourierservicesandone-oflogisticstasks,toleafletdropsandsupplydropstopoliceandtroopsinremote,oftenmountainousjungleareas.Thesupplydropswereespeciallyimportant.Withoutthem,manyremoteanti-CToperationscouldnototherwisebere-supplied,makingprolongedeffortdifficult,ifnotimpossible.EvenaftertheEmergencywasdeclaredover,in1960,someCTsstilloperatedinthemountainspineofthepeninsular.Thepoliceunitshuntingthemdownworkedfrompermanentcamps–usuallycalledforts–dependentonairsupplydropsuntilwellintothe1970s.ItwasdifficultworkfortheDakotacrewswhohadtofindsmalldropzonesinmountainousjungleareas,oftenpartlycoveredbycloudormist.Goodplanningandmapreading

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wereessential,butcirclingaroundinthetargetareatofindthedropzonewasstilloftenneeded.Thealtitudeandhumiditybothreducedperformance.Toprepareforanenginefailureatjustthewrongmoment,dropswerealwaysdonedownhill,usuallyalongariverthatcouldbefolloweddowntoanairfieldnearthecoast.Thisworkedwell,foralthoughenginefailureswererare,theydidhappen,butnoaircraftwerelostdoingsupplydrops.38SquadronwasalsousedformanyregionaltasksinplaceslikeCeylon,Borneo,thePhilippinesandJapan.Theassociatedflyingratewasveryhigh,andinresponseduringNovemberfouraircraftandcrewsweredeployedtoIwakuni,Japan,formedevacandothertaskssupportingtheKoreanWar.InApril1951,theremainingfouraircraftmovedtoKualaLumpur,closertotheaction,wheretheyjoinedwiththeRNZAF’sNo.41SquadronBristolFreighterstodropsome200tonnesofstorespermonthtoforcesinnearbymountainjungles.Laterthatyear,theyjoinedwithRAFValettasforsupplydropsinsupportofamajoroperationneartheThaiborder.Inlate1952,overallRAAFtransportcapabilitywasoverstretchedand,withotherFEAFaircraftnowabletodothetasks,theMalayanDakotaswerewithdrawntoRichmondtojoin86TransportWing.Duringtheemergencytheyhadcarried17000passengersandsome2000tonnesoffreight,dropped800tonnesofstoresandevacuated326woundedtroops.TheLincolnsof1SquadronflewdayandnightsortiesfromTengahtobombandstrafeCTcampsinthejungleornearpotentialtargetslikeplantationsandrailways.Inalmost4000sorties,only23confirmedCTswerekilled,butthemain

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task,tocontinuallyharassandkeeptheCTsonthemove,wasmuchmoresuccessful.Bombingsortieswereoftwokinds:pinpointbombingagainstexposedandspecifictargetsandareabombingofjungleareascontainingCTcamps.PinpointbombingrequiredconsiderableskillandwasusedlessoftenwhentheCTsfoundouthowlethalitwas,moveddeeperintothejungleandcamouflagedun-moveabletargets.Asaresult,mostsortiesdidareabombing.Thiscouldbefrustratingforthecrewswhousuallyhadnoideaoftheresultsoftheirefforts.Onepilotlaterrecalledthathedidn’tknowifhekilledanyCT’s,buthedoeshaveunhappymemoriesofadirecthitonayoungelephantnotseenuntiltoolate.Analysis,however,indicateditwasdefinitelynotallinvain.Becauseofthebombing,theCTswerekeptonthemove,forcedtoleaveestablishedcampsandfoodsourcesandcreatenewones,andwereattimesdrivenintoambushes.Muchofthiswashardtoquantify,butcapturedandsurrenderedCTsoftentestifiedtothedifficultiesandfearsresultingfromthethreatofconstantairattack.TheLincolnsreturnedtoAustraliainJuly1958.ThiseffectivelysawtheendofLincolnbombersintheRAAF.TheywerereplacedbytheCanberrainAustralia,andinFEAFonthenewButterworthairbase,nearPenangIsland.TropicaloperationsattimeshadtheirchallengesforbothDakotasandLincolns,butChangiandTengahprovedtobeasgoodascouldbehopedinthecircumstances.Bothbaseswerewellequipped,permanentairfields,withgoodfacilitiesandaccommodation.

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Thetropicalweatheraside,lifeonaSingaporeRAFbaseinthosetimeswaspleasant,withgraciouscolonialbuildingsandseeminglyendlessnumbersoflocalstaffprovidingcooking,cleaning,laundry,gardeningandeverythingelsetoensuretheSahibdidnotraiseanyunnecessarysweat.Thatsaid,manyAustraliansquicklytiredofmilitarysurroundsandstodgymessfoodandcouldoftenbefoundinnearbyvillageseatingNasiGoeringorGulahAyaminlittlecafesandSataysticksfromMakancarts,washeddownwithAnchororTigerbeer.Girlwatchingtoowaspopular,forinthosedaysmanystillworenationaldress–Indiansaris,ChinesecheongsamsandMalaysarongkebayaswerecommonplace–muchtothedelightofyoungAustralianmalesrearedinmono-culture,meat-and-three-vegeAustralia.Indeed,manyfoundthattheracialstereotypestheyhadbeenrearedwithwereseriouslychallengedbysimplysitinginastreetcaféwithabeerwatchingthelocalgirlswalkby.ItwasexoticstufftoyoungAustraliansinthosetimes.Manyheldfondmemoriesforlifeofthissimplefareandespeciallythepassingfashionparade-sadlymuchdiminishedtodaywiththeadoptionofwesternfashionsandtheabandonmentoftheform-fittingsarongkebaya(exceptbySingaporeAirlineshostesses)infavourofthemuchmore‘modest’dresstoday’sMalayculturerequires.TheemergingthreatofCommunismintheregionwasagrowingconcerntomanycountries.Inresponse,Britain,Australia,NewZealand,theUSA,France,PakistanandThailand,on8September1954,signedtheManilaPact.ThiscreatedSEATO,theSouthEastAsiaTreatyOrganisation,tostrengthenmutualdefenceagainstthespreadofCommunismbyinsurgencies,directmilitaryforceandsuch.

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Tofurtherbolsteranti-Communistforces,Britain,AustraliaandNewZealandcreatedaFarEasternStrategicReserveforcetobestationedinMalaya.On1April1955,Australiacommittedsomenavalunits,aninfantrybattalion,afighterwingoftwosquadrons,abombersquadronandanairfieldconstructionsquadron.Tohousetheaircraft,theexistingRAFairfieldatButterworth,nearPenangIslandwaschosenforacompleteupgradeandmodernisation.AnRAFbasepre-war,itwasusedbytheJapaneseduringthewarandagainbytheRAFpost-war,mainlyasahomeforSycamoreandWhirlwindhelicoptersandValettafixed-wingtransports.ThenewbasewouldbesupportedfromAustraliabycourierservicesflownbythenewC130aircraftthenonorder.Whenoperational,ButterworthwouldallowgoodFEAFcoverageoftheMalaypeninsulaandSingaporeandunderpinAustralia’saircommitmenttoSEATO.Althoughnotinitiallyintendedfortherole,itwouldalsoprovideinvaluablemaintenance,medevac,logistics,personnelandothersupportforAustralia’sVietnamefforts.Workontheupgradebeganinlate1955.ThejobfelltotheRAAF’sNo2AirfieldConstructionSquadron(ACS)whocreatedamodernairfieldabletoaccommodateallCommonwealthaircraft,includingRAFVulcans,onregularvisits.Thiswasnomeanfeatonswampygroundinamonsoonarea,buttheendresulthasstoodthetestoftimeandisstillindailyuseasanRMAFbase.(Inthe1960s,No.2ACSalsobuilttheRAAFaccommodationandoperatingfacilitiesatUbon,inThailand(mentionedlateron)andinVietnamatVungTauandPhanRang(wheretheyinstalledtheonlyflushtoiletsonthebase).Nowlargelyforgotten,theirworkwasanimportantenableroftheAustralianregionalpresenceinthosetimes.)

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Butterworthwouldaddtwofightersquadrons,abombersquadronandaDakotatransportflighttoaFEAFthathadgrownsteadilyduringthe1950s.AFlightMagazinearticlefrom1957tellsusFEAFforcesinSingaporeincludedatransportwingwiththreeRAFsquadronsofValettasandanRNZAFBristolFreightersquadron;twosquadronsofVenomfighters;thelastSunderlandFlyingboatsintheRAF(laterreplacedbyShackletons);theRAAFLincolnsandnumeroussmalleraircraftlikeAustersandPioneers.ThismadeSingaporeaverybusyplace.Astheairtransporthub,ChangiranatransithotelandsupportedthenearbyFEAFHQ‘inhandsomeredroofedbuildingsafewmilesfromChangiairfield,coolandcommandingamagnificentviewacrossthestraits’.TheRAFJungleSurvivalSchool,attendedbymanyRAAFaircrewovertheyears,wasalsoatChangi.TheFarEastStrategicReservewasbuildingnicely.ThefullymodernisedButterworthairbasewashandedoveron1July1958andwelcomed2squadronCanberraBombersand3SquadronSabresinNovemberthatyear.TheCanberrasinitiallybombedsuspectedCTsites,usuallyatmediumlevel(4500-6000metres),eithervisuallyorwithguidancefromagroundradarsite.LiketheLincolnsbeforethem,theyfoundthethickjunglemadebombingeffectivenesshardtodetermine.MissionsbecamefewerasCTnumbersfellandthesquadronrevertedtolow-levelbombingpracticein1960.TheSabresof77Squadronarrivedthenextyear,theRAFhelicoptersandValettasstayedonandaRAAFmaintenancesquadron,No478,wasnowupandrunning.Allinall,asthe1950sdrewtoaclose,FEAFhadbecomeaveryrespectableregionalforce.

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Butterworthsoonbecameasought-afterRAAFposting.UnlikeSingaporewheretheshorterpostingsweremostlyunaccompanied,Butterworthwasusuallyafulltouroftwoyearsormoreandincludedfamilies.FromthelowestrankedairmantotheAirCommodoreOC,marriedpersonnelallhadverygoodhousing,aservantorservants(dependingonrank)andgoodallowances-andeveryonehadthebenefitsofdutyfreeshoppingforeverythingfromelectronicstocars.AlldependantsgotfullhealthcarefromfullyequippedfacilitiesonPenangIslandortheexcellentbasehospitalonthemainland.SchoolingwasprovidedinCommonwealthrunschoolsanddependantshadaccesstofacilitieslikegolfcoursesandswimmingpools.Inall,itwasbetterthanmostRAAFpeoplehadathome,andthiswaswellunderstood.AddtothattheexoticaofAsia,especiallyforthemajorityhousedonPenangIsland.GeorgeTown,theislandcapital,wasthenamajorportpeopledmainlybyChinese,IndianandMalaycommunitieswhosedress,customsandwonderfulfoodwasallnewtomostAustralians.Forthemajority,especiallymarriedcoupleswithchildrennowlookedafterbyanAmah,itwasamemorableexperience.Buttherewasadownsideforsome.Singleaccommodationwasgoodbutnotgreat,andthesingliesmostlylivedonthebase,withallitsrestrictions,notonexoticPenang.Buttheworstproblemswhereforthosewhohadtowork‘inthemiddaysun’oroutdoorsinthetropicalconditionsatanytimeofday.Sunshadeskeepthesunoutofcockpitsandair-conditionerspumpedcoolairinbeforestart-up,butSabrepilotssometimesstillhadtouseparasolswhenparkedonhighalertandCanberracockpitsroutinelyreachedover50C

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duringstart-upandtaxy.Maintenancecrewsforcedtoworkoutsidewithoutcoveralsosuffered,andattimesworkedinshiftstocopewiththeheatandhumidity.ButinmostwaysButterworthwasasuccess,bothsociallyandoperationally.FromaFEAFpointofview,agenerallyhappyworkforcewasobviouslyaplus,butmoreimportantlytheButterworthsquadronsweresoonuptospeedandabletooperateproficientlyinthechallengingenvironment.In1960theEmergencywasofficiallydeclaredover,butthatwasonlytrueinpopulatedareas.CTswerestillbeinghunteddowninthemountainsandalongtheThaiborderuntilwellintothe1970s,butbytheearly1960sButterworthandsurroundsweremuchsafer.Strongsecuritymeasureswerestillinplace,butlocalincidentswererare.Unfortunately,justasMalayaandSingaporewerecalmingdown,theneighbourhoodwaswarmingup.TheCommunistsweregaininggroundinVietnamandLaoshadfallenintocivilwarinthelate1950s.Oneside,thecommunistPathetLao,wasbackedbytheSovietUnionandNorthVietnam.Significantly,inlate1959NorthVietnamcommunistsdecidedtoswitchfrompoliticaltomilitaryactioninSouthVietnamandbegantodoso.In1960,majorriotsintheLaotiancapital,Vientiane,brokeout,raisingconcernsintheregionthatcommunismwasstrengtheningitsholdthereandmightspreadfurther.NeighbouringThailandinparticularwasworriedanddiscussedthisconcernviaSEATO.Anumberofcontingencyplans,includingthedeploymentofRAAFSabresandtransportaircrafttoThailandifneedbe,werediscussed.

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In1954PresidentEisenhowerhadexpressedconcernthatshouldLaosfall,itsfreeneighbours–Cambodia,SouthVietnamandpossiblyThailandandBurma–couldfalllike‘arowofdominoes’.Neverawarmonger,heneverthelesswentsofarastosaythatiftheUSsentgroundtroopsintoLaostheyshouldbefullysupported,including,intheextreme,bytheuseoftacticalnuclearweapons.Thankfully,itnevercametothat.Butby1961thepotentialforseriousdevelopmentsinLaosandVietnamwasobvioustothose‘intheknow’–mostlygovernmentpeople.Communicationsweremuchpoorerthen,withnointernet,satelliteTV,24/7newsetc.MostAustraliansknewnothingabouthappeningsinthese‘farawaycountrieswithstrangesoundingnames’.ButtheAustraliangovernmentknew,andwasworried.FollowingconsultationwiththeThaigovernment,theydecidedtosendasquadronofSabrestoUbon,inSouthEastThailandneartheborderwithLaos.FromUbon,theSabrescouldhelpresistgroundforceintrusionsfromLaosandairattacksfromVietnamifneedbe.Thedecisionprovedtobetheeasybit.MalaysiawasnotamemberofSEATO,wishedtostayclearofregionaldisputesanddidnotsupportcombatairoperationsfromitsbasesintoneighbouringcountries.CommonwealthStrategicReservecombataircraftcouldgotoThailandforSEATOtraining,butonlyviaSingaporewheretheyhadtospendaweekbeforegoingon.Transportaircraft,ontheotherhand,couldflytroopstoThailandiffightingbrokeout.No79SquadronwasformedfromeightSabresinButterworthandon2June1962tookoffforUbonviaSingapore.ItremainedinUbonuntilAugust1968.Bythen,

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theanxiousThaishadallowedtheUSAFtoformsixmajorbasesintheircountry,stockedwithhundredsofcombataircraftandmoreUSAFpersonnelthaninVietnamattheheightofthewar.SEATOexercisesinThailandwerealsoaregulareventduringthe1960s.FEAFwasamajorcontributor,attimeswithcombataircraft,butmoreoftenwithtransportaircraft,flyingtroopsandplanningstaffaroundandreassuringtheworriedThaisthatanytroublefromacrossitsborderscould,andwould,getarapidresponsefromtheirFEAFallies.LogisticssupporttoUbonviaRAAFC130sandoccasionalButterworthDakotaswasroutinethroughout79Squadron’stimethere-althoughsometimesroutedviaBangkoktopreservediplomaticniceties.Interestingtimesindeed,mademoreinterestingbyAustralia’sreactiontoCommunistgainsinVietnamthateventuallysawnearly50000Australiansservethere.TheCommitmentbeganin1961-2witharmyinstructorsandthengrewasfollows(withaRAAFemphasis):1964:Caribous–somedirectfromCanadatoformatrainingflight,becomeknownasWallabyAirlinesandlaterbecome35squadron.1965:Combatforces.1966:TaskForce,including9SquadronhelicoptersatVungTautojointheCaribousalreadythere.1967:2SquadronCanberrastoPhanRangfromButterworth.

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AlthoughnotpartofFEAF,theRAAFinVietnamwaswellsupportedbyuseofFEAFfacilities,muchtothebenefitofotherAustralianforcesaswell.C130sandDakotasflewregularlyfromButterworthtoVietnam,carryingcargobothwaysandpersonnelbackandforthonpostingandleave.Thepersonneloftenincluded2SquadronmaintenancepeopleandsparessupportingaCanberrabeingferriedtoButterworthforamajorserviceat478Maintenancesquadron,orreturningtoVietnamwhentheservicingwascomplete.Suchactivitiesarewellremembered,butlesssoisthevitalworkdoneatButterworthbyNo4RAAFhospitalinreadyingmedevacpatientsforthelongflightbacktoAustralia.Mostpatientscamefromafront-linehospitalinVungTauwheretheywerepreparedfortheflighttoButterworth,usuallybyC130.TherecentlyacquiredC130EcouldflydirectButterworthtoAustralia.Medevacscouldnowbeflowninasingleflight,albeitalongone.Tobettercareforseriouscasesontheselongflights,theC130EcouldbefittedwithaspecialintensivecarecapsulemadebytheaircraftdepotatRichmond.Specialiststaffat4RAAFHospitalreadiedpatientswhoneededtotravelinthecapsuleandsometimesflewhomewiththem.Itwaspioneeringstuffinthehistoryofmedevacs-andnodoubtwellrememberedbythosewhomadeithomethanksto4RAAFhospitalstaffandthecapsule.ButwellbeforethesepioneeringflightstookplacesomethingmemorablehappenedtoFEAF.Itwasatoncebizarreandserious,andtodayisrememberedas

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ConfrontationwithIndonesia-orifyouareex-PMKevinRuddandpreferBahasa,Konfrontasi.RAAFforcesinvolvedincludedthefighterandbombersquadronsalreadyinButterworthandadetachmentoffourIroquoishelicoptersfrom5SquadroninCanberra.Weknowwhathappened,butjustwhyithappenedisabitobscure.Somefacts,however,areclear.WhatwasthenMalaya(essentiallythepeninsulastates),SingaporeandtheNorthBorneostatesnowknownasSarawakandSabahallagreedtouniteasanewcountry,theFederationofMalaysia.Thisthreatenednoone,butsomeneighbourswereunhappy.ThePhilippinesobjected,citinglong-pastsovereigntyoverapartofSabahandthenearbySuluSea,buttooknoaggressiveaction.Indonesiawaslessreserved.Someseniorfigurestheredescribedtheplanas‘neo-colonialism’andtheiroppositiontoitas‘Confrontation’.ThethinkingbehindthedeclarationofMalaysiaasanewformofcolonialismishardtounderstand–infact,itseemedtheexactopposite:atransferofpowerfromthecolonialrulertoanewself-governingstate.MalaysianstodayseemtoagreeandcelebratetheoccasioneachyearasMerdeka,orFreedomDay.Butitdoesn’tmatterwhatothersthought.WhatmattersisthatsomepowerfulIndonesianssawitotherwiseandwerestrongenoughtoinfluenceevents.AgoodaccountofthisconfusingtimecanbefoundinAlanStephen’sbook,‘GoingSolo’,inwhichhewrote:‘KonfrontasiwasanuntidypolicydirectedbyIndonesia’smercurialPresidentSukarnoagainsttheproposedFederationofMalaysia…Sukarno’saggressionappearstohavebeenmotivatedbyacombinationofpoliticalopportunismand

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genuineanti-colonialsentiment.SomeelementsofthepoliticalforceshehadtobalancetoretainpowerinIndonesiawerestronglyopposedtotheFederation.’Knowingtheirarmedforceshadonlylimitedcapability,Indonesiaavoidedanall-outwarandreliedinsteadonpoliticalanddiplomaticmanoeuvres,andsmallscalemilitaryactiontokeeptensionshigh.AlanStephenstellsusthattheseactions:‘includedparachutedropsnearJohore;smallunitraidsandarmedskirmishesthroughoutthenewstate,butespeciallyBorneo;theincitementofriotsandcivildisobedienceanddeliberateincursionsofMalaysianairspace.’TheincursionsintoMalaysianairspacewereabigworryforFEAF,especiallytheairdefenceforces.Justwhattheymightleadtowasimpossibletotell.FEAFHQwastakingnochancesandinJuly1963orderedairdefencecoveragetobeincreasedto24hoursaday.BobRichardsonwasaSabrepiloton77Squadronatthetimeandlaterwrote:InOctobertwoSabresarmedwithSidewindermissilesand30mmcannonwereplacedon5minutescramblealertfromdawntoduskfromoperationalreadinesspadsateitherendoftheButterworthrunway.Twosevenhourshiftswereused,changingatnoon.RulesofEngagementrequiredclearancefromFEAFHQbeforeanyshotswerefired,butnointrudersarrivedandclearancewasneverneeded.IftheIndonesianaimwastocreateconsiderablereactionatButterworthwithoutfiringashot,theyhadachievedit.Theythenuppedtheanteinearly1964byrestrictingRAAFflightsoverIndonesianterritory.ThisforcedtheregularAustraliatoMalaysiaC130courierflightstogoviaCocosIs

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andaroundthetipofSumatra,addingfurthertotheRAAFeffortandcost.TheRAFhadtwin-seatJavelinnightfightersinSingaporeandHuntergroundattackaircraftthatcouldquicklytakeonanairdefencerole.IncombinationwiththeSabres,thismeantFEAFwaswellplacedatbothendsofthepeninsulartocounteranyIndonesianairthreat.Butformonthslittlehappened,andBobRichardsonrecallsthat:Forthefirst12monthsorsoRAAFinvolvementwaslightandsporadic,beingconfinedtowhatwepilotsfeltwasratheranuisanceofbeingrosteredonregularpre-dawnorafternoonshiftsonasevendayperweekbasis.ThoseofuswholivedonPenangIslandhadtospendquiteafewnightsintheButterworthmess….SeveralRAFVulcanbomberswerealsodeployedtoButterworth…andweresurroundedbyspecialRAFguardsandbrightlylitatnight,leadingustospeculateaboutsomeverybigarmamentindeed.Eventscametoaheadon2September1964,atnight,whenthreeIndonesianC130aircrafttriedtodropparatroopsintoJohorestate,justnorthofSingapore.Thedropwassomethingofashambles,withsometroopsdroppedinthewrongplaceandoneaircraftbelievedtocrashen-route,butthiswasthemostaggressiveacttodateandaclearindicatorofintent.BobRichardsonremembers:WepilotswerelatertoldthataRAFJavelin…hadshotdownanIndonesianC130thatnight,thatacompletesecuritylidhadbeenputonthisincident,andthatthepilotconcernedhadpromptlybeenreturnedtotheUK.Inhindsight…itwas

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wisetorestrictpublicknowledgeofit…toavoidescalationintoamuchwiderconflict.AstateofemergencywasdeclaredinSingaporeat2200hours,2September1964,andtheButterworthSabrepilotswereallrecalledtodutyasap.Theaircraftwereserviced,armedandreadytogoatdawn.Nothinghappened,butafewdayslaterintelligenceadvisedofahighlikelihoodofanattackonthebasebyBadgerbombersfromMedan,innearbySumatra.Astateofheightenedalertwasdeclared.CanberranavigatorLanceHalvorsonlaterwrote(Wings,Spring2016):2SQNCanberraswere‘bombedup’with6x1000lbbombsonnumerousoccasions…forattacksontheIndonesianAirBaseatMedan….Lowlevelbombingtacticsweretobeemployedwithmulti-aircraftco-ordinatedstrikeswith30secondsbetweeneachaircraftoverthetarget.NobombingmissionsagainstMedanwereflown,butagooddealofeffortwasputintopreparingtodosoifneedbe.TheSabreforce,ontheotherhand,didflytodefendthebase.Buttheydidsowithoutradardetectionandguidancewhereitwasmostneeded.Theairdefenceradarwasthenonthemainland,notontopofPenangHillasinlateryears.ThiscreatedalargeradarshadowareatothewestofPenangIsland,theveryareatheSabresneededtooperateintointerceptbombersfromMedan.TheneedtoswitchofftheButterworthnon-directionbeacon,thatcouldotherwisehavebeenusedbySabrepilotstolocatetheairfield,addedtothedifficulties.Still,somethinghadtobedone,andasystemoflow-levelcombatairpatrolswasdeveloped.BobRichardsonrecallsthat:

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ThisinvolvedseveralpairsofSabreswithexternaltanksbeingvectoredabout50milesseawardofButterworthbeforefirstlighttopatrolacrosslikelyBadgerattackroutes.Thiswasprettyhairraising,becausetheweatheratthetimewasbad,withfrequentheavyshowersandthunderstorms….Wehadtoflyouttoseaatlowaltitudeinpitchdarknessinpairstoagivenpoint,separateourselvesby1500feetvertically,thenflytimedlegsbackandforth…Noonehadtrainedforsuchwork,norhadtheytrainedforsimilarchallenges,yettocome,inNorthBorneoayearlater.SoonaftertheBadgerscare-thathappilycametonothing-theSabreforcecontributed,almostfulltime,totheairdefenceofSingaporeaswellasButterworth.Meanwhile,the5Squadronhelicoptershadbeenbusy.OriginallysenttoButterworthtosupportarmyactivitiesagainsttheCTs,theynowflewarmyunitstocoastalareaswhereIndonesianswerethoughttohavelanded,ormightland.Thispresentedfewnewdangers–flyinghelicoptersinhillytropicalareasisalwaysachallenge–buttheunexpectedwasalwaysonthecards.LaddieHindley,thenCOofthehelicopters,describesoneparticularlybizarreeventinhisbiography,HostagetoFate:OnetasktookustoSingaporetotake24Singaporean/MalaysiantroopstoasmallislandnearbywhereIndonesianforceswerethoughttohavelanded.Wedroppedtheminasmallgrassedareaandarrangedtoreturnnextdaytopickthemup.Whathappenednextwassomethingofatragedy.FifteenIndonesiantroopswereindeedontheisland.TheywaiteduntilthehelicopterhadleftandthenchallengedtheMalaysiantroopstothrowdowntheirarmsandsurrender.TheMalaysianNCOinchargerespondedunwisely,shouting

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forhistroopstoopenfiredespitebeingoutintheopenwiththeenemyhiddeninthejungle.SevenMalaysianswerekilled.Thingsthentookabizarreturn.Realisingthattheyhadnowayofgettingofftheisland,andthatifMalaysianradiocallswerenotsentbacktoSingaporemoretroopswouldarrive,theIndonesianssurrendered.NewsofthesurrenderwasradioedbacktoSingaporeandwewentbackthesamedayandflewtheMalaysiansandIndonesiansbacktoSingapore.InmanywaysthisincidentdemonstratestheconfusednatureofConfrontationandthelackofcommitmentsomeIndonesians,atleast,hadtothewholeidea.ThisconfusionisfurtherdemonstratedbythefactthatdiplomaticandtradetieswithAustraliacontinuedthroughoutConfrontation.AustralianattendanceatIndonesianmilitarystaffcollegesalsocontinued-because,asanAustralianArmyofficerattendeeinthosetimestoldme:‘TheIndonesiansunderstoodthatwewouldwishtosupportourfriends,thatConfrontationwouldendoneday,whilethegeographythatmadeusneighbourswouldlastforever.’Butthatsaid,Confrontationwasstillon.ThemixedmessagesfromIndonesiaandstrangehappeningsonthegroundnearSingaporedidn’taffectButterworth’sSabreforce.Forthem,high-threatresponses,likedaylightcombatairpatrolsandscramblealertswerestillrequired.Fortheseactivities,thepilotwaseitherintheaircraftreadytogo,orclosebyreadytojumpintoacombatreadymachineinjustminutes.Thescramblealertswereverydemandingonpilotswhohadtowearg-suitsandlifejacketsduringhighstatesofreadiness,andoftencouldlastonlyanhouratmostuntilseriousheat-stresssetin.

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Again,despitethepotentialforserioustrouble,noneeventuated.Then,in26October1965,adetachmentofsix77SquadronSabreswassenttoLabuan,NorthBorneo,toreplaceanRAFHuntersquadronprovidingairdefenceagainstIndonesianforcesinKalimantanposingapotentialthreattoSarawakandSabah.IntelligencereportedthatIndonesianMustangswereharassingUKandAustralianarmyelementsintheborderregions.TheSabresdeployedviaSingaporeandonarrivalBobRichardsonandtheotherpilotsfound:OurareaofoperationsalongtheKalimantanborderwas‘tigercountry’byanyone’sdefinition.Therewerenoreliablemaps…andwewerealsorequiredtopatrolsouthwardsome100milesalongtheSarawakborder.Thisareaismountainousandcoveredinthetallestanddensestrainforestintheworld.TheHunterpilotsgavethemsomehand-drawnmaps,whichtheyconstantlyupdated.Patrolsweredonewithdrop-tanksfitted,atonlyaround180knots,200to500feetabovethejunglecanopy.Thisgavethemlittletimetoreacttoanenemyoranemergency-butfortunately,despiteallthethingsthatcouldgoseriouslywrong,nothingdidandtheyallsurvived.Althoughtheydidn’tknowit,Confrontationwasalmostover.AfailedcoupbylocalCommunistsleadtoaregimechange,thekillingofmanythousandsofIndonesiancommunists,arapidfall-offinIndonesianactivityandtheofficialendtoConfrontationinAugust1966.TransitbyRAAFaircraftoverIndonesiawasagainapprovedandreadinessstatesinButterworthandSingaporewererelaxed.TheFEAForderofbattlesoonafterchangedsignificantly.InSingaporetheJavelinswerereplacedbysuper-fast

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Lightnings.InButterworth,the2SquadronCanberraswenttoPhanRang,Vietnam,andtwosquadronsofMirages,Nos3and75,replacedtheSabres.In1971,aspartofaUKpolicytowithdrawallforcesstationed‘EastofSuez’,FEAFceasedtoexist.Initstimeitcertainlymadeadifference,providingairsupportduringtheEmergency,amajorcontributiontoSEATOandenoughcombatairpowerinSingaporeandButterworthtodetertheIndonesiansbehindConfrontationfromdoingevensillierthings.Gonebutnotforgotten,it’slegacylivedon-mostimportantlyintheFPDA,theFivePowerDefenceArrangements,underwhichUKaircraftreturnedregularlyforexercisesandRAAFaircraftstilldeploytoday;byacontinuedRAAFfighterpresenceatButterworth,wellafteritbecameanRMAFbasein1970;andIADS,theIntegratedAirDefenceSystemstaffedmainlybyAustralia,MalaysiaandSingapore.ItalsolivesoninthememoriesofallwhoserveditduringtheturbulentandworryingColdWartimes-timesnowlonggonethanksinparttoFEAFanditscontributiontothefightagainstCommunism,andwithitthemuchbetterworldtoAustralia’snearnorthtoday.