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Wed, Jan 07 2004, 0:55:28 [ VoyUser Login optional ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1 ]

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Date Posted: 9/12/04 11:12:11
Author: Richard Murphy
Subject: RAF Changi - the last ten years

Given that Changi was such a huge and vibrant station, I find it remarkable that there is so little info about it on the web. John Cooper's excellent detail on Gan should serve as a template.
I lived at Changi as a dependent from '63 to '71, so I was priviledged to see a huge variety of aircraft during that time. Quite apart from the station's RAF squadrons, Changi was home to the ancient Bristol Freighters of the RNZAF and frequently played host to the Fleet Air Arm when the senior service (ahem!) arrived at the Naval Base at Sembawang. Throw into the mix all the US aircraft which dropped by, the VC10s and other miscellaneous birds, and Changi was an aircraft spotter's paradise!
C'mon folks, there must be a huge amount of material out there.
Happy to natter with anyone who wishes to reminice!
Richard Murphy.

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Replies:

[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- John Cooper, 9/12/04 16:02:28

yes Richard, very little on the web re Changi, I do know that the RAF Changi Association have a very large archive department but it isn't on the web.

One of those Kiwi Vibrators was still flying in Canada until recently, I believe it is NZ5910 ?? and is in some museum.

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Terry K Offord, 24/05/05 7:34:47

>I served at Changi (1956-60 and then 1967-70) I was an Ops Clerk then later, Runway Controller and Air Traffic Controller. Changi was the best of five bases I ever served at.I completed my service at Changi then emmigrated to Kiwiland and later Oz where I have lived for 7 years. The aircraft (civil and military) who visited Changi were a fantastic mix if Prop/Prop Jet/Jets from the 4 corners of the world. I recall that a Quantas Jet landed at Changi, after the skipper had lined up for Paya Lebar after leaving St John Beacon, that was a surprise to everyone, on another occasion, I had to collect landing fees from an Air Laos DC3, on entering the cockpit of the old Gooney bird, I was amazed to see that it was equipped with the very latest $3.00 'Scouts' type compass which had been duly lashed to the 'dash' along with a 'Diamond'Brand Chinese made alarm 'chronometer', the crew spoke no English, which no doubt accounted for the right hand circuit they'd flown prior to landing, oh yes, the skipper and his off-sider were both wearing 'flip-flops' too, but then of course, these were still the days of the rugged individualist!
I have photos of the 'Pigs', Hastings, Dan-Air Yorks, Canadair CL 44's, Hercy Birds Avro 748's etc, all on a swap 1/1 basis.What do you have?
Not much at all about Changi on the net, great pity, it was one of the best kept and best run RAF bases I had the pleasure of serving on.
Keep smiling
Terry.K.'O'

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Martin John Shelvey, 10/01/06 16:23:19

The "Air Laos" aircraft brought back memories. When I went on detachment to Vientienne 1961 with 209 sqdn (pioneers) The airport was full of old Dakotas ,Curtis Commandos (yes) etc all of them had very small ident numbers ( they were used for opium trafficking) we believed..Great time was had by us.. our crew room was local massage parlour

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Brian Grainger, 28/01/06 19:07:39

I was at Air Movements Section RAF Changi from Sept55
to Dec 57. I was a corporal working in Load Control
I also flew about 110hrs as AQM (Loadmaster) for Far East Com Sqdn, Far EastTransport Wing, In particular I flew several night flights from Changi to Hong Kong (Kai Tak)
when 48 sqdn was converting to Hastings and before they were cleared for Passenger flights. Prior to the Hastings, services were carried out with Valettas which took two days Stopping at Labuan and Clarkfield(Night Stop)taking on full tanks at Clark as there was no diversion to Kai Tak. This restricted the payload somewhat. I flew through out the far East from Negombo(Katunayake)to Hong Kong. I left the RAF and worked as a Traffic officer at Heathrow also doing some Loadmastering and Stewarding
Probably the best part of my working life. I now drive a bus part time still in the transport business.

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Charles Kumar, 3/07/08 8:15:03

Hi Terry im a Singaporean i was living and working at RAF CHANGI in the 60s you can contact me for further details Tel 98154495
Regards
Kumar

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Kumar, 7/07/08 18:03:04

Hi im Kumar i live in changi village from 1951 to 1971 please contact me 98154495

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Terry K Offord, 18/07/08 5:15:12

Hi Mr Charles Kumar,
I did respond to your intial note, I prefer you contact me by email as I am frequently away from home.Telephone calls from Australia are expensive and as a pensioner, I much prefer to use the email system, cheaper, faster.
Cheers for now, Terry 'O'

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- dave marshall, 20/12/06 15:35:44

I was on 1574 Target facilities flight 1964-1966. We were on a disperal of PSP at the end of the runway before the creek We had 3 Meteor TT20, 4 meteor F8 and a T7.I was actually as well as as an Airframe Fitter I also had a terrible job as a target towing operator actually sitting in the back seat of the TT20 winding the target drogues in and out and letting the army navy and the Raf regiment shooting various sizes of gun at us!!!!

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- mick moroney, 22/07/07 10:57:35

i was born in sinapore in july 53 my father mick moroney was at the time based in changi, my mother and three older sisters where also there, wondered if any one who was there at the same time remembers my father.
I came across this site as i was researhing sinapore as myself and my husband are going there on fri. 27th july for 2 nights on route to australia

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Kumar, 11/07/08 6:11:36

Hi Maria i was working at RAF Changi at that time the RAF base is just like little England where nearly 20,000 RAF personnel and their families live there were schools hospitals shops etc it was beautiful.

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Kumar, 11/07/08 6:18:14

Hi Maria walker i was working at RAF Changi at that time the RAF base is just like little England where nearly 20,000 RAF personnel and their families live there were schools hospitals shops etc it was beautiful.

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- maria spohn, 12/03/08 0:59:05

hi, my full name is maria walker, my dad served in changi also, he was RAF and im not sure how long he was stationed there but i do know i was born there april 1970. I was trying to find pictures of the base to keep for myself im very curious to where i was born. if anyone has any info for around that time frame i would love to hear from any and all, what is was like ect or even pictures would be great...thankyou

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