VoyForums Notice -- Quick Contributions:
Donate $10 to the Red Cross: Text the word REDCROSS to 90999
Donate $10 to the Salvation Army: Text the word STORM to 80888
* The charge will appear on your cellphone bill.
Date Posted: 5/11/03 23:27:09 Author:George Hall Subject: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960
I would like to hear from anyone from our small group
at JATCC, Singapore from 1958-1960. Although we worked at Paya Lebar Airport we were stationed at RAF Seletar. Many of us were from the last batch of National Servicemen seriving in the Royal Air Force.
Just a quick one, did you know there is a Seletar Association for ex RAF Seletar types, I have been a member for about eighteen months and have taken advantage of membership and taken my wife back to Singapore to look at the island, the old station and Paya Lebar (now a Singapore Armed Forces airfield). Just look for RAF Seletar on the web and you will find an entry by Dave Taylor, he is membership secretary.
Also getting a few photographs together, will send them by the net in the near future.
Remember Sqn Ldr Cutts (C.O) Sgt. Bill Swan, Wally Guildford Miles (my old mate) Dave Peters, Johnny Porter, Pablo Rinaldi; faces I remember but names long gone.
Good days, Good friends!!
At Jatcc Feb 1960 to Aug 62. Remember S/Ldr Cutts good C.O. W.O. McNally Comms W.O. Bill Trewin Controller, Fred Jolley Ops. Good place to be posted to especially during the change over to new ops Block
Must be a feew more us olduns out there somewhere?
Cheers to all ex Jatcc
Hi Jim, we never met however, I was stationed at WSCRZT from 1967 to 1979, Sqd Ldr Terry Miles was our C/O, a great guy, Fair, By the book operator, knew his job plus. Was one of a number of great C/O's I had in a period of 9 years. When I was at Changi in 1967, JATCC was operated by Singaporeans, I worked with D1 most times, I understand the transition was smooth so I guess you earlier guys did a creditable job of training. Peak times saw around 300 plus movements in a day, we had a large number of 'Air America' white painted jobs, a few DC 3's from Cambodia and a fair number of black painted unknown types arrive after dark, and always leaving in the dark, the skippers all had yank accents so it doesn't take much to guess what they were up to.Vietnam was very busy during that period with the build up of American 'Advisors' and C130's abounded. VC 10's off the SJ Beacon were a delight. The Station Commander of Changi took many of us up into the D 1 and I.F area to see what good navigation was about, it was a busy time, loved every moment, except when we lost a Lightning as a result of failed hydraulics, then a Shackleton in the Indian Ocean
also a Javelin, though I am unable to recall the ID of the Jav, the Shacklebomber was a 205/209 job, very sad loss.
Hi Bob. I remember Sqd Ldr Coutts, Wally Miles, Fred Jolly, Stretch etc. Many names have gone but memories haven't.
I'm a geordie too as was "geordie" Eric Alinson whom the Ding dong sisters called Chacku Si.(pronounced not spelt) when he left I got that name.
LAC - Corporal George Earl.
Hi George, hope you are still around, a couple of oldies are in conract, Mac Smedley & Dave Peters, all of us on the Ops side. I was there from April 1959 - June 1960. Wally Miles was my good mate, Please reply we would love to hear from you and any other Jatcc types,
Geordie
To George Hall
I was stationed at DaNang air base in 1960 and 1961, The VA is denying me benefits for Agent Orange exposure (diabetes) and PTSD, they claim that there wasn't any Agent Orange in Vietnam at that time and that there wasn't any combat (I saw the spraying and delivered barrels to the air field and also was in combat). I need first hand information that Agent Orange was being delivered to Vietnam during that time and that there was combat in the area of DaNang, they tell me if I have a witness they will accept it as proof. If you have any information or rememember deliveries or combat I would really appreciate it if you would share it with me.
Steve Donnerstag
The MoD has denied for many years that British Forces were involved in Vietnam, we know better. As for Agent Orange my service in the Far East did not begin until Jan 1963 so I am unable to answer your question. You could try asking a Dr Frank Tims in the USA email ftims@aol.com
Also the US freedom of information act is a bit more flexible than ours so a straight forward question to their Defence Dept might get you results.
Steve
Regarding Agent Orange you might find this of some use to you http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange
Were you British Forces at the time as you are claiming agianst the Vets Agency? Looks like the UK are denying any involvement there, although a GSM (Vietnam) was issued that was allegedly for ANZACs and not Brits, but I have heard rumours that we were involved more than once!
John Cooper
Hi Graham (alias 'Nomber Satu'!!) we had a few 'Tiger Tops' in the NAAFI & Brit Club together. I have a photo of your 'boat party' somewhere. If anyone knows whereabouts of Pete Hemsley (Commcen Wireless Op) I would like to know.
Ian Shields JATCC 1963 - 1965.
Hi tony senior here that is the frist time i've seen a name i remember john schofied he had my grundig tape player when i left. Great place to work!! Coke machine full of tiger at christmas 20cents a bottle and i got told off! Christmas 63 started in dec finished late jan. Dec 3 63 all hell break lose 3 a/c moves to 34 in 3/4 of an hour. (great way to pass a sunday). Then later in year 4mtyhs in kuching. Hope to hear from someone soon tone.
I was at JATCC on the ADNC group that started in 1963? I was a radar operator working with Sgt Bob Brown.
If any one remembers that group I would like to hear from you
I served at Jatcc '58-'61- ops B watch with a great bunch of fellas I'd love to hear from.Rod Olney,Pete (ten trains)Fawcett, "sludge" Little, Geordie Walton,Wally Miles,Lile Thomson,Dave Peters,Johnnie Porter et al. Where are you now fellas? Cheers from Mac Smedley.
I recall the good old days of JATCC 1958 - 1961 with fond memories.I recall many names from those days Rod Olney, Geotge Weller, Barry Palethorpe, Andy Somerville, Dave McCarthy,
Phil Bennet, Jack Straw, Bob Peebles, Geordie Walton. Lyle Thompson, Sludge Little. Brian Kelly,Johnny Brown,John Porter, Rinaldi, Brian Thompson --and officers (not really friends) Harry Hemsley Hall, Buck Taylor.
I have only returned to live in the UK following a good 16 years in Spain.If ever you hear of a reunion please let me know details.
Fond regards,
Long time since the good old days at JATCC ! What a good posting that was !!!!
I have not long returned to UK after 16 glorious years living in Spain and saw your request for contact from former colleagues on the recently (for me) discovered JATCC website. I still recall many names from the past in addition to those you have already mentioned, amongst them – Brian Kelly, Johnny Brown, Jonny Porter, ? Rinaldi, Brian Thomson, Lyle Thompson, Dave McCarthy, David Couper, Bob Peebles, Ken Greenway, David McBain, Hector Colvin, George Weller, Stan Matthews, Reg Bagnall, Jack Shaw and Sgt Smith and some of our officers, Sqd Ldr Harry Hemsley Hall, F/L Buck Taylor , F/L Rogers, F/L Harrington and many other guys whose names do not come readily to mind but I am sure will do eventually.
Should you ever hear of any reunion please let me know. I would do whatever it takes to be there.
Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- George Earl, 4/07/10 20:56:29 
Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Mac Smedley, 25/10/11 3:58:59