Just got myself a new scanner that works with Windows XP. So, I decided to scan in some of my fathers photos from when he was in Malaya between 1952 & 54. Here is a sequence that has fascinated me since I can remember. It’s a supply drop into the jungle. Though some of you might like them. Judging by the door layout I think the a/c is a Dakota/C47.
The comments with the pics are those written in the album. Those in brackets are mine.
Pic 1. Waiting
By: smokeyjoe - 17th January 2005 at 14:05
I dont think the pics are of a HASTINGS,you can get 2 landrovers and trailers inside but these pics they would have to be the matchbox version.
By: lauriebe - 14th March 2004 at 12:28
John, I stand corrected. Having rechecked the door arrangement, you are right. The aircraft is a Hastings.
The only Hastings unit permanently stationed in the Far East was 48 Sqn, also at Changi. They gave up their Valetta’s and re-equipped with the Hastings in May ’57. If these photos were taken in the period 52 – 54, the aircraft must have been on short term detachment from elsewhere. It would be interesting to find out which unit they were from. Any Hastings photos in the collection, Shorty?
Regards,
Laurie.
By: Shorty01 - 14th March 2004 at 08:33
Talking Dakotas, I forgot this one. Malaysian Airways Dakota.
The second photo shows light coming from a round window on the back of the door. Valettas had square windows as far as I know. So we are back to the Hastings.
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th March 2004 at 08:25
Originally posted by lauriebe
The interior shots are taken in a Valetta. The Hastings was much wider.
The internal views are from a Hastings, a Valetta did not have a starboard door (meaning that is one looking from the tail to the nose on the right side)
52 & 110 squadron flew Pigs throughout the Far East from its base at Changi.
If anyone would like to see over 1000 photos of aircraft in the Far East, Valettas B Freighters, Hastings, Christmas Airways Daks etc then visit my other websiteat
By: Shorty01 - 14th March 2004 at 08:14
I’ve got a couple of albums full, though those are the only inflight ones as my father was an Air Traffic Controller. Good documentary photos of life on a 50’s RAF base in the colonies. It must have been paradise to a certain extent if you grew up in wartime Britain. Apart from the terrorists trying to kill you that is.
There are some shots in another album that I don’t have at present of some visiting swedish P51s & JU86s. You’ll have to wait for those though.
RAAF Lincoln attached.
By: lauriebe - 14th March 2004 at 02:21
The interior shots are taken in a Valetta. The Hastings was much wider. Most probably the aircraft are from 110 Sqn which, although based at Changi, had a detachment at Kuala Lumpur as well. 110 was equipped with the Valetta from Oct 51 until disbandment on 31 Dec 57. It reformed at KL on 3 June 1959, flying Whirlwind HAR 4s.
Great shots Shorty, do you have any more?
Regards,
Laurie.
By: Shorty01 - 13th March 2004 at 23:05
Here you go Flood. I make it WV195.
By: Flood - 13th March 2004 at 23:03
Originally posted by Shorty01
Partial view of the ops board in the KL tower. Chaps name is Johnny Oldham.
And just over his shoulder on the board is WJ497 of 110Sqn… A Valetta C.1.
The Meteor PR.10 is WB163 of 81Sqn, and the Meteor T.7 is WA861 which served with 60Sqn, the Far East Examination Sqn, the Far East Training Sqn, 60Sqn (again), and 81Sqn – all in the Far East – before being belly landed and DBR at Tengah 3/7/59.
The S.55 needs to have its serial number blown up to track it down…
Flood.
By: Shorty01 - 13th March 2004 at 22:54
He was RAF & there are a lot of Valettas lurking in the background of a fair few shots including the Meteor 10 above.
By: Distiller - 13th March 2004 at 22:40
You know what? Could be that aint no Handley Page Hastings, but a Vickers Valetta. They flew from Changi. Have to do a little research on that …
Was he RAF or RNZAF?
By: Shorty01 - 13th March 2004 at 22:28
BOAC Argonaut “Antares”.
By: Shorty01 - 13th March 2004 at 22:26
MATS Connie
By: Shorty01 - 13th March 2004 at 22:24
Partial view of the ops board in the KL tower. Chaps name is Johnny Oldham.
By: Shorty01 - 13th March 2004 at 22:22
RN S55. I was wondering if this was the RN S55 support deployment that Flypast ran a an article about about a year ago ?
By: Shorty01 - 13th March 2004 at 22:19
Meteor 7
By: Shorty01 - 13th March 2004 at 22:17
Yep, agreed. I’ll scan them all & do a web page. Here are a few a/c to be going on with.
Meteor 10. PR Nose.
By: Distiller - 13th March 2004 at 22:10
Yes, I think they match. The cars are standing in an identical position. It’s Kuala Lumpur/Sungai Besi.
By: Shorty01 - 13th March 2004 at 22:07
The Small Square window on the end wall matches if you consider one pic is looking from the front & the other from the back.
Distiller. Unfortunately I can only go on what is in the Album & my Fathers Service dates in Malaya. Sadly I can no longer ask him.
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th March 2004 at 22:05
The skirting around the second photo is like the one around the first pic of CT = 6 panels, taken from different angles but with similar antennae
By: Distiller - 13th March 2004 at 22:03
Something doesn’t compute here. Afaik no RNZAF Hastings were used in the Malayan Emergency, only Dakotas, but the pix above are very clearly Hastings.
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March 13, 2004 at 8:34 pm