Singapore 1960's

Singapore Aviation

Thanks for sharing and am most amazed with the wealth of photo collection out there relating to aviation in Singapore.
Am particularly impressed with David’s collection in his website which I drew much new knowledge of the RAF years in Singapore.
In my own time, I had written a book to chronicle the major developments in aviation on this small island nation which now boasts 5 airfields. The book will not do justice to the contributions of the RAF and other British services towards the development of aviation in Singapore. I tried, however, to incorporate as much as I can into the book with help from the RAF Museum, IWM and the local national archives.
The book had also been recentlly reviewed in June edition of Air Britain Aviation World.

http://www.stpressbooks.com.sg/Where-Lions-Fly-100-Years-of-Aviation-in-Singapore-1911-2011.html
YK Goh
Singapore

Pics, Route Maps, Tower Bldg, developments.

Hello All,
Some more 1960s Paya Lebar pics after a dig in the archives!. The route maps are from some 1962 airline timetables, Malayan AW, Garuda, and Thai AW, Malayan became Malaysia Singapore AL, before they separated into MAS and SIA as we know them today.

The new Control Tower building in 1961, it was not immediately occupied once completed, and with no initial security, myself and two other pals were able to get on to the roof via the internal stairs for a couple of weeks, but this soon ended once the move from the old terminal was initiated. The other pics show the new terminal alongside, and the last two is the same building over the fence of the RSAF base (as it became), on 2007 and 2009 visits to the Island State.

The final images are of a landside view of the old terminal, and the proposed expansion of Paya Lebar but not proceeded with, due to the decision to develop Changi as the future civil airport for Singapore.

Gerry R

6 more from Paya Lebar

[ATTACH]198505[/ATTACH] Another 6 pics of Singapore Paya Lebar in the early 60’s, admittedly a couple are of poor quality but just discernable. The first one is of a Thai airways DC 6B on turnround before its return to Bangkok. The Viscount, one of two of Malayan airways, arrived from Kuching Borneo. The second pic was taken on a different day showing anotherThai DC 6B departing, the photo’s were taken at the main security gate between the Qantas and Malayan airways hangars, with the old terminal being behind me. The poor quality one shows a Garuda Convair 240 landing during the 1961 air show, Garuda then had a daily return service:- Jakarta-Singapore-Medan (Sumartra) with this type, please note the old control tower atop the far hangar.
At the 1961 air show, New Zealand was represented by the RNZAF, providing this fly-past by a trio of Bristol Freighters, the static park included two types from the Aussie navy, Gannet AS 4 and Sea Venom FAW 53 from HMAS Melbourne. The last photo depicts the old terminal showing the pedestrian footbridge (at Right), which led directly to the roof viewing area, at left is the Qantas hangar, near the centre of the pic part of the old control tower can be seen.

On the subject of RAF Seletar in my previous post, I apologise to those not in the know, for the use of twinpin and meatbox, which are RAF slang for the Twin Pioneer and Meteor respectively. After posting I realised not everyone would be familiar with these terms, it was not my intention to cause confusion!, if at all.
On the subject of the Meteor, occasionally some aircraft would arrive back at base after a sortie over our school at near maximum speed, which would produce a unique howl before they slowed to break for landing, this sound always got our attention wether in class or outside.
Thanks again to all for the feedback and interesting info to my first post on the subject.
Gerry R.

[ATTACH]198506[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]198507[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]198508[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]198509[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]198510[/ATTACH]

Great feedback Guys

Thanks to all for your feedback, am grateful.
Forgot to mention the last aircraft in the colour photo was a then new KLM DC8 on its Amsterdam to Jakarta service. I have afew more negatives, once they are developed I will post.
Terricfic photo’s in your focal planes David, and in answer to your question I attended Seletar Secondary school, Pioneers, Twin Pins and Meatboxes over our school daily, when the carriers were in the navy usually sent their Skyraiders to Seletar as a temporary shore base, great stuff. The Beverley caused a stir when they first arrived, 5 in all, our scout hut was on the other side of the airfield so we had a good look at them each week, if we were early then there was a derelict Valetta adjacent to the scout hut to while away the time.
Needless to say Payar lebar was a paradise for myself and school pals, indeed halcyon days.
Gerry R

Hi Gerry,

Great to see some aircraft photos from someone else who was at Singapore in the early 60’s. Where do you go to school Gerry? I was 14 when I arrived in 1961 and went to Changi Grammar. Wonderful years of ‘miss-spent youth’ watching planes!
Here’s ‘snap’ to your photo of the 3 Sqdn RAAF sabres:

The airshow was for the opening of Paya Lebar civil airport and was held over a number of days, from the 8th to 16th of April 1961.

David

my Singapore aircraft photos are at www.focalplanes.co.uk
when I can get around to posting them…I’ve over 1000!

At first I was wondering if the Jav was that silver 5 sqn machine, but concur with Lauriebe. It appears to have the coloured (dayglo orange) fin & wing leading edges and looks to be a FAW.7 rather than a later mark.

Lovely pics, thanks for sharing, especially like the trio of Valiants breaking.

That Javelin photo is very interesting.

It is most likely XH754 which was operated from Changi for a period on high speed trials of the rain dispersal system that was to be installed in the TSR 2.

Changi was chosen to take adventage of the heavy rainfalls in the tropics. The topside of the aircraft was also painted a high gloss white as part of the trials.

This aircraft was only used for trials work by the makers, A&AEE and RAE during its service.

Lovely pictures – thanks for posting them.