Gosh, is that really G-AMPZ? I didn’t realise she was still around!
This was G-AMPZ being operated by American Indonesian Oil. Photographed after an major service at Paya Lebar, Singapore February 1962. A regular visitor then just before Sukarno took over foreign oil interests in Indonesia and got in ‘The Confrontation’.
Lots more 60’s archive stills on my aviation blog: http://www.focalplanes.co.uk
David
Frank,
I found those interesting.
The first pic shows the Buccs entering the ‘Eastern Dispersal’ from the north. That wasn’t possible in the time I was at Changi (ie 1961 to 64). All aircraft had to come in from the runway.There’s also a new hangar in the background as well, so lots of alterations to the 205/215 Sqdns dispersal must have taken place.
A couple of Shack MR3’s at the end of 205s MR2’s line-up as well, visitors I guess.
Those Victorious 801 Sqdn Buccaneers would have been on the ships ‘last commission’. The notorious fire put her back into dry-dock and the decision was made to scrap her in 1967. The excuse was also that she couldn’t be adapted for Phantoms.
Here’s a Bucc S1 at Changi in 1964. Different paint sceme to those Buccs S2’s in your pics.
1964 was still early days for the Bucc’s and the Gyron Junior engines of the S1’s were under powered…requiring take-offs with less than full fuel. They also didn’t like the heat I believe. It did become a great aircraft of course.
Do read ‘Phoenix Squdron’ by Roland White.
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