Steve, this was the most interesting for me:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30791&highlight=WG871

There is another link within that post which gives more of the story. The pilot’s story was also the subject of a two-part article in the September & October 2009 issues of FlyPast.

My research is pretty well finished now and, if this is the sort of thing that you are looking for, I would be happy to provide more details.

Regards,

Laurie.

Tim, to try and answer your question re MSFU codes. In Ken Delve’s “Source Book of the RAF”, he shows the codes KE, NJ & LU as being allocated to the Unit. The late Ray Sturtivant, in “RAF Flying Training and Support Units Since 1912”, lists another code in addition to those mentioned above. That code is XS.

Hope that helps.

Roger, thanks and water it is. Hence the fire hoses in some photos. When I arrived, the staff had just started the quarterly exercise of washing out the hangar. It was about 45 minutes before I could gain access.

That had its upside as the barriers had been removed and I could get closer to the exhibits than would have been otherwise possible.

The Devon is FM1051.

The airfield that you saw was not Klang but Sungai Besi and is the home of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) Museum. I was there last week and got some reasonable shots.

In the outdoor exhibit area are:

The first aircraft that the RMAF took on charge, SA Twin Pioneer.

HU-16 Albatross.

DHC4 Caribou.

A4 PTM Skyhawk.

2 x CA-27 Sabre Mk 32s.

Awaiting restoration:

DHC1 Chipmunk.

DH Devon.

I did not take a photo of the Heron as, although it might look “immmaculate”
from a distance, at present it is undergoing extensive renovation. Also awaiting restoration in the same area as the Heron is an Alloutte.

Checking Colin Cummings’ ‘Last Take-off’, he gives the following explanation:

16 May 52 AT670 Oxford T1 14FTS Near Brough

The aircraft entered a spin and the pilot abandoned the aircraft. Unfortunately, he pulled the rip cord early and the parachute snagged, buffeting him against the fuselage and injuring him fatally

l have now been able to check through the books that I have here. No mention of any shoot-down. I can find four Sunderland losses in the area during the Korean conflict:

Two, from 209 Sqn (PP164 & RN277), were due to damage during typhoons whilst anchored in Japanese bases.

One. PP148 (88 Sqn), was lost during a landing on heavy seas at Iwakuni.

The last, also from 88 Sqn (RN302), was lost off Tsushima Island, Japan, when one engine caught fire and another lost power. It forcelanded at sea and was scuttled.

Like Pondskater, I would be interested in learning more of the incident related in the first post.

Sounds as though it was a good event. Well done to all.

Any chance of some piccies so that those of us who reside in the former colonies can see what was on show?

Not yet! But Ros will bail me out!:D