Ops-Normal.org

RAF Changi 1967
Quite a unique film showing the route to RAF Changi airfield, passing Changi Jail, then crossing the runway itself.
Shots of a Gloucester Meteor taxiing and C-130 Hercules landing.

That must have been one of the first Hercules to enter RAF service.

I flew into Changi a couple of times about a year after this film was made and then again many years later as a civilian pilot out of San Francisco after Changi had become the civilian airport. Obviously the layout of buildings on the field had changed and there was a second runway in use but you could still recognise the old RAF ramps where we used to park and Changi Prison was still visible on the far side of the field.

During the first visits Raffles hotel was entering faded elegance but by the time of the second visits it had been renovated although they did a good job of keeping some of the nice features such as the Tiffin Room.

.

they did a good job of keeping some of the nice features such as the Tiffin Room.

...... and the Slingapore Sling !!

Ex
What was the Lighting squadron there later. Was it 39? I remember the tiger badge and the "tiger's leap"

.

74 at Tengah

Transited RAF Changi Feb/March '67. Spent nearly 3 weeks waiting for a spare seat on a Britannia, whilst ostensibly AWOL UK.

A weird thing to remember I suppose but it was the lines of businesses, food, suits, souvenirs for sale on the road immediately outside the main gate, all in what looked like UK market day stalls.

.

Didn't want to start a new thread for this so thought that I would post it here. The start of the Hong Kong slip. Note that of course the boss had to start it and look who he was I hope that this isn't a members only page.

http://www.10sqnass.co.uk/images/PDF/At ... 9hrsHK.pdf

boing wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 16, 2022 4:34 pm

Ex
What was the Lighting squadron there later. Was it 39? I remember the tiger badge and the "tiger's leap"

.

13 and 39 were always PR squadrons latterly flying Canberras and now both flying Reapers.

in February Boac wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 16, 2022 4:54 pm

74 at Tengah

There was no Lightning Squadron at Changi.

I liked Changi village because it was still a slight overlap of the old Chinese style and the new generation. I was buying a calculator, the first one I ever owned. After the usual haggle the nice young lady "for you best price,la" she showed me her figuring on the calculator. Enter Dad, rapid verbal exchange and he fetched out an abacus to check her work on the calculator!
Yes, it was 74 at Tengah when one of the young rips won a prize in a bar downtown for gagging down a "yard" of Tiger beer. The prize? All the Tiger he could drink for a year. Ouch!

The Ancient Mariner

It was still better than San Miguel from Manila! Best tasting was Courage Sparkling Bitter (CSB) and at 5% much cheaper to get off the face on but not available in the various dives we frequented.

I think it was Changi that I had a Mk2 Shackleton flight from one night in late 1966, long before I started flying training. No spare seat so for landing and take off I was braced against the main spar where it crossed the cabin. I remember flying over the Horsburgh Light and after landing we were surrounded by eager fire trucks as the brakes had overheated. It was great to experience the ASW 'battle' from the other side.

Another video on RAF Changi, starts with a Vulcan taking off.
Part 2