RAF Changi - the last ten years -- The Royal Air Force

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Peter Holme, 14/12/08 1:57:55

Hi there, I was at RAF Changi base Signals as a SAC WOP during 1955/1958 seconded to JATCC Paya Lebar and to RAF Carnicobarwas billeted in Block 144. Peter Holme Australia

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Elisabeth Wittin, 21/03/16 15:53:44

Hello, just been reminiscing about my time in Changi between 1965 and 68 (11 plus days) and 1969 to 1971 (end of an era) My father was Sgt Douglas Wittin who was in HQPR&SS, and was one of the very last personnel to close the gates on RAF Changi. We have very profound memories of our time there, still very fresh. Sailing at the yacht club, swimming lessons, brownies, guides and boats with the scouts!!! Wonderful, anyone out there who remembers that time? Lis

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[> [> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Marjorie Corbett nee Wilñson, 10/01/18 16:42:14

I Was posted to RAF Changi in April 1957, and served in Air Traffic Control. I returned to the UK in November 1958.
I have found this picture of myself and my friend Ann taken on the balcony of the Control Tower, which I have attached. The uniform was the dress in a sand colour,with black buttons, ankle socks, the same colour, and brown sandles on our feet. I seem to remember they were called chappies.
Hope this is useful. Sorry could not attach the photo
Regards
Marjorie Corbett

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Linz Williams, 9/11/17 16:08:56

I am writing my autobiog at the moment and am writing about my first days as a WRAF at Changi. Finding it very difficult to get a pic of a tropical WRAF dress. I know we wore sandals, but cannot find them either.
By the way I run a Group on FB called British Joint Services: the Singapore Years if anyone interested.

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[> [> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- jane, 17/02/24 19:09:15

hi I have a photo of my Mum in uniform (midwife RAF) in Changi drop me a line and I am happy to share, she passed away when I was 13 I am trying to find out more information about her at the moment any leads / tips and hints you may have would be gratefully received thanks Jane xxx

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Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Terry K Offord, 24/05/05 7:34:47

>I served at Changi (1956-60 and then 1967-70) I was an Ops Clerk then later, Runway Controller and Air Traffic Controller. Changi was the best of five bases I ever served at.I completed my service at Changi then emmigrated to Kiwiland and later Oz where I have lived for 7 years. The aircraft (civil and military) who visited Changi were a fantastic mix if Prop/Prop Jet/Jets from the 4 corners of the world. I recall that a Quantas Jet landed at Changi, after the skipper had lined up for Paya Lebar after leaving St John Beacon, that was a surprise to everyone, on another occasion, I had to collect landing fees from an Air Laos DC3, on entering the cockpit of the old Gooney bird, I was amazed to see that it was equipped with the very latest $3.00 'Scouts' type compass which had been duly lashed to the 'dash' along with a 'Diamond'Brand Chinese made alarm 'chronometer', the crew spoke no English, which no doubt accounted for the right hand circuit they'd flown prior to landing, oh yes, the skipper and his off-sider were both wearing 'flip-flops' too, but then of course, these were still the days of the rugged individualist!
I have photos of the 'Pigs', Hastings, Dan-Air Yorks, Canadair CL 44's, Hercy Birds Avro 748's etc, all on a swap 1/1 basis.What do you have?
Not much at all about Changi on the net, great pity, it was one of the best kept and best run RAF bases I had the pleasure of serving on.
Keep smiling
Terry.K.'O'

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Martin John Shelvey, 10/01/06 16:23:19

The "Air Laos" aircraft brought back memories. When I went on detachment to Vientienne 1961 with 209 sqdn (pioneers) The airport was full of old Dakotas ,Curtis Commandos (yes) etc all of them had very small ident numbers ( they were used for opium trafficking) we believed..Great time was had by us.. our crew room was local massage parlour

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Brian Grainger, 28/01/06 19:07:39

I was at Air Movements Section RAF Changi from Sept55
to Dec 57. I was a corporal working in Load Control
I also flew about 110hrs as AQM (Loadmaster) for Far East Com Sqdn, Far EastTransport Wing, In particular I flew several night flights from Changi to Hong Kong (Kai Tak)
when 48 sqdn was converting to Hastings and before they were cleared for Passenger flights. Prior to the Hastings, services were carried out with Valettas which took two days Stopping at Labuan and Clarkfield(Night Stop)taking on full tanks at Clark as there was no diversion to Kai Tak. This restricted the payload somewhat. I flew through out the far East from Negombo(Katunayake)to Hong Kong. I left the RAF and worked as a Traffic officer at Heathrow also doing some Loadmastering and Stewarding
Probably the best part of my working life. I now drive a bus part time still in the transport business.

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Charles Kumar, 3/07/08 8:15:03

Hi Terry im a Singaporean i was living and working at RAF CHANGI in the 60s you can contact me for further details Tel 98154495
Regards
Kumar

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[> [> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Gina north, 30/12/16 16:26:05

Hi Kumar,

Where did you work. I was at CCS 69 to pull out.

Gina

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Kumar, 7/07/08 18:03:04

Hi im Kumar i live in changi village from 1951 to 1971 please contact me 98154495

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[> [> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Rhiannon Bell, 13/05/13 4:41:49

Hi Kumar and Terry, I am a student doing an oral history interview project on my mothers life. She was born in Changi hospital, and her father was a doctor seconded to the RAF in Singapore. I was wondering if either of ou could share your experiences with me via email at rhian.bell@gmail.com.

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Terry K Offord, 18/07/08 5:15:12

Hi Mr Charles Kumar,
I did respond to your intial note, I prefer you contact me by email as I am frequently away from home.Telephone calls from Australia are expensive and as a pensioner, I much prefer to use the email system, cheaper, faster.
Cheers for now, Terry 'O'

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[> [> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Peter Monks, 13/12/11 11:53:53

Hi Dave Marshall.
I was at Changi, Station Workshops, from 1965-67. I fell in the stormwater drain running past target towing flight one Christmas. Had been touring the various seasonal bars around the camp and fell in trying to walk across a sttel pipe halfway down. those were the days!

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Elizabeth Donovan (nee Harris), 9/05/12 19:09:05

My father served as an Air Traffic Controller at Changi between 1958 and 61. His name was Laurie Harris. Sadly he passed away in 2000, but I am trying to piece together information. If anyone remembers him let me know, would love to hear from you.

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Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- dave marshall, 20/12/06 15:35:44

I was on 1574 Target facilities flight 1964-1966. We were on a disperal of PSP at the end of the runway before the creek We had 3 Meteor TT20, 4 meteor F8 and a T7.I was actually as well as as an Airframe Fitter I also had a terrible job as a target towing operator actually sitting in the back seat of the TT20 winding the target drogues in and out and letting the army navy and the Raf regiment shooting various sizes of gun at us!!!!

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Peter Chatfield, 26/10/14 14:51:40

Hi there, I was at RAF Changi 1961 to 1964 as my dad was a medic based on the camp. I was lucky enough to be allowed to fly in the meteors, had my own 'bone dome' and suit. I remember the T7, F8 but I thought there was also some NF14's based there. I also did 'circuits an bumps' in the Hastings, went up in the Shakletons on anti-pirate patrol. oh how loved being out there, kind regards Chatters

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Kevin Somers, 16/03/16 4:19:10

Greetings Peter Chatfield, I attended Changi secondary modern between 1961 - 1964. Dad was a senior technician at FEAFOC, how cud u forget that acronym. I was in the ATC, but don't recall getting any flights, vaguely remember putting my face in at the flight mess? To ask for a flight opportunity on a shackleton (my favourite) but I think it was going on a long op att. Thoroughly enjoyed watching all the different aircraft land and taking off at Changi airbase. The 'beverleys' were the ones to watch high wing, four piston engines, they took forever to get airbourne and the noise! Must have been the full RAF band inside? Anyway lots of memories, I had a crush on a grammar school girl named Morag Bunting, she lived in the block next to ours on Upavon road. Cya

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Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- mick moroney, 22/07/07 10:57:35

i was born in sinapore in july 53 my father mick moroney was at the time based in changi, my mother and three older sisters where also there, wondered if any one who was there at the same time remembers my father.
I came across this site as i was researhing sinapore as myself and my husband are going there on fri. 27th july for 2 nights on route to australia

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Kumar, 11/07/08 6:11:36

Hi Maria i was working at RAF Changi at that time the RAF base is just like little England where nearly 20,000 RAF personnel and their families live there were schools hospitals shops etc it was beautiful.

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Kumar, 11/07/08 6:18:14

Hi Maria walker i was working at RAF Changi at that time the RAF base is just like little England where nearly 20,000 RAF personnel and their families live there were schools hospitals shops etc it was beautiful.

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- maria spohn, 12/03/08 0:59:05

hi, my full name is maria walker, my dad served in changi also, he was RAF and im not sure how long he was stationed there but i do know i was born there april 1970. I was trying to find pictures of the base to keep for myself im very curious to where i was born. if anyone has any info for around that time frame i would love to hear from any and all, what is was like ect or even pictures would be great...thankyou

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- John Feltham, 10/12/08 1:01:58

I was posted to Changi in 1962.

Our eldest daughter was born in RAF Changi Hospital.

A few weeks later I was posted to the RAF Element - RAAF Butterworth.

I stayed there for the rest of my tour.

I spent 90% of my time on 52 Sqdn. In December 1962 Konfrontasi started so I spent a lot of time out on detachment to RAF Labuan.

After returning to the UK I was posted to RAF Wyton, 61 Sqdn. I managed another trip back to Changi for a six week detachment with 61.

The mess at that time (around1966 - 67) was fabulous. The best RAF Mess that I ever saw in the RAF.

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Mick Hoyle, 20/02/11 4:40:15

Does anyone know where I can find war records for RAF casualties in 1946 as my uncle who was an RAF pilot is named on the Kranji War Memorial? 1946 is an odd date as I thought the war was over then and the only clue I have is the 1946 wall says �Kumar� and I have no idea what that means..

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Martin Woodward, 16/01/12 15:36:58

My father Jack Woodward was stationed at RAF changi he was a
Flight sargent, I lived at Manston Road with my mother Isobel,from 1956/57/58 and I went to RAF changi school.
I would liked to no if any one else remembers living in manston road at that time or my mother and Father, I was 10
in 1956. living in the same road was Ann Sinton, David, colin, and Richard Stocker who were the same age as me.
I also went on holiday to Hong Kong with my parents on a ship called the Empire Fowey at that time.

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Kevin Somers, 18/03/16 8:59:30

An Aussie G'day to you Mr Al, trust you are in good health? I was a school-kid in Changi Secondary Modern '61 - 64 but I remember my father 'Paddy Somers' a communications technician being seconded to 'Borneo' from RAF Changi, he did a 3 month stint there during the Indonesian confrontation. Our block,at Changi was being 'renovated' also at that time,bit of a worry. Dad didn't appreciate working with the 'rock apes' (British Army} in Borneo, but I still do not know what location he was working in, maybe it was Labuan also? Dad passed away in 2014, so my family have plenty of memorabilia here...So interested in filling in a few gaps.

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[> [> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Yvonne Downard (nee Lowther), 14/10/17 21:30:51

I was also at RAF Changi when President Kennedy was assassinated, in the Airmen's mess. Was just trying to do some research when I came across your item. So that must have been 22 November 1963. I was in the WRAF working at the time at HQ FEAF

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Al Read, 10/03/12 20:21:28

I was posted to Singapore end of 1961 to 1963. My son was born in Changi hospital on the same day president kennedy was shot. Also I had a 6mth detachment to RAF Labuan during my tour. Now it seems a long time ago but good memories

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Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Frank Bowron, 10/10/12 9:08:52

I was at Changi from '69 to when it closed in '71, working in Electrical Engineering Squadron (aka "The Gin Palace") It was indeed the best station in the Royal Air Force and lacked nothing in the way of facilities and things to do. I never had so much fun before or since. When I flew out on the VC10 I looked down on Singapore and said to myself "I'll be back" and I have been, many times. I worked in Brunei for 27 years and often visited Singapore. The Singapore Sailing Club still has same atmosphere as the RAF Changi Yacht Club and although the buildings are new it still has that same view.

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- John Woods, 29/04/13 20:05:48

I watched the final fly-past of 205 Sqn. from the ground then,
between Sept.3rd 1971 and Sept.21st, taking in a Gan SAR detachment en route, was A.E.Op on Shackleton WR954 which was on its final journey to St. Athan to be broken up.I had recently been round a Nimrod in the dispersal below our Married Quarter - Space Age then! I and my family look back on our time at Changi with considerable nostalgia.

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Jack winyard, 17/02/14 6:52:42

I did two tours at changi 1963/66 and1968/71 on 215 sqn, argosy s and110 sqn whirlwind helicopters.with my wife and two daughters I lived in Katong and siglap before quarters in seal and rd.and old Sarum rd.just past the sergeants mess.So many great memories of what must have been the best posting

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Duncan (Mac) McIntosh, 14/08/16 21:21:21

Hi, have been viewing well known names. Sadly many are no longer around.

Best wishes Duncan & Jenny McIntosh
Ex 215 and others

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Kevin Somers, 18/03/16 9:53:19

Hello Mr Gordon S.

Re RAF Changi '62-65, We left in 1964. I don't recall Old Sarum Rd. We lived at Upavon Rd which came to an end at the golf course. It was fairly close to a disused gun emplacement. I scavenged that place, and proudly came home with a pocket full of bullets. Poor Mum, I had them bouncing around in my pockets, and Mum was frantically finding a cool place to keep them until Dad came home from work to contact the armourer. All sorted, I still don't know if they were British or Japanese...Ah, we flew back to U.K. with Bristish United Airways, I thing landing at Blackbush Airport? Would sinerely enjoy more last ten yrs news....

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Gordon Stein, 27/10/14 15:03:08

Lived in Old Sarum Road during 1962-65, with Dad. Mum and sister (Elizabeth) My dad (Bob Stein) was in the Signals but attached to the RAF. He was a mainstay of the nearby Sergeants Mess during his time there so may be remembered by any around at that time. I attended Changi Primary then the new Changi Grammar School for one year before returning to the UK in April 1965. We received a great send off from the neighbours as we boarded the plane to fly back to the UK. Wonderful memories!

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Steve Tennant, 27/04/15 22:26:02

For those here who want to find more pictures, files and lots of memories from Brats and Service personnel of the last 10 years of RAF Changi, you can apply to join the RAF Changi Facebook Group. We have 761 members, lots of pictures, videos and a lot of active discussions.

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Christeen Alexander, 1/10/15 16:41:08

Hi, just wondering if you knew my late husband Richard Alexander, known as Rikki in those days I believe. Just received his service record from the RAF and he was also in 110 Squadron in Malaysia and then RAF Changi. Heard many a story of his time there, crashing in the jungle, the yacht club and changi pigs society.

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- John Chambers, 16/09/16 15:28:39

I served at RAF Changi on 48 Squadron from 1962-1964.I was then engaged as an Airframe Fitter.(Rigger)on Hastings,Comet And Britannia aircraft during the Indonesian Confrontation.I lived on Bedok Road near the corner with Changi Road.I would be interested if anyone has information about Bill Fenton who was a buddy of mine at Changi during this period.

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Jane Nevill, 30/01/21 16:50:28

Hi I’m sorting through my late Uncles belongings (William Claridge) from years ago and found an old tankard thats has engraving as follows:

R.A.F Changi Yaught Club

Presented to Wing Comd. H.A. Lax Vice Commodore 1954-55
By the members of RAF CYC

I was just wandering if anyone knew this man or any of his family I could give this to? Or enlighten me regarding my late uncle ? Thank you

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Lynn Beston, 26/01/17 17:13:10

In brief this is a very personal request for information, my dad was a telegraphist based at RAF changi In 1968 (Terry Manning).
I was born in changi hospital in 1968 but left to return to the uk when I was a small child,, I'm returning for the first time back to Singapore this year and need to visit my birthplace. Is the hospital still standing? If so would there be anyway I could visit it ??? Would it be accessible to the public or could I get special permission ? I'm totally in the dark here ,,, Thank you in advance for any information anyone could offer

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[> [> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Patrick Wong, 7/04/17 11:18:10

Have you visited Singapore already?

Changi Hospital had been abandoned and left in a depliated state now. Vandals and lack of maintenance had destroyed quite a fair bit of the building. The hospital was vacated around 1997/1998 and shifted to a new location.

However about 6 months ago, a hotel opened at the barracks below called Raintr33.

To have a look at Changi Hospital, you can simply Google for "old changi hospital". There are a lot of pictures.

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[> Re: RAF Changi - the last ten years -- Elizabeth Michaela pond, 15/02/18 14:23:16

I was in changi at school in 1961 as my father was a p e instructor corporal Paul,I was only 6 years old and stayed for 3 years,we lived in a bungalow on changi rd.Is there anything remaining I may recognise,I am visiting for the first time in May and would like to know which tours could show me something I recognise.