JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- The Royal Air Force

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[> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Bob 'Geordy' Walton Cpl. 1958-1960, 14/07/04 20:51:45

Remember Sqn Ldr Cutts (C.O) Sgt. Bill Swan, Wally Guildford Miles (my old mate) Dave Peters, Johnny Porter, Pablo Rinaldi; faces I remember but names long gone.
Good days, Good friends!!

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[> [> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- John Cooper, 15/07/04 14:58:56

Hi Bob
I's good to see someone has got through! I'm sure some of the other guys will be in touch with you

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[> [> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Jim Wright, 5/09/05 13:23:39

At Jatcc Feb 1960 to Aug 62. Remember S/Ldr Cutts good C.O. W.O. McNally Comms W.O. Bill Trewin Controller, Fred Jolley Ops. Good place to be posted to especially during the change over to new ops Block
Must be a feew more us olduns out there somewhere?
Cheers to all ex Jatcc

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[> [> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Terry Offord, 30/10/05 4:00:00

Hi Jim, we never met however, I was stationed at WSCRZT from 1967 to 1979, Sqd Ldr Terry Miles was our C/O, a great guy, Fair, By the book operator, knew his job plus. Was one of a number of great C/O's I had in a period of 9 years. When I was at Changi in 1967, JATCC was operated by Singaporeans, I worked with D1 most times, I understand the transition was smooth so I guess you earlier guys did a creditable job of training. Peak times saw around 300 plus movements in a day, we had a large number of 'Air America' white painted jobs, a few DC 3's from Cambodia and a fair number of black painted unknown types arrive after dark, and always leaving in the dark, the skippers all had yank accents so it doesn't take much to guess what they were up to.Vietnam was very busy during that period with the build up of American 'Advisors' and C130's abounded. VC 10's off the SJ Beacon were a delight. The Station Commander of Changi took many of us up into the D 1 and I.F area to see what good navigation was about, it was a busy time, loved every moment, except when we lost a Lightning as a result of failed hydraulics, then a Shackleton in the Indian Ocean
also a Javelin, though I am unable to recall the ID of the Jav, the Shacklebomber was a 205/209 job, very sad loss.

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[> [> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- George Earl, 4/07/10 20:56:29

Hi Bob. I remember Sqd Ldr Coutts, Wally Miles, Fred Jolly, Stretch etc. Many names have gone but memories haven't.
I'm a geordie too as was "geordie" Eric Alinson whom the Ding dong sisters called Chacku Si.(pronounced not spelt) when he left I got that name.
LAC - Corporal George Earl.

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[> [> [> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Bob Walton, 28/06/12 18:26:30

Hi George, hope you are still around, a couple of oldies are in conract, Mac Smedley & Dave Peters, all of us on the Ops side. I was there from April 1959 - June 1960. Wally Miles was my good mate, Please reply we would love to hear from you and any other Jatcc types,
Geordie

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- George Earl, 19/09/13 19:14:56

Hi Bob (or Geordie as we called you), Only just got back to the site. Good to know you are still going. Have tried to find other names without any luck. Remember most names on this site. Fred Jolly taking the mickey out of Sqd Ldr Coutts. Met Lyal Thompson on Edinburgh Train on way to Newcastle while both off on leave a few years later.

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[> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Gerald Becker, 4/11/16 18:15:16

I was in Seleta and in JATCC Paya Leba until 1960 I went to Panang with George and Peter Sperlich I had a great time working on a teleprinter with a great group. I am now living in Israel and would love to hear from anyone that was in Singapore with me
Gerald

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[> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- john cochrane, 11/03/09 19:37:22

i was at jatcc from jan 55 to jul 56, started at kallang and moved to paya lebar, lived at changi.
joe bernat was watch squadron leader.

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[> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Steve Donnerstag, 17/02/08 20:20:28

To George Hall
I was stationed at DaNang air base in 1960 and 1961, The VA is denying me benefits for Agent Orange exposure (diabetes) and PTSD, they claim that there wasn't any Agent Orange in Vietnam at that time and that there wasn't any combat (I saw the spraying and delivered barrels to the air field and also was in combat). I need first hand information that Agent Orange was being delivered to Vietnam during that time and that there was combat in the area of DaNang, they tell me if I have a witness they will accept it as proof. If you have any information or rememember deliveries or combat I would really appreciate it if you would share it with me.
Steve Donnerstag

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[> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Paul Alders, 18/02/08 14:40:27

The MoD has denied for many years that British Forces were involved in Vietnam, we know better. As for Agent Orange my service in the Far East did not begin until Jan 1963 so I am unable to answer your question. You could try asking a Dr Frank Tims in the USA email ftims@aol.com
Also the US freedom of information act is a bit more flexible than ours so a straight forward question to their Defence Dept might get you results.

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[> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- John Cooper, 18/02/08 22:21:44

Steve
Regarding Agent Orange you might find this of some use to you
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange
Were you British Forces at the time as you are claiming agianst the Vets Agency? Looks like the UK are denying any involvement there, although a GSM (Vietnam) was issued that was allegedly for ANZACs and not Brits, but I have heard rumours that we were involved more than once!
John Cooper

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[> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Ian Shields, 7/11/08 16:08:15

Hi Graham (alias 'Nomber Satu'!!) we had a few 'Tiger Tops' in the NAAFI & Brit Club together. I have a photo of your 'boat party' somewhere. If anyone knows whereabouts of Pete Hemsley (Commcen Wireless Op) I would like to know.
Ian Shields JATCC 1963 - 1965.

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[> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- tony senior, 2/08/12 16:31:00

Hi tony senior here that is the frist time i've seen a name i remember john schofied he had my grundig tape player when i left. Great place to work!! Coke machine full of tiger at christmas 20cents a bottle and i got told off! Christmas 63 started in dec finished late jan. Dec 3 63 all hell break lose 3 a/c moves to 34 in 3/4 of an hour. (great way to pass a sunday). Then later in year 4mtyhs in kuching. Hope to hear from someone soon tone.

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Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Mac Smedley, 25/10/11 3:58:59

I served at Jatcc '58-'61- ops B watch with a great bunch of fellas I'd love to hear from.Rod Olney,Pete (ten trains)Fawcett, "sludge" Little, Geordie Walton,Wally Miles,Lile Thomson,Dave Peters,Johnnie Porter et al. Where are you now fellas? Cheers from Mac Smedley.

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[> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Dave Peters, 16/12/11 16:19:43

Hello Mac,

I recall the good old days of JATCC 1958 - 1961 with fond memories.I recall many names from those days Rod Olney, Geotge Weller, Barry Palethorpe, Andy Somerville, Dave McCarthy,
Phil Bennet, Jack Straw, Bob Peebles, Geordie Walton. Lyle Thompson, Sludge Little. Brian Kelly,Johnny Brown,John Porter, Rinaldi, Brian Thompson --and officers (not really friends) Harry Hemsley Hall, Buck Taylor.

I have only returned to live in the UK following a good 16 years in Spain.If ever you hear of a reunion please let me know details.
Fond regards,

Dave Peters

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[> [> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- John Porter, 6/01/15 20:57:10

Hi Dave,
Great to hear those old names again, what good times we had. I still pore over the old photos ,all good memories.
Brian Thompson and I have kept in touch all these years, but it would be great to track others down. Bye the way Dave, I owe you an apology, get in touch .

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[> [> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Ben Drinkwater, 29/11/17 21:47:47

I was a wop with Ian ( Sludge) Little until his stint was over. My memory of names is not good, but I recall, Mac Smedley, Ken Greenway, Harry Hemsley-Hall ( the sailor ! ).Ian Taylor who was our 'mechanic', others escape me. I am resident in NZ after 15 years in Africa, prior to coming here in 1975. I was disappointed on my way here, to be unable to show my family, the Singapore I had known, and, enjoyed. Good health to you, my health stops me travelling too far overseas, so a bit of stay at home now.

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Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Dave Peters, 17/12/11 12:16:14

Hello Mac,

Long time since the good old days at JATCC ! What a good posting that was !!!!

I have not long returned to UK after 16 glorious years living in Spain and saw your request for contact from former colleagues on the recently (for me) discovered JATCC website. I still recall many names from the past in addition to those you have already mentioned, amongst them � Brian Kelly, Johnny Brown, Jonny Porter, ? Rinaldi, Brian Thomson, Lyle Thompson, Dave McCarthy, David Couper, Bob Peebles, Ken Greenway, David McBain, Hector Colvin, George Weller, Stan Matthews, Reg Bagnall, Jack Shaw and Sgt Smith and some of our officers, Sqd Ldr Harry Hemsley Hall, F/L Buck Taylor , F/L Rogers, F/L Harrington and many other guys whose names do not come readily to mind but I am sure will do eventually.

Should you ever hear of any reunion please let me know. I would do whatever it takes to be there.

Best wishes,
Dave Peters

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[> [> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- George Earl (The Duke), 27/09/13 20:31:59

Hi Dave. I remember most of the names you gave. Also Alan Vickers, Derek Talbot, Stretch(forget his real name). Nice to know another still going.

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[> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Ray Harris, 21/05/17 0:41:05

Was posted to JATCC From Changi end 1963 to mid 1965. Quartered in Seletar. Very happy memories. Was posted to Labuan for a couple of months from there, went on a excercise to Asahan and Gemas and saw the reopening of Kuantan. It was while I was there that we had a Canberra aircraft come down, we watched the whole episode while standing on the roof of a RAF vehicle that was parked there. I used to play cricket for RAF Seletar, met great guys whilst there.I do recall being able to look into the RAF air traffic control section from the wireless operators room. Now living in Australia. Ray Harris

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[> Re: JATCC PAYA LEBAR 1958-1960 -- Tony Nightingale, 19/02/18 15:26:30

I was on the quiet side when in signals at JATCC about August 58 to July 60. Enjoyed the time out there went on a leave with Scotsman Pablo Rinaldi I think to Hong Kong, also to Bangkok with someone else who blew his cash on a bit of jewellery and was broke for most of the holiday. Went to town for the internal government celebrations and to an early session of the new "parliament" where PAP took over big time - and remain in charge there today.
All the best to all still around.
Tony
PS Hector Colvin was a great goalie.