Kluang is located about 60 air miles North of Singapore almost in the centre of the Malay state of Johore. During the emergency it was the centre of operations against the Communist terrorists in Johore. A large Army garrison was located there and the grass airfield just to the North of the town, was home to a permanent detachment of 1911 flight of number 656 A.O.P Squadron. There was a lot of military activity in the area at that time and aircraft carrying out bombing raids and rocket attacks could often be seen in the surrounding area.

My first visit there was in October of 1957.  I travelled in an armed convoy from Singapore to replace a fellow airman at the detachment. At that time there were three RAF airmen, one Army driver, a pilot and one Auster aircraft based there.  My first stay at Kluang lasted for about six weeks and during that time we were all on duty 24 hours a day.  We were responsible for all visiting aircraft as well as operating our own Auster AOP Mk9.  Many aircraft operated in the early hours of the morning carrying out dawn operations against the terrorists.  There was virtually no off duty time and visits to Kluang town were mainly for military reasons. Curfews were in operation and many area's were out of bounds because of terrorist activities in the locality. Being isolated on the airfield it was prudent to have a weapon available particularly at night time. This was usually a .303 rifle with 50 rounds of ammunition which was normally carried in the Auster during a sortie.

During the period October 1957 to about October 1958 I was based at Kluang for periods of 2 to 3 months at a time. I usually travelled from Singapore by air and always got a thrill when I saw Gunong Lombak as it was a very distinctive landmark. As the security situation improved I managed to visit Kluang town, sometimes having the occasional glass of Tiger or a bottle of Anchor beer at the Paramount Hotel. However any entertainment for us was very limited. There was no television and listening to the radio or reading were the main activities in our tin hut accomodation. Sometimes we would chat on the telephone with the operators at the telephone exchange to relieve the boredom.

I particularly enjoyed flying and whenever an opportunity arose to have a flight I would take it. I saw more of Kluang and the surrounding area from the air than I did from the ground!  The photographs show how busy the airfield used to be, but by the end of 1958 the 1911 flight detachment had been withdrawn and the end of the emergency was in sight.

In late 1959 I paid a private visit back to Kluang for a last look at the town and the airfield.  The town was beginning to prosper but it was sad to see the derelict old detachment buildings on the airfield.  I took a few photographs as a memento and sadly took the train back to Singapore for the last time.  I returned to England in December 1959.  

Over the years I have often thought of my times at Kluang and always remembered it with affection.  In June 2001 I returned to Singapore and Malaya with members of my old 656 Squadron Association.  The idea was to travel from Singapore to Penang by coach, stopping at all the places our old Squadron had operated from during the emergency. Our first stop was to be Kluang!  We turned off the motorway at Ayer Hitam and soon the familiar sight of Gunong Lombak came into view. It was the start of a memorable day.  We were to be hosted by number 881 Squadron of the Malaysian Army Air Corps now based at Kluang and having passed the railway station we were met at the guardroom. To my great disappointment we were told that there was a strict no photography rule! We stayed for about three hours and were warmly welcomed and hosted by the Squadron. Speeches were made and lunch was provided followed by a tour of the Squadron.  As I stood on the airfield for the first time in 42 years the memories came flooding back. Strangely the airfield seemed smaller than I recalled, but in the distance I thought I could see some huts on the site where our detachment once stood. Maybe it was an illusion?  

Having said goodbye to our hosts we were escorted around the airfield for one last look.  Again on leaving the guardroom I had to be satisfied with tantalising glimpses of Kluang, the railway station, the level crossing and the main street all of which were still familiar to me. Having travelled 8000 miles from home we apparently had no time to turn into the town centre. To say that I was disappointed was an understatement!  Soon we had rejoined the motorway to Seremban and Kuala Lumpur and I was left again with my memories. Will I ever visit Kluang again?  It's highly unlikely, but the old memories will remain and I still have my photographs to pass on to my grand children.  It was good to see how Kluang and indeed the whole of Malaya had prospered since the 1950's and I was proud to have played just a very small part in the "Emergency" which had cost so many lives.