656 squadron RNAS Sembawang page 1

656 SQUADRON

1911 FLIGHT

ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION SEMBAWANG
Singapore 1957-1958.

In August 1957 I was posted from RAF Noblefield in Kuala Lumpur to RNAS Sembawang which was located in the North East part of Singapore island. In the 1950's it was almost derelict and the damage it sustained during the second world war was very apparent. However it was home to an assortment of small Army and Royal Navy units and number 1911 flight of 656 Squadron to which I was posted.
The flight, operating Auster AOP Mk 9 aircraft, was responsible for reconnaissance operations in the state of Johore on the Malayan Peninsular, during the Emergency against the Communist Terrorists.

Sembawang from 6000 feet

1911 flight hangar (centre)

The only multi storey barrack block. Occupied by the RASC.

The control tower and Navy storage hangar.

The swimming pool.

The cinema

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Aircraft operations

Refuelling.

The flight line

Engine servicing

Engine ground running.

Preparing for a sortie

Light series bomb rack fitted with parachute marker flares.

2-30 Am, awaiting the start of operation "Sea Bird".

Piloted by Cpt Chris Crouch, WZ703 lost power after take off because of fuel aeration in the engine. Chris and Cpl Roy Curtis suffered broken bones but escaped serious injury. They were trapped for some time upside down and covered in aircraft fuel.

On the apron at the old Singapore airport, adjacent to a somewhat larger PANAM Boeing Stratocruiser.

On patrol around Sembawang camp boundary.

Over secondary jungle

In the climb

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