One of a Kind (2nd Edition)

APPENDIX I

361

APPENDIX I

Air Force

In mid-1950, Singapore’s contribution to the pre-war MAAF was revived as the Singapore

Wing of the MAAF. Pilot training for single-engine aircraft and fighter control training was

available under RAF trainers. Europeans dominated the membership but between 1955 and

1958, five Singaporeans won their wings. Initially, the Wing HQ was at Beach Road Camp while

pilot training was carried out at Tengah and fighter control training at Changi. For a while,

Spitfire fighters were available for training but they were phased out, as were the Tiger Moths

and Harvards, in favour of the Chipmunk T 10. Pilot training was relocated to Seletar in 1958.

The Wing had about 300 officers and men, who put in four sessions a week with two weekdays

from 1730 hrs to 2030 hrs, Saturdays from 1400 hrs to 1900 hrs and Sundays from 0800 hrs to

1400 hrs. During the Malayan Emergency, the Wing participated in anti-terrorist operations in

Johor, which included terrorist camp spotting, leaflet drops and anti-infiltration reconnaissance

up the east and west coast of Malay and around Singapore Island. The wing moved its HQ to

Kallang in 1957 where simulated fighter interception, Link training and a proper parade ground

were available. Fighter interception training was conducted at the Fighter Control Unit in

Changi and 12 officers eventually qualified as controllers. The Wing also occasionally deployed

in air bases in Malaya. With the end of the Malayan Emergency, the Wing was disbanded in

1960.

As such, unlike the land forces and the navy, the air force Volunteers had no immediate

link with the air force of independent Singapore when the latter was formed.

Endnotes

1. Buckley 1965, p. 607

2. Winsley 1938, p. 2

3. Buckley 1965, p. 607

4. ibid., loc. cit.

5. Winsley 1938, p. 4

6. ibid., p. 5

7. ibid., p. 6

8. Buckley 1965, p. 682.

9. Winsley 1938, p. 11

10. Winsley 1938, p. 14. This range was abandoned in 1878 because it was too short, and the “old” Artillery

Range at Balestier was taken over and served as the Volunteer Rifle Range until 1922 when the Government

closed it down in the interest of public safety.

11. ibid., p.13

12. ibid., p.19

13. ibid., p.20

14. ibid., p.22

15. ibid., p.26

16. Liu 1996, pp. 45-48

17. Winsley 1938, pp. 23-31

18. ibid., p. 35