Seletar

Crowing Glory: History of RAF Seletar

Author: David Taylor

Published: 2002

“Crowning Glory” – a somewhat poignant title for an exercise, although, as far as the flying squadrons at RAF Seletar were concerned, it turned out to be rather appropriate, too. Staged in West Malaysia from March 3 -12, 1969, the aim of the exercise was to evaluate 28 Commonwealth Infantry Brigade and their associated air support forces in a minor war setting. Upon completion, all the Seletar-based squadrons which had taken part – 66 Sqn (8 x Belvederes); 103 Sqn (6 x Whirlwinds) and 110 Sqn (6 x Whirlwinds) – deployed to Changi, operational flying from Seletar effectively ceasing on March 28th 1969, forty years after it began. From then, until its closure as an RAF base, in March 1971, Seletar’s task was as a supply base and Maintenance Unit, providing engineering support and back-up for all aircraft of the Far East Air Force (FEAF), and Army. Up through 1975, British military aircraft had been based in Singapore almost continually since February 1928. The exception being a period from 1942-45, when the Japanese put in an appearance.

Seletar was the first RAF base to be constructed in Singapore, and for the majority of its years, it was the most important. This was certainly true until well after WW2, when Changi changed hands – the Army relinquishing command (albeit somewhat reluctantly), the RAF taking over – from which point Changi gradually began to assume prominence. Given the immense variety of its activities, Seletar could boast the most colourful history of any base – not only in the Far East, possibly in the Royal Air Force as a whole – for not only did this station see the introduction of flying boats to the area, it was also afforded the privilege of launching the last operational sortie of an RAF flying boat – the Sunderland – along with those of the Spitfire, Beaufighter, Mosquito, Beverley and Belvedere. This base also played an important part in the development of commercial air routes to and from the Far East and Australasia, playing host to many of the early pioneers during that period which was to become known as the “Golden Age of Aviation

Being a history – though not written by a historian – I have naturally recorded all the relevant historic facts, though to perhaps lighten things up and make for a more interesting story, I have also taken the opportunity of interspersing the text with many personal anecdotes and recollections of service as it was in the Far East, hoping the reader will tolerate this, at times, somewhat personal input. Writing this story brought me into contact with many interesting people and unearthed for me much fascinating data. I was reminded not only of my time at Seletar and in the Far East, but also learned of how things were long before my time; stories during which my emotions travelled through the whole spectrum. I hope, in the way it is written, this story will invoke in the reader some of those same emotions. RAF Seletar and the Far East Air Force may no longer be, but the spirit certainly lives on through both the RAF Seletar and RAF Changi Associations.