I was in the Tower at Tengah and Labuan (in '64-66) when 60 and 64 had Javs and 20 had Hunters. These bring back memories. The Lightning was something of a 'stop-gap' aircraft but nothing else could touch it for getting high, fast so it lasted and lasted.
Don't believe it. We were broke before north sea oil was invented. Flying was restricted because we couldn't afford the fuel. We devalued the pound, scraped TSR2, the V bomber force and bought American planes and Polaris. It's always been like that. Hawker Hunters couldn't fire their guns in case the engines stopped. The Meteors were no match for the swept wing Migs and Sabres. Spitfires had pea shooter machine guns and carbs while the ME's had cannon and fuel injection. But we're still here!!
The RAF, back then she was mighty, and so was the Army and Navy, now look, because of corrupt governments and shite defence cuts, its ruined our forces! :(
Yeah, I know about the fuel-consumption of the Lightning and the fairly poor weaponry. Still they were agile and indeed bribes helped the sales to the Arabs. I was crew-chief during the late 70's, early 80's, with the Dutch air force, maintaining the F-104G Starfighter. Now, there was a plane bought by many countries because of huge bribes! Still I love that plane. Lightnings visited our base regularely for dog-fighting our F-104's. Guess who'd won all the time...
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder! Lightning, first flew 1954, was a fair advance on the round shapes of the Hunters and Meteors of the time and to be fair had a teriffic performance for catching Russian Bears at 40,000 but was not fully developed. The Javelin, 1st real night fighter, needed that wing area to support that huge 10cm 1950's radar upfront (AI17). Amazing it actually flew at all!
@aldopeer The Lightning was an interesting aircraft, startling performance with equally startling maintenance requirements. The British tend to view it through rose tinted spectacles because it was fast, but the truth was that it was a beast to maintain, had a poor weapon load, and negligible fuel (even the "flying gas can" F6 had an avergae sortie time of barely more than an hour). Suffice to say that only the Kuwaitis and Saudis purchased any, and that was because of the huge bribes involved
@aldopeer Well the Blackburn Bucanneer was called the flying coke bottle or the flying banana by the yanks. Come RED FLAG though, their super shiney, reheated F15`s couldnt get anywhere near it at low level. Sorry Mr President, after 2 weeks we havent been able to shoot down any Brit Buccs. LOL
The "Unknown location in Singapore" is the Padang at RAF Changi. The band is marching across the cricket pitch with the NAAFI building in the background. Nostalgia, there's nowt like it!
Thanks, I knew someone would eventually come up with the answer and I think you're right. I remember driving over in that direction but not much else and there were so many similar looking buildings in those days. Bet it's a wee bit different now! (I remember Changi beach and those huge tree ants that dropped on you!)
I used to live beside Tengah airbase ( Lim Chu Kang) while young and wave at those passing by RAF chopters before they pull out from Singapore. Youtube is a great place to share the good memories.
Fab place Singapore. Had a wonderful time there. Our first married home was a flat in Serangoon Gardens when I worked at Selatar followed by a house over in Johore Bahru after being transfered to Tengah. Actually I didn't want to come, I'd a course I'd wanted to complete but my chief tech said the queen had insisted so what do you do? Only thing I missed was the seasons-you don't get cold winters or colourful autumns but we came a very white colour and returned a very happy burnt brown-Thanks
My father was 74sqn in Singapore and I started school in Changi .. Have photos and slides of that period and I very much enjoyed looking at this collection ..
I remember Changi and Changi hospital. Had my wisdom teeth removed there and shared a ward with a group of teenagers having the same but they appeared braver than me. You probably knew them! Thanks for the comments.
Javelins looked good when flying! The Lightnings were great kites but unfortunately did'nt carry any weapons which could have been a disadvantage for a war plane. Pleased I served in a peace time airforce.
So remind me why did we buy Phantoms? One weapon a side! Firestreak could only fire from behind. Redtops could go head on if conditions were right. Cannon only on the early birds. If I remember correct Nav packs replaced the weapon packs for going places. Believe the export versions could carry rockets. Remember were talking 1950s tech here, wired miniature valves (tubes) and analogue attack computers all mounted on a vibrating noisy monster. Ah wonderful, what character that thing had!
Thanks for viewing. I might actually have come across your Dad. I spent a few weeks helping out on 74 while the real guys were spread out over the world for the "fly out" and one of the jobs of the radar fitter was to change the film cassette and pop it into the Photo section. So you never know!
Don't have any more of Tengah - you were'nt really allowed cameras at work in those days but I hope to get some other Singapore slides scanned in this winter but most are badly faded. Afraid the name doesn't strike a bell but we all had made up names. Guess where I came from - they called me Geordie!
Came to me last night - must be something to do with my login name! Bronco Lane (Clint Eastwood)was one of the early TV westerns (when ITV first started I think!) "Show me a Gal that's kissed him once I'll show you -- dreamin of shoes and lace". Think Dad was good with the ladies!
I know but what can you expect from an ancillary trade? But it's all in the search tags. Reckon you're far too young to have been there! Thanks for the comments.
Only just missed it, not at your time but in '73. Wanted to get there but they sent me to Honington instead...good grief! Thanks for the compliment anyway...I'm off to the Mally...Bugis Street anyone?
I was in the Tower at Tengah and Labuan (in '64-66) when 60 and 64 had Javs and 20 had Hunters. These bring back memories. The Lightning was something of a 'stop-gap' aircraft but nothing else could touch it for getting high, fast so it lasted and lasted.
AVMamfortas 1 month ago
Don't believe it. We were broke before north sea oil was invented. Flying was restricted because we couldn't afford the fuel. We devalued the pound, scraped TSR2, the V bomber force and bought American planes and Polaris. It's always been like that. Hawker Hunters couldn't fire their guns in case the engines stopped. The Meteors were no match for the swept wing Migs and Sabres. Spitfires had pea shooter machine guns and carbs while the ME's had cannon and fuel injection. But we're still here!!
longpastit 7 months ago
The RAF, back then she was mighty, and so was the Army and Navy, now look, because of corrupt governments and shite defence cuts, its ruined our forces! :(
Ezza190 8 months ago
I can imagine that the british was so powerful during that era.....
canberra305 11 months ago
@WinchesterRanger:
Yeah, I know about the fuel-consumption of the Lightning and the fairly poor weaponry. Still they were agile and indeed bribes helped the sales to the Arabs. I was crew-chief during the late 70's, early 80's, with the Dutch air force, maintaining the F-104G Starfighter. Now, there was a plane bought by many countries because of huge bribes! Still I love that plane. Lightnings visited our base regularely for dog-fighting our F-104's. Guess who'd won all the time...
aldopeer 1 year ago
Lightning intercepted the u2...don`t knock it!
xfire7 1 year ago
they were super fast planes, i like the twin engines on yop of each other..i think they are awesome
hotlanta35 1 year ago
Those British:....they really know how to build and fly the most ugly planes....the Lightning, the flying milkbottle or that Gloster Javelin....
aldopeer 1 year ago
@aldopeer
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder! Lightning, first flew 1954, was a fair advance on the round shapes of the Hunters and Meteors of the time and to be fair had a teriffic performance for catching Russian Bears at 40,000 but was not fully developed. The Javelin, 1st real night fighter, needed that wing area to support that huge 10cm 1950's radar upfront (AI17). Amazing it actually flew at all!
longpastit 1 year ago 2
@longpastit yeah i have some weakness for the Lightning hahahha :P
leonelp51 1 year ago
@aldopeer The Lightning was an interesting aircraft, startling performance with equally startling maintenance requirements. The British tend to view it through rose tinted spectacles because it was fast, but the truth was that it was a beast to maintain, had a poor weapon load, and negligible fuel (even the "flying gas can" F6 had an avergae sortie time of barely more than an hour). Suffice to say that only the Kuwaitis and Saudis purchased any, and that was because of the huge bribes involved
WinchesterRanger 1 year ago
@aldopeer Well the Blackburn Bucanneer was called the flying coke bottle or the flying banana by the yanks. Come RED FLAG though, their super shiney, reheated F15`s couldnt get anywhere near it at low level. Sorry Mr President, after 2 weeks we havent been able to shoot down any Brit Buccs. LOL
stubbostubbs 6 months ago
Great old photos.
vne1981 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
yawn
007bondspy 2 years ago
Hmmm! I know what you mean but does anyone really read all this ---.
longpastit 2 years ago
the backside of the sideback squirts the buckie skitter
007bondspy 2 years ago
The "Unknown location in Singapore" is the Padang at RAF Changi. The band is marching across the cricket pitch with the NAAFI building in the background. Nostalgia, there's nowt like it!
Hitam124 2 years ago
Thanks, I knew someone would eventually come up with the answer and I think you're right. I remember driving over in that direction but not much else and there were so many similar looking buildings in those days. Bet it's a wee bit different now! (I remember Changi beach and those huge tree ants that dropped on you!)
longpastit 2 years ago
I used to live beside Tengah airbase ( Lim Chu Kang) while young and wave at those passing by RAF chopters before they pull out from Singapore. Youtube is a great place to share the good memories.
yspang68 2 years ago
Fab place Singapore. Had a wonderful time there. Our first married home was a flat in Serangoon Gardens when I worked at Selatar followed by a house over in Johore Bahru after being transfered to Tengah. Actually I didn't want to come, I'd a course I'd wanted to complete but my chief tech said the queen had insisted so what do you do? Only thing I missed was the seasons-you don't get cold winters or colourful autumns but we came a very white colour and returned a very happy burnt brown-Thanks
longpastit 2 years ago
My father was 74sqn in Singapore and I started school in Changi .. Have photos and slides of that period and I very much enjoyed looking at this collection ..
kribensis11 2 years ago
I remember Changi and Changi hospital. Had my wisdom teeth removed there and shared a ward with a group of teenagers having the same but they appeared braver than me. You probably knew them! Thanks for the comments.
longpastit 2 years ago
Javelins looked good when flying! The Lightnings were great kites but unfortunately did'nt carry any weapons which could have been a disadvantage for a war plane. Pleased I served in a peace time airforce.
longpastit 3 years ago
What do you mean the Lightning didn't carry weapons? what the hell are Firestreak and Redtop missiles? or cannon?
88SPIKE 3 years ago
So remind me why did we buy Phantoms? One weapon a side! Firestreak could only fire from behind. Redtops could go head on if conditions were right. Cannon only on the early birds. If I remember correct Nav packs replaced the weapon packs for going places. Believe the export versions could carry rockets. Remember were talking 1950s tech here, wired miniature valves (tubes) and analogue attack computers all mounted on a vibrating noisy monster. Ah wonderful, what character that thing had!
longpastit 3 years ago
Javelins just look wrong. Lightnings were designed right and simply are the best all british fighter ever
gixertrickster 3 years ago
Thanks for those rare images. My father was a 74 Squadron Photographer at Tengah during that time.
mrporkpie 3 years ago
Thanks for viewing. I might actually have come across your Dad. I spent a few weeks helping out on 74 while the real guys were spread out over the world for the "fly out" and one of the jobs of the radar fitter was to change the film cassette and pop it into the Photo section. So you never know!
longpastit 3 years ago
Chances are high you both crossed paths, his name is CPL S.V.Lane. Do you have more images of your time in Tengah?
mrporkpie 3 years ago
Don't have any more of Tengah - you were'nt really allowed cameras at work in those days but I hope to get some other Singapore slides scanned in this winter but most are badly faded. Afraid the name doesn't strike a bell but we all had made up names. Guess where I came from - they called me Geordie!
longpastit 3 years ago
Ha yes, dads made up name was Bronco! I still dont know why!
mrporkpie 3 years ago
Came to me last night - must be something to do with my login name! Bronco Lane (Clint Eastwood)was one of the early TV westerns (when ITV first started I think!) "Show me a Gal that's kissed him once I'll show you -- dreamin of shoes and lace". Think Dad was good with the ladies!
longpastit 3 years ago
No, No, No!
Bronco Lane was not played by Clint Eastwood (He of Rowdy Yates in Rawhide fame), but Ty Hardin.
OK, so you've never heard of him. Well if you were an old phart like me, you would have done!
overstretched 2 years ago
Might want to add the Station name in the title for better exposure.
tvfilmglamdirector 3 years ago
I know but what can you expect from an ancillary trade? But it's all in the search tags. Reckon you're far too young to have been there! Thanks for the comments.
longpastit 3 years ago
Only just missed it, not at your time but in '73. Wanted to get there but they sent me to Honington instead...good grief! Thanks for the compliment anyway...I'm off to the Mally...Bugis Street anyone?
tvfilmglamdirector 3 years ago
Nice record, thanks.
tvfilmglamdirector 3 years ago