Changi Air Base

Last updated

Changi Air Base

Pangkalan Udara Changi (Malay)
樟宜空軍基地 (Chinese)
சாங்கி வான்படைத் தளம் (Tamil)
RSAF CAB (West) shoulder patch.jpg
Badge of the Changi Air Base
Summary
Airport type Military airbase
Owner Government of Singapore
Operator Republic of Singapore Air Force
United States Air Force
Location Changi, Singapore
Elevation  AMSL 7 m / 22 ft
Coordinates 01°22′34.53″N103°58′59.46″E / 1.3762583°N 103.9831833°E / 1.3762583; 103.9831833
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
mft
02L/20R4,00013,123Concrete
02C/20C4,00013,123Concrete

The Changi Air Base( IATA : SIN, ICAO : WSSS) is an airfield military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) located at Changi, in the eastern tip of Singapore. Sited at two locations to the east and west of Singapore Changi Airport, it co-shares runway facilities with the civilian airport and currently occupies a third runway slated for future expansion for civilian use by Singapore Changi Airport. Together, the two airfields house 121 Squadron, 112 Squadron, 145 Squadron, the Field Defence Squadron, the Air Logistics Squadron and the Airfield Maintenance Squadron. The air base badge carries the motto Together in Excellence.

Contents

History

RAF Changi

RAF Changi badge RAF Changi Crest.jpg
RAF Changi badge
External image
Searchtool.svg 1966 aerial view of RAF Station Changi
A satellite image of RAF Changi taken during the United States Department of Defense's Corona KH-4 reconnaissance satellite programme on 2 April 1963 (Singapore time) Satellite image of RAF Changi, Singapore (Corona, KH-4, mission 9053) - 19630401.jpg
A satellite image of RAF Changi taken during the United States Department of Defense's Corona KH-4 reconnaissance satellite programme on 2 April 1963 (Singapore time)

The area where Changi Air Base now sits was once a large encampment of British Army artillery and combat engineer units based in Singapore between the mid-1930s up until 1949, when the island fell under Japanese occupation after the British surrender that year. This large encampment, comprising several barracks and military administrative buildings such as Roberts Barrack and Selarang Camp, were used together with the nearby Changi Prison (previously a maximum-security incarceration complex for civilians) for housing many of the Allied prisoners-of-war (POWs) after Japan took over control of Singapore. The construction of the current airfield in Changi Air Base was initiated by the occupying Imperial Japanese Armed Forces using those same Allied POWs imprisoned in the Changi area as forced labourers, building two roughly-paved landing strips between 1943 and 1944, intersecting in a cross-shaped layout and in approximately north–south and east–west directions (similar to what was done at Kallang Airport by Japanese occupation forces) to allow planes to land and takeoff in any possible direction all around. This Japanese-built airfield facility became a Royal Air Force station after the Japanese occupation in Singapore abruptly ended following the Japanese surrender in 1945 and was then renamed as RAF Changi in 1946 by the returning British military authorities. Now, it was the newly imprisoned Japanese troops under British captivity which were then made to improve both runways, reinforcing the north–south runway for military aircraft and adding perforated steel plates on the east–west runway.

Units

Completed post-war, non-flying RAF Chia Keng — a GCHQ radio-receiving station, was a satellite station of RAF Changi (being the Headquarters Air component part of British Far East Command) until the withdrawal of British troops from Singapore at the end of the 1960s. Also, the nearby RAF Hospital Changi (now defunct as Changi Hospital and more prominently known as Old Changi Hospital, OCH) functioned as the primary British military hospital which provided medical care for all British, Australian and New Zealand servicemen (collectively, these three Commonwealth states which based troops in Singapore became known by the term "ANZUK", for Australia, New Zealand and the UK) stationed in the eastern and northern parts of Singapore while Alexandra Hospital was directed for those stationed in the southern and western areas of Singapore.

Changi Air Base

Upon the withdrawal of British forces from Singapore, RAF Changi was renamed as Changi Air Base (CAB) and was handed over to the SADC (predecessor of Republic of Singapore Air Force) on 9 December 1971. Thereafter, the airfield received its first flying squadron of SADC – the Alouette Squadron and their Alouette III helicopters shortly after New Year's Day 1972. With the arrival of the first Shorts Skyvans in 1973, SADC began to form the 121 Squadron at Changi Air Base and it is currently the oldest resident squadron of the airfield.

The novel 'The Sound of Pirates' by former RAF airman Terence Brand is based in the 1960s both on the airfield and in the surrounding areas.

Singapore Changi Airport

In June 1975, the Singapore government acquired about two-thirds of the airbase (saved for the main flight-line, hangar/aircraft maintenance facilities and control tower which were located in the western section of the airbase) for the construction of the new Singapore Changi Airport, with the new runways in close alignment with the original north–south runway. The east–west runway was almost erased from the map, currently surviving as a taxiway to the apron area which has remained operational as part of Changi Air Base. [14]

Changi Air Base (West)

Entrance of Changi Air Base (West)/HQ Changi Air Base. Changi Air Base West entrance.JPG
Entrance of Changi Air Base (West)/HQ Changi Air Base.

Following the opening of the new Changi Air Base (East) (Changi East Complex) on 29 November 2004, the existing facilities at Changi Air Base has been renamed as Changi Air Base (West) (Changi West Complex) and Headquarters Changi Air Base (HQ CAB). [15]

The flying squadrons now are:

  • 121 Squadron with 4 Utility Transport Aircraft (UTA) and 5 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) versions of the Fokker F50

The Support Squadrons are:

  • Field Defence Squadron (FDS)
  • Airfield Maintenance Squadron (AMS)
  • Airfield Operations Maintenance Squadron Fixed Wing 2 (AOMS-FW2)
  • Ground Logistics Liaison Office / Ground Logistics Squadron (GLLO/GLS)
  • Air Movement Centre (AMC)

Changi Air Base (East)

The base was opened on 29 November 2004.

The base was closed for runway reconstruction and reopened at the end of 2018.

The flying squadrons now are:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Far East Air Force (Royal Air Force)</span> Military unit

The former Royal Air Force Far East Air Force, more simply known as RAF Far East Air Force, was the Command organisation that controlled all Royal Air Force assets in the east of Asia. It was originally formed as Air Command, South East Asia in 1943 during the Second World War. In 1946, this was renamed RAF Air Command Far East, and finally Far East Air Force in June 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic of Singapore Air Force</span> Air service branch of Singapores military

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is the aerial service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible for controlling and defending the airspace of the country, and providing air support to the Army and Navy. It was established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC) before renaming to its current name in 1975. As the most powerful air force in Southeast Asia, the RSAF has undertaken a significant role in Singapore's military defence strategy since its formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paya Lebar Air Base</span> Military airbase in Singapore

The Paya Lebar Air Base is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and United States Air Force in Singapore located at Airport Road in Paya Lebar, in the eastern region of Singapore. The airbase goes by the motto of Strength Through Readiness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Syerston</span> Royal Air Force training station in Nottinghamshire, England

Royal Air Force Syerston, commonly known as merely RAF Syerston, is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, England. Opened in 1940, it was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber base during the Second World War, operating Vickers Wellingtons, Avro Manchesters, and the Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. Post-war, it became home to Jet Provosts of the 2 Flying Training School. It is now home to the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Wattisham</span> Former Air Force base in Suffolk, England

Royal Air Force Wattisham or more simply RAF Wattisham was, between 1939 and 1993, the name of a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base, operating Quick Reaction Alert (South), before closing as an Royal Air Force station in 1993. Since 1993 it has been operated by the British Army as Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Wattisham, or Wattisham Airfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tengah Air Base</span> Military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force

The Tengah Air Base is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) located in the Western Water Catchment, in the western part of Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seletar Airport</span> Airport in Seletar Aerospace Road , Singapore

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sembawang Air Base</span> Military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force

The Sembawang Air Base is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) located at Sembawang, in the northern part of Singapore. The base motto is Swift and Resolute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Changi Air Base (East)</span> Airport in Tanah Merah Coast Road, Singapore

Changi Air Base (East), or Changi East Complex is a facility extending the facilities of Changi Air Base, the existing facilities hence renamed Changi Air Base (West). Built on a 2 square kilometre site of reclaimed land, the new base was located approximately 2 kilometres east of Singapore Changi Airport and approximately 1.5 kilometres west of Changi Naval Base. Groundbreaking took place on 15 July 2002 and it was officially opened on 29 November 2004. A new runway (02R/20L) was built and the length was approximately 2,748 metres (9,015 ft), it has since been lengthened to 4,000 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Wildenrath</span>

Royal Air Force Station Wildenrath, commonly known as RAF Wildenrath, was a Royal Air Force (RAF) military airbase near Wildenrath in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that operated from 1952 to 1992. Wildenrath was the first of four 'clutch' stations built for the Royal Air Force in Germany during the early 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AAC Middle Wallop</span> Military airfield in Hampshire, England

Army Aviation Centre (AAC) Middle Wallop is a British Army airfield located near the Hampshire village of Middle Wallop, used for Army Air Corps training. The base hosts 2 (Training) Regiment AAC and 7 (Training) Regiment AAC under the umbrella of the Army Aviation Centre. 2 (Training) Regiment performs ground training; 7 (Training) Regiment trains aircrew on AAC aircraft after they complete basic training at RAF Shawbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Beaulieu</span> Former Royal Air Force station

Royal Air Force Beaulieu or more simply RAF Beaulieu is a former Royal Air Force station in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. It was also known as Beaulieu airfield, Beaulieu aerodrome and USAAF Station AAF 408. It is located on Hatchet Moor 1 mile (2 km) west of the village of East Boldre, about 2 miles (3 km) west-southwest of the village of Beaulieu and 4 miles (6 km) north-east of Lymington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF High Ercall</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Shropshire, England

Royal Air Force High Ercall or more simply RAF High Ercall is a former Royal Air Force sector station situated near the village of High Ercall, 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Upavon</span>

Royal Air Force Upavon or RAF Upavon is a former Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. It was a grass airfield, military flight training school, and administrative headquarters of the Royal Air Force. The station opened in 1912 and closed in 1993, when it was transferred to the British Army and became known as Trenchard Lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 205 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 205 Squadron was a Royal Air Force unit formed on 1 April 1918. Prior to this it had existed as No. 5 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). In 1929, it became the first RAF squadron to be permanently based in Singapore, taking as its motto Pertama di Malaya. No. 205 Squadron operated during World War II and the Cold War before disbanding on 31 October 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Hal Far</span>

The RAF Hal Far airfield was the first permanent airfield to be built on Malta. It was opened on 1 April 1929 as HMS Falcon, a Royal Navy stone frigate, and was used by Fleet Air Arm crews. It was transferred to the Maltese Government and redeveloped from January 1979. It is now closed and one of its runways is used by drag racing enthusiasts. The second runway is now a road leading to an industrial estate which was developed recently. The Maltese fire service, the CPD occupy the newer building with the glass control tower on the roof. The old Royal Naval Air Station building is now occupied by the International Safety Training College who utilise part of the runway for firefighting training.

Royal Air Force Catfoss, or more simply RAF Catfoss, is a former Royal Air Force station during the Second World War. It was located 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Hornsea, Yorkshire, England and 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Leconfield, Yorkshire, with the nearest village being Brandesburton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor</span> Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England

RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor, or more simply RAF Holme is a former Royal Air Force station located in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Ballykelly</span> Former Royal Air Force station in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Royal Air Force Ballykelly, or more simply RAF Ballykelly, is a former Royal Air Force station which opened in 1941 in Ballykelly, County Londonderry. It closed in 1971 when the site was handed over to the British Army as Shackleton Barracks. A small part of the base has been used as a refuelling point by army helicopters and small fixed-wing aircraft usually operating out of Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove near the town of Antrim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Church Fenton</span> Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England

Royal Air Force Church Fenton or RAF Church Fenton is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) station located 4.3 miles (6.9 km) south-east of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England and 6.3 miles (10.1 km) north-west of Selby, North Yorkshire, near the village of Church Fenton.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Lake 1999, p. 14.
  2. ↑ Lake 1999, p. 18.
  3. ↑ Lake 1999, p. 66.
  4. ↑ Lake 1999, p. 128.
  5. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 36.
  6. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 41.
  7. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 49.
  8. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 50.
  9. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 54.
  10. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 55.
  11. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 68.
  12. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 71.
  13. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 103.
  14. ↑ Probert, Henry (2006). The History of Changi. Changi University Press (www.changimuseum.com). ISBN   981-05-5580-6.
  15. ↑ "DSTA harnesses technology for new airbase extension". Lianhe Zaobao (reproduced by DSTA with permission). 16 July 2002. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2008.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.