Changi Air Base
Encyclopedia
Changi Air Base or Changi Air Base (West) (Changi West Complex), formerly the RAF Changi, is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force
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 bases houses the 121 Squadron, 112 Squadron, 145 Squadron, the Field Defence Squadron, the Air Logistics Squadron and the Airfield Maintenance Squadron. The air base crest carries the motto: "Together in Excellence".
First completed as a British artillery camp in 1940, it was used together with the nearby Changi Prison
for housing many of the Allied
prisoners-of-war (POWs) after the fall of Singapore in 1942. The construction of air base was initiated by the occupying Imperial Japanese forces using those same Allied POWs as forced labours, building two unpaved landing strips between 1943 to 1944, intersecting in a cross layout and in approximately north-south and east-west directions. The airfield facility became a Royal Air Force station and was renamed RAF Changi in 1946 after the Japanese surrender. Imprisoned Japanese troops were then made to improve the runways, reinforcing the north-south runway for military aircraft and adding perforated steel plates to the east-west runway.
Completed post war, 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 British Forces withdrawal from Singapore. Also, the nearby Changi Hospital (now defunct) functioned as the primary British military hospital
providing medical care for all British, Australian and New Zealand servicemen
stationed in the Eastern and Northern part of Singapore, while Alexandra Hospital
was put in charge for those stationed in the Southern and Western part of Singapore.
and their Alouette IIIs 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 base.
/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.
The flying squadrons now are:
The Support Squadrons are:
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
located at Changi
Changi
Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia...
, in the eastern tip of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Sited at two locations to the east and west of Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
, 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 bases houses the 121 Squadron, 112 Squadron, 145 Squadron, the Field Defence Squadron, the Air Logistics Squadron and the Airfield Maintenance Squadron. The air base crest carries the motto: "Together in Excellence".
RAF Changi
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
for housing many of the Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
prisoners-of-war (POWs) after the fall of Singapore in 1942. The construction of air base was initiated by the occupying Imperial Japanese forces using those same Allied POWs as forced labours, building two unpaved landing strips between 1943 to 1944, intersecting in a cross layout and in approximately north-south and east-west directions. The airfield facility became a Royal Air Force station and was renamed RAF Changi in 1946 after the Japanese surrender. Imprisoned Japanese troops were then made to improve the runways, reinforcing the north-south runway for military aircraft and adding perforated steel plates to the east-west runway.
Completed post war, RAF Chia Keng
RAF Chia Keng
RAF Chia Keng was a GCHQ radio receiving station for British RAF from 1948 to 1971, it was a satellite station to RAF Changi.The base was closed down upon British forces pullout from Singapore in 1971 and has subsequently been demolished to make way for housing development projects around the area...
— a GCHQ radio receiving station, was a satellite station of RAF Changi (being the Headquarters Air component part of British Far East Command
British Far East Command
The Far East Command was a British military command which had 2 distinct periods. These were firstly, 18 November 1940 – 7 January 1942 succeeded by the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command , and secondly, 1963 – 1971 succeeded by Australia, New Zealand, and United Kingdom Force...
) until the British Forces withdrawal from Singapore. Also, the nearby Changi Hospital (now defunct) functioned as the primary British military hospital
British Military Hospital, Singapore
The British Military Hospital, Singapore was established in 1938 as the primary military hospital four miles west of Singapore at 378 Alexandra Road, and was also known as the Alexandra hospital for the area of Alexandra Park where it was built....
providing medical care for all British, Australian and New Zealand servicemen
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
stationed in the Eastern and Northern part of Singapore, while Alexandra Hospital
Alexandra Hospital
Alexandra Hospital is a 400-bed hospital located in the south-western part of Singapore. Nestled in a 110,000 square metre land, the hospital is a picture of tranquil setting, lined with mostly colonial style buildings built since the late 1930s...
was put in charge for those stationed in the Southern and Western part 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 Dec 1971. Thereafter, the base received its first flying squadron of SADC - the Alouette Squadron120 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force
The 120 Squadron "Kestrel" is a helicopter squadron of the Republic of Singapore Air Force based at Sembawang Air Base. First formed in 1969, it is the first and oldest RSAF operational squadron in service. The squadron goes by the motto of "Strive To Achieve"...
and their Alouette IIIs helicopters shortly after New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
1972. With the arrival of the first Shorts Skyvans in 1973, SADC began to form the 121 Squadron
121 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force
The 121 Squadron "Brahminy Kite" of the Republic of Singapore Air Force currently operates the Fokker F-50 Utility Aircraft and Maritime Patrol Aircraft based at Changi Airbase...
at Changi Air Base and it is currently the oldest resident squadron of the base.
Singapore Changi Airport
In June 1975, the Singapore government acquired about two-thirds of the airbase (saved for the main flight-line, hangarHangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
/aircraft maintenance
Aircraft maintenance
Aircraft maintenance is the overhaul, repair, inspection or modification of an aircraft or aircraft component.Maintenance includes the installation or removal of a component from an aircraft or aircraft subassembly, but does not include:...
facilities and control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
which were located in the western section of the airbase) for the construction of the new Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
, 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.
Changi Air Base (West)
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).The flying squadrons now are:
- 112 Squadron with 4 BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
KC-135R Stratotankers; &, - 121 Squadron121 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air ForceThe 121 Squadron "Brahminy Kite" of the Republic of Singapore Air Force currently operates the Fokker F-50 Utility Aircraft and Maritime Patrol Aircraft based at Changi Airbase...
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)
See also
- Battle of SingaporeBattle of SingaporeThe Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
- Malayan EmergencyMalayan EmergencyThe Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
- Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
- British Far East CommandBritish Far East CommandThe Far East Command was a British military command which had 2 distinct periods. These were firstly, 18 November 1940 – 7 January 1942 succeeded by the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command , and secondly, 1963 – 1971 succeeded by Australia, New Zealand, and United Kingdom Force...
- Far East Air Force (Royal Air Force)
- Far East Strategic ReserveFar East Strategic ReserveThe British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve was a joint military force of the British, Australian, and New Zealand armed forces...
- Former overseas RAF bases
- Republic of Singapore Air ForceRepublic of Singapore Air ForceThe Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...