RAF Kuala Lumpur
Encyclopedia
RAF Kuala Lumpur was an RAF station in the Federation of Malaya
and saw extensive use during the Malayan Emergency
.
The station was handed over to Royal Malaysian Air Force in 1961. During the height of the Emergency, the single runway
had the highest number of aircraft movements in the world.
The station was situated about 3 miles from the town with its own swimming pool and cinema.
, which had a route to London
with British Overseas Airways Corporation
(BOAC) using Britannia
aircraft. The airport opened in about 1957. Malayan Airways
operated Dakota aircraft on domestic flights. The Duke of Gloucester
was greeted at the airport by the British High Commissioner in Malaya, Sir Donald Charles MacGillivray, when Malaya
was granted independence ("Merdeka
").
Sungai Besi Airport was in use as a civilian airport long before 1957, with Malayan Airways Airspeed Consul
s and DC3's flying in and out of the airport from the late 1940s. BOAC Argonauts
used the airport in the early 1950s, after the Marstrand matting runway and taxi ways were replaced by asphalt. A new terminal building was built in 1957 and this may be the source of confusion as to the date the airport was opened. (This building was demolished around 2004)
Qantas
started Super Constellation
services into the airport in 1958 and BOAC Comets
replaced the Britannias in 1959.
The civilian airport was later replaced by Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
in 1965.
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
and saw extensive use during the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The 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....
.
Military
The airfield was home to:- No 155 Squadron operating Whirlwind Mk4 helicopters.
- No 194 Squadron operating DragonflyWestland Dragonfly|-See also:-External links:* Westland entry in the helis.com database*...
helicopters/re-equipped with Sycamore Mk14Bristol Sycamore-See also:-External links:* on the Bristol Sycamore* on the Bristol Sycamore*...
helicopters. - No 267 Squadron operating DakotaC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, VallettaVickers Valetta|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1....
, SingleScottish Aviation Pioneer-External links:* *...
and Twin PioneersScottish Aviation Twin Pioneer|-See also:-Bibliography:*Green, William. Macdonald Aircraft Handbook. London. Macdonald & Co. Ltd., 1964.*Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X....
(Dakota and Twin Pioneers using broadcasting loudspeakers.) - No 848 Fleet Arm Arm Squadron Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
using Whirlwind helicopters. - No 656 Squadron Army Mobile Servicing Squadron servicing AusterAusterAuster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.-History:The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, Thurmaston near Leicester, England, as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of...
Mk.6, 7 and 9.
- The Royal New Zealand Air ForceRoyal New Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
41 Squadron (RNZAF) used Bristol FreighterBristol FreighterThe Bristol Type 170 Freighter was a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as both a freighter and airliner, although its best known use is as an air ferry to carry cars and their passengers over relatively short distances.-Design and development:The...
s.
The station was handed over to Royal Malaysian Air Force in 1961. During the height of the Emergency, the single runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
had the highest number of aircraft movements in the world.
The station was situated about 3 miles from the town with its own swimming pool and cinema.
Civilian
The airfield was also the site of the first civil airport, Sungai Besi AirportSungai Besi Airport
Sempang Airport is an airport in Kuala Lumpur. It is also known as TUDM Kuala Lumpur, Old Airport or Sempang Air Force Base....
, which had a route to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with British Overseas Airways Corporation
British Overseas Airways Corporation
The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
(BOAC) using Britannia
Bristol Britannia
The Bristol Type 175 Britannia was a British medium-to-long-range airliner built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1952 to fly across the British Empire...
aircraft. The airport opened in about 1957. Malayan Airways
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
operated Dakota aircraft on domestic flights. The Duke of Gloucester
Duke of Gloucester
Duke of Gloucester is a British royal title , often conferred on one of the sons of the reigning monarch. The first four creations were in the Peerage of England, the next in the Peerage of Great Britain, and the last in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; this current creation carries with it the...
was greeted at the airport by the British High Commissioner in Malaya, Sir Donald Charles MacGillivray, when Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
was granted independence ("Merdeka
Merdeka
Merdeka is a word in the Indonesian and Malay language meaning Independent or freedom. It is derived from the Sanskrit Maharddhika meaning "rich, prosperous and powerful". In the Malay archipelago, this term had acquired the meaning of a freed slave...
").
Sungai Besi Airport was in use as a civilian airport long before 1957, with Malayan Airways Airspeed Consul
Airspeed Consul
-See also:-References:...
s and DC3's flying in and out of the airport from the late 1940s. BOAC Argonauts
Canadair North Star
The Canadair North Star was a 1940s Canadian development of the Douglas C-54 / DC-4 aircraft. Instead of radial piston engines found on the Douglas design, Canadair employed Rolls-Royce Merlin engines in order to achieve a 35 mph faster cruising speed. The prototype flew on 15 July 1946 and...
used the airport in the early 1950s, after the Marstrand matting runway and taxi ways were replaced by asphalt. A new terminal building was built in 1957 and this may be the source of confusion as to the date the airport was opened. (This building was demolished around 2004)
Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
started Super Constellation
Lockheed Constellation
The Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
services into the airport in 1958 and BOAC Comets
De Havilland Comet
The de Havilland DH 106 Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland at the Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom headquarters, it first flew in 1949 and was a landmark in aeronautical design...
replaced the Britannias in 1959.
The civilian airport was later replaced by Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport , LTSAAS , often called Subang Airport or Subang Skypark, is an airport located in Subang, Selangor, Malaysia, and primarily serves general aviation and some turboprop domestic flights...
in 1965.
See also
- Royal Malaysian Air Force
- List of RAF stations