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...Cont. from p.16

(very soggy at ground level but great after one hour flying) and a pack of sandwiches.  These proved to be one salmon, one cheese and one ham but as they were all wrapped in the same piece of clingfilm they all took on a very cosmopolitan flavour.  The Air Quartermaster had an interesting line in catering – a condensed milk can with a raffia handle which was full of curry which he ate in the forward observation area thus giving all the passengers a good whiff of the aroma.

 Two hours later we landed and I was met at Air Movements by representatives of 33 Squadron who took me to the Sergeants Mess where I was allocated a bunk and given a quick tour of the premises finishing in the bar.  Being an Australian Mess they did not serve pints of beer but little ‘kitchies’ but when in Rome etc. but it might take a while to get used to this.  After a couple of beers it was back to the bunk to unpack and settle in.  The next trauma was the introduction to the very aggressive ‘dhobi’ lady who marched in, collected up all my dirty washing and announced she would look after me – I was not going to argue with her!  I had arrived in Malaysia, it was a far cry from the cold and windy North Lincolnshire coast I had left four days before, but the first impressions were good and I had two and a half years to get used to it.

 Part 2 of Don’s story will appear in the next issue of the newsletter)

 Canberra – the end of RAF Service

 In the Spring 2006 newsletter was a photograph, submitted by Gerry Pearson, of a Canberra bomber with its starboard undercarriage buried in the sand on the edge of the perimeter track at RAF Butterworth. This photograph has prompted me to pen this article.

‘Friday the Thirteenth’ is generally considered to be an unlucky day by many people, but on this day in May 1949, Wg Cdr Roland Beamont took the English Electric A1 Jet Bomber on its maiden flight from Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire.

Over 1000 Canberra’s (as it was later christened) of all types were built between 1949 and 1963.

In this year, 2006, the Canberra ceased service with the RAF. It was fitting that the Canberra was in the Red Arrows formation and the highlight of the flypast over Buckingham Palace to celebrate HM The Queens’ 80^th birthday. A sight to behold!                                                              

 So to the significance of the connection between the Canberra and RAF Butterworth:-                                                            

 In July 1955 No. 101 Sqn became the first RAF Squadron to fly jet bombers on operations against an enemy when it deployed Canberra B6’s to RAF Butterworth in support of Operation Firedog. So the first RAF jet bomber to drop a bomb in anger flew out of RAF Butterworth.

Against  small targets such as terrorist camps an Auster observer  aircraft would mark the target area just as the Canberras began their bombing run. During their four and a half month detachment from RAF Binbrook to RAF Butterworth, No. 101 Squadron flew 98 attack sorties.

Other Canberra squadrons of the RAF Binbrook Wing, 9, 12 and 617 (Dam Busters) also   deployed to RAF Butterworth during the remainder of 1955 and 1956.  

 

  Canberra B.6’s of 12 Sqn, RAF releasing their bombs over the Cameron Highlands