RAF Losses (and Wrecks) in Malaysia

Discussion about wrecks and losses as well as historic sites in the Pacific.

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Daniel Leahy
Lt Col
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 10:21 pm
Location: Australia
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RAF Losses (and Wrecks) in Malaysia

Post by Daniel Leahy »

Hi All,

I'm currently compiling a list of RAF/RAAF/RNZAF etc losses in Malaysia and Singapore from the early (1941-42) days.

I remember some time back there was someone on this forum from a research group in Malaysia, and was hoping they might be able to get in touch with me regarding this research. Anyone else who might want to assist would also be quite welcome.

This research is in preparation for a possible 'quick trip' to Singapore and Malaysia sometime in 2009.
Daniel J. Leahy
Australia

AIR POWER ARCHAEOLOGY
http://www.airpowerarchaeologyc.com

richard rudd
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 49
Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2003 2:08 am

Re: RAF Losses (and Wrecks) in Malaysia

Post by richard rudd »

Daniel hi,
Had some communication over the years with GOH, Keng Loon. He is associated with the Malaysaian Aviation Heritage Centre.. they have a top site about their wreck hunts and finds. He flys with the RMAF... probably tooling about in Mig 29s by now. Dont know if this is still current gohkl_rmaf@hotmail.com

If you catch up with him in '09, give him my regards Richard

Boba
2nd Lieutenant
Posts: 36
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:53 am

Re: RAF Losses (and Wrecks) in Malaysia

Post by Boba »

This may be of some help even without pertinent details. I was posted to RAAF Butterworth in 1969 and did quite a bit of walking in the hills on Penang Island. I came across the wreckage of two aircraft in the vicinity of a reservoir there - one appeared to be a Ki-43 and the other a Brewster Buffalo.

But, as I said, in those days I failed to make any detailed notes and at the time we were under quite severe curfew conditions with Gurkhas guarding our married quarters on the jungle edge. Over the following two postings to Butterworth I failed to relocate the sites so they may have been salvaged - or my navigating skills went with the Tiger Beer!

I have slides I took of the sites back in Darwin and I'll try to find them when I we visit family there in January/February 2009.

Bob Alford MPHA

GordyB2
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:55 am

Re: RAF Losses (and Wrecks) in Malaysia

Post by GordyB2 »

Hi ,

As Bob knows me well, he'll attest that I'm a hopeless hoarder.

Not too sure how this Spreadsheet will look on this posting,.....but like the worm on the end of a fish hook, I'm sure I'll get a few nibbles from Daniel

Row Serial Hurricane Type Shipment Date Location Unit Date Allocated Loss Date Markings Remarks
59 BE206 Mk. IIB Hawker HMS Athene 4/02/1942 Java "D" Captured by Japs after left behind after crash.
228 BG795 Mk. IIB Gloster Ceylon Mar-42 261Sqn RAF RS-N CASWELL Garth Elliott - (Flying Officer); Service Number - 404709; File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Hurricane BG795; Place - Colombo; Date - 5 April 1942
64 BE332 Mk. IIB Hawker HMS Athene 4/02/1942 Java 258Sqn/605Sqn RAF 25/02/1942 "Miss Carronvale" & "SGT MAC" under canopy Port side/Desert Camo Ended up in "A" Flight 605Sqn RAF lost 25/02/42 Sgt T W Young RAAF (Previously 232Sqn) later POW
92 BE115 Mk. IIB Hawker HMS Indomitable 27/01/1942 Sumatra P1 232Sqn RAF 27/01/1942 8/02/1942 F/Lt Taylor s/d 8/02/42 near P1
41 BG876 Mk. IIB Gloster DM-2 SS Sussex 13/01/1942 Singapore 605Sqn RAF 17/01/1942 F/O Sharp
14 BE589 Mk. IIB Hawker DM-2 SS Sussex 13/01/1942 Singapore 232Sqn RAF 17/01/1942 25/01/1942 F/Sgt A V Coutie Serv#400912 forced landed after shortage of fuel 25/01/42 when part of 4 aircraft flight performing a Convoy escort between Sumatra and Singapore.Forced landed near coast of Sumatra. No further details whether he was killed. Still Missing 2008
3.5 BE589 Mk. IIB Hawker DM-2 SS Sussex 13/01/1942 Singapore 17/01/1942 25/01/1942 F/Sgt A V Coutie Serv#400912 disappeared when forced landed on Sumatra Coast 25/01/42
13 BE588 Mk. IIB Hawker DM-2 SS Sussex 13/01/1942 Singapore 232Sqn RAF 17/01/1942 21/01/1942 P/O John Gorton RAAF Ser#400973 crashed 21/01/42 (Later PM of Aus 1968-1971)
96 BG768 Mk. IIB Gloster HMS Indomitable 27/01/1942 Sumatra P1 232Sqn RAF 27/01/1942 12/02/1942 P/O John McKechnie crash landed 12/02/42
95 BE673 Mk. IIB Hawker HMS Indomitable 27/01/1942 Sumatra P1 232Sqn RAF 27/01/1942 13/02/1942 P/O Leslie Emerton s/d 13/02/42

Some include Sumatra (P1) and Ceylon,...but that's because I was doing every Mk2 Hurrie that came far east in early 1942 , as you can guess the row counter can confirm that :)

But that's not all,

I'll throw in a couple of Buffs including a Butterworth one or two

AN170 269 339E TD-? 21&21/453Sqn RAAF served with 21 and 21/453 Sqns; 24/12/41 to 21/453 Sqn; one of 8 Buffalos escorting Glenn Martins and Wirraways to Muar on 19/1/42 where they were engaged by strong fighter force; Sgt Henry W Parsons Serv#407802 (originally from 21 Sqn) was shot down near Batu Pahat
AN171 270 339E TD-? 21&21/453Sqn RAAF 24/12/41 to 453 Sqn; collided with Buffalo W8202 carrying out a weaving manoeuvre while searching for the target area and ditched 10 miles east of Jembaluang, near Tengora 12/01/42.Pilot was F/O R H WallaceServ#586. Later killed on 29/10/44 in Beaufighter A19-216.
AN172 271 339E GA-S 21Sqn RAAF on 15/12/41 Had Motif , boxing Kangaroo "secutor.in.reti". Lost when F/L Kinninmont hit a soggy patch on the emergency strip at Port Swettenham, abandoned.

AN201 300 339E GA-G 21 Sqn RAAF Flown by F/L R A Kirkman on 8/12/41. Flown by F/Lt Allan Maxwell White Serv#573, 21Sqn RAAF on Sunday, the 14 the December 1941. After taking off from Ipoh with two other 21Sqn RAAF Buffalo on a straffing mission against enemy positions near Singora (Songkhla), Thailand, the aircraft was damaged in combat and crashed in a paddy field some four miles due south of Alor Star, Kedah Malaya, near the railway line. It was stated by Chinese Witnesses interviewed in 1946 that the pilot, indeed a very tall pilot(White was 6' 1 3/4" ) set fire to his aircraft and was given clothes and a bicycle to reach the British lines at Sungei Patani, then some 25 miles south of crash site. The RAF investigation confirmed that only one known Buffalo crashed in the area, and that was recorded as AN201. The wreck was examined in 1946, but all details and serials had been removed from wreck. Sadly, there are no records that show that he made it back to the lines or whether he was captured and later killed. It was also stated that perhaps British troops removed his remains and was buried close by with a Army Chaplin present. The 1946 Enquiry stated he was either killed in air operations on the 14/12/41 or soon after with his remains still missing.His Identity Discs were not carried in flight that day, but rather left with his personal effects.

W8236 252 339E GA-? 21 Sqn RAAF served with 21 Sqn Malaya 1941. F/O Montefiore bailed out after being severely damaged by Ki27's 09/12/41 near Butterworth, whilst escorting 62Sqn RAF Blenheims(code FX-*)

Ciao
Gordy

GordyB2
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:55 am

Re: RAF Losses (and Wrecks) in Malaysia

Post by GordyB2 »

Another Buff

B3110 339E 2-VIG-V s/d 12/01/42 after shooting down two Ki27's, Lt August Deibal , near Kallang, Singapore.

gohkl80
Private
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:19 pm

Re: RAF Losses (and Wrecks) in Malaysia

Post by gohkl80 »

richard rudd wrote:Daniel hi,
Had some communication over the years with GOH, Keng Loon. He is associated with the Malaysaian Aviation Heritage Centre.. they have a top site about their wreck hunts and finds. He flys with the RMAF... probably tooling about in Mig 29s by now. Dont know if this is still current gohkl_rmaf@hotmail.com

If you catch up with him in '09, give him my regards Richard
Helo Richard,

Its me Goh KL, how r u there. U all can reach me via gohkl80@yahoo.com.sg

Have a nice day
F/A-18D

Daniel Leahy
Lt Col
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 10:21 pm
Location: Australia
Contact:

Re: RAF Losses (and Wrecks) in Malaysia

Post by Daniel Leahy »

Hi All,

Cheers for these results guys - Apologies for the delay in my getting back to you. It is greatly appreciated! I will go through what I already have and add/update where required.

I had planned on taking a 'quick trip' to Malaysia some time in 2009, though this has had to be put back due to work commitments - Am now hoping to get up there in 2010.

Kind regards,
Daniel J. Leahy
Australia

AIR POWER ARCHAEOLOGY
http://www.airpowerarchaeologyc.com

gohkl80
Private
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:19 pm

Re: RAF Losses (and Wrecks) in Malaysia

Post by gohkl80 »

Please contact me when u are planning to come to Malaysia. If you need any assistance.

have a nice day

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