On Sunday 17th October 2021, some 170 RAF Veterans and family members assembled at the Far East Air Force Memorial, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, to mark the 50th Anniversary since the closure of all units of the Far East Air Force in 1971.
Attending dignitaries included Brigadier General Safwan, the Malaysian Defence Advisor based in London; Air Commodore Cowieson, RAF Battlespace Commander; Wing Commander Foy, Officer Commanding 20 Squadron; and Air Marshal Sir Dusty Miller as guest of Lady Miller, herself a member of the RAF Changi Association.
The event was organised by a team of members from the RAF Changi Headquarters Association, RAF Seletar and Tengah Association, the RAF Butterworth and Penang Association; with the help of the staff of the National Memorial Arboretum. It was led by retired Squadron Leader Tony Parrini MBE and officiated by Reverend Wing Commander Wynn, Senior Chaplain at RAF Cosford; while music support was provided by a quintet from the RAF Central Band.
The event was the first ever to mark this landmark in the RAF’s history, with the Memorial recently being restored after its funding in 2006 ahead of the event.
"I was serving as a Junior Officer at RAF Butterworth and then Penang with the realisation that our days in the area were numbered. A great deal of equipment including missiles and radar systems had to be dismantled and returned to the UK from Malaysia, in contrast to the handover of assets in Singapore to the Singapore Armed Forces. It was hard work for everyone, but at the same time life was pleasant with many lasting relationships with the local people."
Squadron Leader Parrini
The Far East Air Force was established in 1948 and became operational through the Malayan Emergency and Confrontation, during which 20 Squadron flew Hunter Aircraft from RAF Tengah.
Time passed and Malaysia and Singapore gained their Independence in 1957. This led to some peaceful and pleasant years for the RAF in the Far East, where the countries began to prosper and relations with Indonesia had established a state of mutual tolerance.
Argosy transport aircraft reinforced the Squadrons in Cyprus and the Middle East, but by the end of Confrontation in 1966, it became clear the ageing Shackleton Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft, C-130 Hercules, Hastings, Hunters, Javelins and Canberras aircraft would not be re-equipped or replaced.
The RAF continued to train the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Singapore Air Force, and their personnel and families were welcomed everywhere. The final closure of all RAF and RAF Changi Headquarters Association units was completed on 31st October 1971.