Units or Officers
underlined indicates not historical to this Command
For RAF units in Hong Kong, see Hong Kong Garrison OOB
For RAF units in Burma, see Burma Command OOB
GC: Group Captain
WC: Wing Commander
SL: Squadron Leader
"op": operational
"res": reserve
RAF Far East Command
AVM Keith Park (Malaya, Borneo, Hong Kong)
Subordinate to Lord Gort
HQ – Singapore
RAF 223 Group (Malaya) – Army Air Co-operation
Air Commodore Archibald Herbert Wann
RAF 44 Wing – GC Edward B. Rice
RAF 34 Sqn – WC G. P. Longfield, + SL Finan O’Driscoll, 12 (+6 res) Blenheim Mk IV bombers (pre 1940) Butterworth
RAF 62 Sqn – WC J. Duncan, + SL E. A. Keegan, 12 (+6 res) Blenheim Mk II bombers (pre 1940) Butterworth
RCAF 407 Sqn – WC?, 12 (+6 res) Blenheim Mk IV bombers (arrived & formed Aug41, op Nov41) Taiping
RAAF 454 Sqn – WC?, 12 (+6 res) Blenheim Mk IV bombers (arrived & formed Aug41, op Nov41) Taiping
Note - RAF 60 Sqn does not come to Malaya, remains in Burma
RCAF 7 Wing – GC Sydney Pope
RAF 226 Sqn – WC Vernon Butler, 16 (+8 res) Battles, based at Sungei Patani
RCAF 404 Sqn – WC Royd Martin Fenwick-Wilson RCAF, 16 (+8 res) Battle bombers (arrived & formed Jun41), Sungei Patani
RCAF 414 Sqn – WC Peter Alexander Gilchrist RCAF, 16 (+8 res) Battle bombers (arrived & formed Sept41), Ipoh
RAF 151 (Fighter) Wing – WC Neville Ramsbottom-Isherwood
RAF 81 – SL Tony Rook, 12 (+4 res) Hurricane fighters (formed Jun41, arrived late Aug41) Alor Star
RCAF 406 – SL Elmer Gaunce, 12 (+4 res) Hurricane fighters (arrived & formed Jul41), Kuala Ketil
RCAF 416 – SL Foss Boulton, 12 (+4 res) Hurricane fighters (arrived & formed Sep41), Bayan Lepas, Penang
RAF 224 Group (Singapore) (Air defence of Singapore and Johore)
Air Commodore Stanley Vincent
RAAF 5 (Fighter) Wing – Wing Cmdr Peter Jeffrey RAAF
RAAF 450 Sqn – SL Gordon Henry Steege RAAF, 12 (+4 res) Hurricane fighters (arrived & formed Apr41), Butterworth
RAAF 453 Sqn – SL William John Harper, 12 (+4 res) Hurricane fighters (arrived & formed Jul41), Kahang
RAAF 457 Sqn – SL William Faulkner Allshorn RAAF, 12 (+4 res) Hurricane fighters (arrived & formed Jul41) Kota Bharu (this is RAAF 21 renumbered basically)
RNZAF 2 (Fighter) Wing – Wing Cmdr Wilfred Clouston RNZAF
RNZAF 486 SL Frank Jonathan Howell, 12 (+4 res) Hurricane fighters (formed Mar41), Kallang, temp at Kuantan 06Dec41 (this is RAF 243 Sqn renumbered basically)
RNZAF 488 Sqn – SL John Noble Mackenzie, 12 (+4 res) Hurricane fighters (formed Sep41) at Kallang
RAF 134 Sqn – SL Tony Miller, 12 (+4 res) Hurricane fighters (formed Jun41, arrived late Aug41), Kallang (was at Batu Pahat earlier)
RAF 27 Sqn – SL FRC Fowle, 4 Blenheim Mk 1F night fighters with Mk IV AI radar, Feb41, rest used as long-range fighters, Seletar
RAF 42 Wing (Support) – GC Frank E. Watts
RAF OTU (Malaya) – 10 Hurricane Mk IIB fighters, Kluang (Mar41)
RAF 4 AACU Sqn – SL N. W. Wright, 12 Battle Tugs (pre-1940) individual aircraft at various airfields in Singapore/Malaya.
RAF 4 PRU Flight – SL C. R. G. Lewis, 4 (+2 res) Hurricane Mk IIB fighters, Seletar (16Sep41)
RAF Comms Flight - 6 de Havilland Dominies, Seletar (May41)
RAF RDF (Radar) Calibration Flight – three Battle Tugs, Kallang
RAF EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School) (pre-1940) - Port Swettenham Feb41, additional flights at Penang, Ipoh, Kallang.
Malayan Volunteer Air Force (MVAF) Training Flights are part of 42 Wing Feb41 onwards
RAF 225 Group (Coastal) – Anti Shipping and Maritime Recon
Air Commodore Henry Hunter
RAF 41 (Torpedo) Wing - GC Hugh Mitchell Kirkwood Brown
RAF 36 Sqn – WC R. C. Gaskell, + SL Graham Witney, 12 (+6 res) Vildebeest Mk III torpedo bombers (pre-1940), Gong Kedak, home base Seletar
RAF 100 Sqn – WC R. N. McKern, + SL Ian Rowland, 12 (+6 res) Vildebeest Mk III torpedo bombers (pre-1940), Kuantan, home base Seletar, plus one Beaufort
RAAF 4 (Maritime Recon) Wing – GC J. P. J. McCauley RAAF
RAAF 1 Sqn – WC R. H. Davis, 12 Hudson Mk II bombers, Tengah (Jul40) 12 at Kota Bharu Dec41
RAAF 8 Sqn – WC F. N. Wright, + SL Henderson, 12 Hudson Mk II bombers, Tengah (Aug40) eight at Kuantan Dec41
RAF 205 Sqn – WC L. W. Burgess, 5 Catalinas, Seletar
RAF 212 Sqn (Malaya) – SL Donald Pearson (ex 36 Sqn), 12 (+6 res) Vildebeest MK III bombers based at Penang, Port Swettenham, Singapore. Trained for coastal patrol and ASW, equipped with 100 lb depth charges, not torpedo trained. Manned by local MVAF aircrew and recently trained Chinese ground crew, stiffened with RAF (formed Mar41). 4 sent to Gong Kedak, 4 to Kuantan, and 4 left in Singapore 06Dec41.
RAF Supporting Units
RAF Maintenance Workshops
RAF 151 Maintenance Unit, Seletar Singapore (General Maintenance Service)
RAF 152 Maintenance Unit, Bukit Panjang Singapore (May41) (Main Stores)
RAF 153 Maintenance Unit, Kuala Lumpur (Jun41) (Engines)
RAF 155 Maintenance Unit, Kluang (Assembling and Major Repair)
RAF 81 Repair & Salvage Unit
Section one based at Seletar, section two at Kuala Lumpur, section three at Butterworth.
(Each section is equipped with Coles cranes, 4x4 tractors, and flatbed semi-trailers.)
RIMU (Radio Installation & Maintenance Unit) based at Ponggol, Singapore
Radar Network and Controls
CO – Wing Cmdr Pearce, replaced by Wing Commander Norman Cave (Sept41)
(Need to find a GC for this role)
Southern Sector Air Defence Network
Sector Filter Room, Katong, Singapore, two miles from Kallang Airfield
Fighter Sector Control - Tebrau
Standby for both is Kallang
There is no VHF ground-to-air radiotelephony, which in the UK is considered essential for the successful ground-control of fighters.
Radar Stations Singapore & Johore
511 AMES COL (arrived 11Mar41) - Bukit Chunang, South-East Johore (op 23Sep41) - Ft Lt D. A. Donald
512 AMES COL (arrived 11Mar41) - Tanjong Kupang, South-West Johore (op 25Sep41) - Ft Lt L. J. Audus
250 AMES MRU (arrived 11Mar41), Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore, has 120ft wooden towers (op 14May41) – Ft Lt?
575 AMES COL (arrived 19May41) - Taman Tulong, nr Kota Tinggi (op 10Nov41) – Ft Lt?
Northern Sector Air Defence Network
Sector Filter Room, Glugor, Penang, op early Nov41, serves North-West Malaya – WC Horace Stanley ‘George or Dampers’ Darley DSO, former BoB SL with three kills
Radar Stations North West Network
513 AMES COL (arrived 11Mar41, op 27Aug41) – Bukit Huma, north end of Penang – Ft Lt?
244 AMES TRU (arrived 11Mar41, op Aug41) Kedah Peak (work began Mar41, has 120ft wooden towers) – Ft Lt?
Radar Stations Central Malaya Network
514 AMES COL (arrived 11Mar41, op late Jul41) Kampung Tok Muda, on the northern banks of the river Kaper Besar, nine miles north of Port Swettenham, covers northern land and sea approaches to Kuala Lumpur and Port Swettenham
Radar Stations North East Malaya Network
518 AMES COL (arrived 19May41) – Kuantan (op Aug41) – Ft Lt?
243 AMES TRU (arrived 11Mar41) – Kota Bharu has 120ft wooden towers (op 03Jul41) Ft Lt?
RAF Airfields
Singapore
Seletar – Military airfield with one hard runway, seaplane moorings and slipway, dispersal area with aircraft pens, major maintenance hangar area, extensive accommodation, large storage area, little AA defence, but covered by naval base AA defence. Ongoing work on second hard runway and additional buildings, but overcrowded.
Kallang – Civil airfield with oval grass runway, seaplane moorings and slipway, dispersal areas with aircraft pens, accommodation & maintenance sheds for two fighter squadrons. Fighter control centre for Singapore and Johore. BOAC have flying boat moorings here.
Sembawang – Military airfield with two hard runways (one incomplete), dispersal areas with aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for three FAA squadrons, as yet still incomplete, completion date now end January 42.
Tengah – Military airfield with two hard runways, dispersal areas with aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for three twin-engine bomber squadrons completed in July 41.
Johore
Kluang – Military airfield with two hard runways, dispersal area with aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for two fighter squadrons, OTU unit, AA defensive positions. Also, 155 MU (Aircraft Assembly & Repair) is based here, with further hangars and associated buildings and railway sidings.
Kahang – Military airfield with one hard runway, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for one fighter squadron, AA defensive positions.
Batu Pahat – Ex civil airfield eight miles from town, with one grass runway extended for fighter aircraft. Dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for one fighter squadron, AA defensive positions but no guns, seaplane moorings in river on town front.
Muar – Seaplane moorings in river by town.
Tebrau – Military airfield, one hard runway due to complete end Jan 42, second hard runway by March, with dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for two heavy (four-engine) bomber squadrons, can be operational on one runway by end Jan 42.
Bekok (near Labis) – Ex civil grass short landing ground, being massively developed with two hard runways, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for two heavy bomber squadrons planned. Airfield has been surveyed, land purchased, and clearance of vegetation begun. May have one hard runway operational by end March 42.
Gemas – Military airfield planned for two hard runways, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for two heavy bomber squadrons. Airfield has been surveyed, land purchased, and clearance of vegetation begun. May have one hard runway operational by end April 42.
Central Malaya
Batu Berendam, grass runway, suitable for liaison aircraft, with few buildings and facilities, serving Malacca, two miles away.
Port Dickson – one grass runway being converted to hard, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for one fighter squadron, AA defensive positions. All work due to complete by end February 42.
Kuala Lumpur – Ex civil airfield with one hard runway, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation for two squadrons, RAF 153 Maintenance Unit (Engines), with major accommodation and maintenance shed area, AA defensive positions. MVAF Flight Training School here.
Port Swettenham – Ex civil airfield with two grass runways, seaplane moorings, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for one fighter squadron will be completed by end of December. AA defensive positions prepared but no guns.
Kerling, 30 miles north of Kuala Lumpur – Civil grass landing ground for light a/c, no buildings, no current plans to develop.
Mentakab, Pahang, 65 miles west of Kuantan - Satellite airfield, planned for one hard runway, accommodation for two squadrons, just started building.
Teluk Anson – Seaplane moorings.
Jendarata (Teluk Anson) – Civil grass landing ground for light aircraft, no facilities, seven miles from town.
Lumut (near Sitiawan) – Ex civil airfield with one grass runway, seaplane moorings, no buildings, limited facilities. Can operate one single-engine squadron at a push, no plans at present to improve site.
Ipoh – Ex civil airfield with one grass runway, incomplete dispersal area and aircraft pens, some hutted and tented accommodation, little maintenance facilities, AA defensive positions prepared but no guns. Can only operate one single-engine squadron.
Taiping – Ex civil airfield, received extensive development, now two hard runways, dispersal area, aircraft pens, maintenance hangars and accommodation for two twin-engine bomber squadrons, can take a third at a push. AA defensive positions provided but no guns deployed.
North East Malaya
Kuantan – two grass runways, dispersal area with some aircraft pens, limited maintenance and accommodation, AA defensive positions prepared and manned. Planned to be able to operate up to two squadrons, currently overcrowded.
Kota Bharu - one grass runway, dispersal area and some aircraft pens, limited maintenance and accommodation, AA defensive positions prepared and manned. Planned to operate one light bomber squadron, currently overcrowded.
Gong Kedak - one grass runway, dispersal area and some aircraft pens, limited maintenance and accommodation, AA defensive positions prepared and manned. Planned to operate one light bomber squadron, currently overcrowded.
Machang – Surveyed for one grass runway, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance facilities, AA defensive positions for one fighter squadron. Jan 41, all work stopped after survey.
North West Malaya
Lubok Kiap - Surveyed for two hard runways, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance facilities for two bomber squadrons, AA defensive positions. Jan 41, all work stopped after survey, low on priorities.
Malakoff - Surveyed for one hard runway, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance facilities for one fighter squadron, AA defensive positions. Jan 41, all work stopped after survey, low on priorities. Planned as satellite for Lubok Kiap.
Bayan Lepas (Penang) – Ex civil airfield with one hard runway, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for one fighter squadron, AA defensive positions. Can take second fighter squadron at a push.
Glugor (Penang) – Seaplane moorings.
Butterworth – one hard runway, 2nd hard runway due to be completed by the end of December, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for two light bomber squadrons, AA defensive positions prepared.
Sungai Bakap - Surveyed for one hard runway, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance facilities for one fighter squadron, AA defensive positions. Jan 41, all work stopped after survey, low on priorities. Planned as satellite for Butterworth.
Sungai Patani – two runways, one hard, one part grass, dispersal area and aircraft pens, maintenance sheds and accommodation for two light bomber squadrons, can take a third at a push, AA defensive positions prepared but no guns.
Kuala Ketil - one hard runway, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance facilities for one fighter squadron, AA defensive positions. Satellite for Sungai Patani.
Alor Star – Ex-civil airfield, one hard runway, limited dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance sheds for one bomber squadron, AA defensive positions. Facilities are limited, and has poor defensive layout.
Jabi - Surveyed for one hard runway, dispersal area and aircraft pens, accommodation and maintenance facilities for one fighter squadron, AA defensive positions. Jan 41, all work stopped after survey, low on priorities. Planned as satellite for Alor Star.
Airfield Construction Units
PWD (Public Works Department) and civilian contractors
RNZAF 1st Aerodrome Construction Squadron (arrived 03Jul41)
RCAF 3rd Airfield Construction Company (arrived 13May41)
RCAF 8th Airfield Construction Company (arrived 22Nov41)
RAF Support Ships
RAFA
Tung Song – 549t, b1928, 8kts, tender for RAF Sqn 205 Catalinas, Singapore
Wuchang – 3,204t, b1914, requisitioned by Ministry of War Transport in Shanghai 1940, and moved to Singapore for use by the RAF as a floating munitions depot.
The Royal Navy has agreed to provide all air-sea rescue of downed RAF aircrew, and in addition, a bounty is paid for each airman rescued by local fishing boat.
For a comparison the historical airfields can be found here
https://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/W...d_Netherlands_East_Indies/html/appendix_a.htm