RAF Sembawang

Before Singapore's independence from the United Kingdom, it was a Royal Air Force station known as RAF Sembawang as well as being the Royal Naval Air Station – HMS Simbang – to the carrier pilots of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (attached to the Eastern Fleet based in Singapore) who used it for rest and refit whenever an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy berthed at the nearby HMNB Singapore for refuel and repairs, which also housed the largest Royal Navy dockyard east of Suez up to the time of UK forces withdrawal from Singapore.

After the Japanese capture of Singapore during World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service took over the two RAF stations of Sembawang and Seletar. Singapore was split into north–south spheres of control, and the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force took over RAF Tengah. It was not until September 1945 that the two airfields reverted to British control following the Japanese surrender.

RAF Sembawang was a key part of Britain's continued military presence in the Far East (along with the three other RAF bases in Singapore: RAF Changi, RAF Seletar, RAF Tengah) during the critical period of the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960), the Brunei Revolt in 1962 and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation (1962–1966).

Units

1941–42

• No. 62 Squadron RAF (detachment) – Bristol Blenheim I.^[1]
• No. 21 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) – Brewster Buffalo
• No. 453 Squadron RAAF – Brewster Buffalo I.^[2]

1945–1971
Royal Air Force

• No. 28 Squadron RAF – Supermarine Spitfire FR.18.^[3]
• No. 60 Squadron RAF – Spitfire F.18.^[1]
• No. 194 Squadron RAF reformed here during February 1953 from the Far East Casevac Flight – Westland Dragonfly HC.2.^[4]
• No. 656 Squadron RAF reformed here on 29 June 1948 from No. 1914 Flight RAF – Auster AOP.5.^[5]

Royal Navy

• Aircraft Holding Unit Sembawang.^[6]
• Naval Aircraft Support Unit Sembawang.^[7]
• 791 Naval Air Squadron^[8]
• 800 Naval Air Squadron^[9]
• 802 Naval Air Squadron^[10]
• 804 Naval Air Squadron^[11]
• 806 Naval Air Squadron^[12]
• 807 Naval Air Squadron^[13]
• 811 Naval Air Squadron^[14]
• 812 Naval Air Squadron^[15]
• 814 Naval Air Squadron^[16]
• 815 Naval Air Squadron^[17]
• 816 Naval Air Squadron^[18]
• 817 Naval Air Squadron^[19]
• 820 Naval Air Squadron^[20]
• 824 Naval Air Squadron^[21]
• 825 Naval Air Squadron^[22]
• 826 Naval Air Squadron^[23]
• 827 Naval Air Squadron^[24]
• 837 Naval Air Squadron^[25]
• 845 Naval Air Squadron^[26]
• 846 Naval Air Squadron^[27]
• 847 Naval Air Squadron^[28]
• 848 Naval Air Squadron^[29]
• 849A Naval Air Squadron^[30]
• 888 Naval Air Squadron^[31]
• 1700 Naval Air Squadron^[32]
• 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron

Sembawang Air Base

The base was renamed Sembawang Air Base (SBAB) in 1971 when it was handed over to the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC). From 1971 to 1976, under the auspices of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), Sembawang housed British, Australian and New Zealand forces.

In 1983, the airbase became a full-fledged rotary-wing air base when the first resident helicopter squadron – 120 Squadron – was permanently relocated from Changi Air Base.

In the late 1990s, the extension of Sembawang Airbase has acquired the portion of Lorong Gambas and Lorong Lada Merah for redevelopment works.

Citations

Bibliography

• Howard, L; Burrow, M; Myall, E (2011). Fleet Air Arm helicopters since 1943. UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-304-8.
• Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
• Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.