RAF Changi

RAF Changi was a significant Royal Air Force station located in the eastern part of Singapore. Established in the pre-war period, it played a crucial role during the Battle of Singapore and was subsequently occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. Following the Surrender of Japan, the station was redeveloped and remained a key British Far East Command base until its eventual handover.

History

The airfield's origins trace to the late 1930s as part of British defensive preparations in Southeast Asia. During the opening stages of the Pacific War, it hosted squadrons such as No. 36 Squadron RAF operating Vickers Vildebeest aircraft. Following the swift Japanese invasion of Malaya, the station was overrun in February 1942 during the final stages of the Battle of Singapore. Under Japanese control, the facility was used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and was notably adjacent to the notorious Changi Prison and the Selarang Barracks where the Selarang Barracks Incident occurred. After the Surrender of Japan, the site was reclaimed by the British Military Administration and extensively rebuilt to support post-war operations.

Facilities and units

The original pre-war station was a grass airfield with basic support buildings. Post-war reconstruction under projects like Project Raleigh transformed it into a major modern airbase with long paved runways capable of handling jet aircraft like the English Electric Canberra and Gloster Javelin. Key operational units based here included No. 205 Squadron RAF flying Short Sunderland flying boats, No. 48 Squadron RAF with Handley Page Hastings transports, and No. 81 Squadron RAF. The station also housed a major RAF Hospital, extensive married quarters, and was a central hub for British Forces Broadcasting Service transmissions in the region.

Role and operations

Strategically, the station was a cornerstone of British post-war defence policy in the Far East, serving as a vital transport and logistical nexus during the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. Aircraft from Changi conducted maritime patrols, troop deployments, and supply missions across the region, including to Hong Kong and British Borneo. It also functioned as a critical staging post for long-range flights between the United Kingdom and Australia, often involving aircraft like the de Havilland Comet of RAF Transport Command. The station's operations were integral to the Five Power Defence Arrangements and exercises with allies such as the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Post-war use and legacy

Following the withdrawal of British forces east of Suez, the station was gradually scaled down. The airfield portion was handed over to the Singapore Air Defence Command in 1971, eventually becoming Changi Air Base of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Much of the former living areas and technical sites were repurposed; the RAF Hospital became Changi General Hospital, and other estates were developed into civilian housing. The Changi Chapel and Museum stands as a key memorial to the site's wartime history. Today, parts of the former station are also encompassed by the massive Changi Airport complex.

See also

* History of the Royal Air Force * British military history in Singapore * Sembawang Air Base * Tengah Air Base * Fall of Singapore Category:Royal Air Force stations in Singapore Category:Military installations established in the 1930s Category:Changi