Tengah Air Base facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tengah Air Base
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Badge of the Tengah Air Base
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military airbase | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Singapore | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Republic of Singapore Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Western Water Catchment, Singapore | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 15 m / 50 ft | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 01°23′14″N 103°42′31″E / 1.38722°N 103.70861°E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Runway | |||||||||||||||||||
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The Tengah Air Base (IATA: TGA, ICAO: WSAT) is a very important military airbase in Singapore. It is located in the western part of the country, in an area called the Western Water Catchment.
This air base is the main hub for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). It is home to most of the RSAF's main aircraft. This includes planes used for early warning and control, many F-16C/D Fighting Falcons, and various drones (UAVs).
The motto of Tengah Air Base is Always Vigilant. Its symbol is a black knight chess piece. This knight represents how ready the aircraft at Tengah are for action. The sword in the symbol stands for the power of war, and the castle shows the state or country.
Before Singapore became independent, this base was a flying Royal Air Force station. It was known as RAF Tengah.
Contents
History of Tengah Air Base
RAF Tengah: Early Days
RAF Tengah first opened in 1939. It quickly became a target during World War II. When the Battle of Malaya began, 17 Japanese Navy bombers attacked Tengah. This was the first air raid on Singapore.
Tengah was the first airfield captured by Japanese forces when they invaded Singapore. After Japan took control of Singapore, Tengah was used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. The other two RAF stations, Sembawang Air Base and RAF Seletar, were taken over by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. Singapore was divided, with the Japanese Army controlling the south and the Navy controlling the north.
Malayan Emergency Operations
During the Malayan Emergency, Tengah was a key base. The Malayan Emergency was a long fight against communist forces in Peninsular Malaysia. From Tengah, planes like Avro Lincolns and Bristol Brigands flew missions. They dropped bombs on the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) in the jungles.
Many different squadrons from the RAF and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) were based here. For example, No. 45 Squadron RAF used de Havilland Hornets and later Venoms. The Royal New Zealand Air Force also had planes at Tengah.
Konfrontasi Period
The period known as Konfrontasi was a time of tension between Indonesia and Malaysia. During this time, fighter jets like the Hawker Hunter and Gloster Javelin were based at Tengah. They helped protect Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia from Indonesian air incursions.
Later, 74 Squadron brought their Lightnings to Tengah. These powerful jets replaced the Javelins. On September 3, 1964, an Indonesian Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed while trying to avoid a Javelin from Tengah.
V Bomber Detachment
To show strength during Konfrontasi, the RAF sent powerful V bombers to Tengah. These included Handley Page Victor B.1A and Avro Vulcan B.2 bombers. They were rotated between Tengah and RAAF Butterworth in Malaysia. These bombers were a way to deter the Indonesian President Sukarno from starting a full-scale war.
These V bombers were eventually sent back to their bases in the UK after the confrontation ended.
British Withdrawal
The RAF station at Tengah officially closed in March 1971. Control of the base was given to the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC). This group later became the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). Even after the British left, Tengah continued to host air forces from Britain and other Commonwealth countries until 1976. This was part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). The RAAF also left Tengah in 1983.
Tengah Air Base Today
The base was renamed RSAF Tengah in 1971. It is now known as Tengah Air Base (TAB). Today, it is home to modern aircraft like the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcons.
In 2018, the RSAF celebrated its 50th anniversary (RSAF50) at Tengah Air Base. The event included a parade with nearly 500 people. There was also a flypast with 20 aircraft. The new Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft made its first public appearance at this event.
Organization of Tengah Air Base
Flying Squadrons
These are the main flying units based at Tengah Air Base:
- 111 Squadron flies 4 G550 CAEW aircraft. These are used for early warning and control.
- 140 Squadron flies 12 F-16C/D fighter jets.
- 143 Squadron also flies 12 F-16C/D fighter jets.
- RSAF Black Knights are the official RSAF Aerobatic team. They use F-16Cs from different squadrons for their amazing air shows.
UAV Squadrons
These squadrons operate drones (UAVs) from Tengah Air Base:
- 116 Squadron flies H-450 drones.
Support Squadrons
These squadrons provide important support for the air base operations:
- Flying Support Squadron – 205 Squadron
- Airbase Civil Engineering Squadron – 505 Squadron
- Field Defence Squadron – 605 Squadron
- Ground Logistics Squadron – 705 Squadron
- Aircraft Operational Maintenance Squadron – 805 Squadron
- Aircraft Specialist Maintenance Squadron – 815 Squadron
Former Flying Squadrons
- 142 Squadron used to fly 16 A-4SU Super Skyhawk planes. This squadron was closed in 1997 but was reopened in 2016 at Paya Lebar Air Base.
Exercises and Training
The RSAF often holds an event called Exercise Torrent. During this exercise, the nearby Lim Chu Kang road is turned into an alternative runway. This shows that the RSAF can quickly get aircraft into the air using public roads if needed. The first Exercise Torrent was in April 1986. The most recent one was held from November 10 to 13, 2016.
Future Plans for Tengah Air Base
Tengah Air Base is going to get much bigger! All the RSAF aircraft and equipment from Paya Lebar Air Base will move here. To make space, about 50,000 graves from the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and 80 nearby farms will be moved. Some military training areas will also be changed. A brand new runway will be built on the expanded part of the base.
Photo gallery
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An aerial view of the RAF Tengah taken in 1953
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Bristol Blenheim Mk Is of No. 62 Squadron RAF lined up at RAF Tengah, February 1941
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Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bombers at RAF Tengah, June 1941
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The first operation of No. 1 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force from RAF Tengah, August 1950
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An Avro Lincoln bomber of No 1(B) Bomber squadron dropping 500-pound (230 kg) bombs on Communist targets during the Malayan Emergency
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Members of No. 45 Squadron RAF posing for the camera in front of a Bristol Brigand at RAF Tengah, in 1950
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English Electric Canberra B.15 of No. 45 Squadron at RAF Tengah, Singapore, in 1963
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RSAF F-16D prepares for flight
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RSAF 111Sqn's E-2C Hawkeye
See also
- Republic of Singapore Air Force
- Singapore strategy
- British Far East Command
- Far East Air Force (Royal Air Force)
- Far East Strategic Reserve
- Former overseas RAF bases
- Battle of Singapore
- Malayan Emergency
- Bristol Brigands - No 84 Squadron at RAF Tengah during the Malayan Emergency
- Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
