Year 1970

People

First Batch Of Trainee Pilots Graduated

Friday, 27th November 1970

Eight cadets graduated from the No.1 FTS Course - 2LT Goh Yong Seng, 2KT Noel Tam, 2LT Wong Hee Jit, 2LT Pal Sharma, 2LT Robin Thomas, 2LT Ng Seng Ngiap and 2KT Bertram Yong. They were trained using the new fleet of BAC Strikemasters Mk 84 Trainer Jet in Singapore.


President Yusof Ishak Died

Monday, 23rd November 1970

Yusof Bin Ishak, also known as Yusof Ishak, the First President of Singapore. During his term as President, Yusof Ishak was often ill, but this didn’t stopped him from assisting the people who in need of help. Yusof Ishak passed away from heart failure at the age of 60. Yusof is buried at Kranji State Cemetery.


Queenstown Library Opened

Thursday, 30th April 1970

Queenstown Library was officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Queenstown Library was the first public library to be located in a HDB Neighborhood. 12,600 nearby residents registered themselves as library members on opening day.


Fifth Singapore Grand Prix

Sunday, 29th March 1970

The event was sponsored by Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). MSA took the initiative to fly in top drivers from Asia-Pacific. With foreign talent was dominating the circuit, Clubman racing was introduced for the first time. The Clubman race was opened to Singapore and Malaysian racers to use their road-going cars. Miss Anne Wong, daughter of Newton Enterprises’ PH Wong, had her first racing experience in her Hillman Imp. The Clubman race saw 29 cars fighting it out with Tommy Koh in his Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 as the eventual winner. The main event was won again by Graeme Lawrence won in his V6 Ferrari Dino 246T.


Three BAC 167 Strikemasters Mk 84 Flew In

Saturday, 18th October 1969

Three brand new BAC Strikemasters Mk 84 flew in to Tengah Air Base. The are the first batch of the 16 aircraft purchased second hand from the Royal Air Force (RAF) of Britian. These 16 aircraft will be used for Pilot training at SAF Flying Training School (FTS). These planes was eventually used to form RSAF 130 Squadron.


First Batch Of Fighter Pilot

Wednesday, 15th October 1969

The first batch of four fighter pilot return home from UK. They have gone through a tough and demanding course in UK. It started when 6 training pilots were made to go through their basic flying course in RAF Leeming, then advanced flying training at RAF Valley (in Holyhead, Gwynedd , Isle Of Anglesey, United Kingdom) and finally to type-training on the Hawker Hunter at RAF Chivenor. Only 4 managed to complete the course - 2LT Gary Yeo, 2LT John Norfor, 2LT Timothy De Souza and OCT Hoe Kim Bock - graduated and received their "wings".


Princess Alexandra Visited Singapore

Wednesday, 6th August 1969

Exactly 150 years after Stamford Raffles of the British Empire founded Singapore, another another lesser known, Princess Alexandra, cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, flew into the city as the Queen’s special envoy for the 150th anniversary celebrations for the founding of modern Singapore. Waiting on the tarmac to greet her were Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew; the British High Commissioner, Sir Arthur de la Mare; and their wives. At the reception committee for the Princess, the attendees included the who’s who of Singapore; the Chief Justice, cabinet ministers, MPs, statutory board heads, as well as Commonwealth leaders. Hordes of local islanders could only watch the pomp and pageantry from outside the fence-up compound.


Man On The Moon Radio Broadcast

Monday, 21st July 1969

Singapore radio listeners was able to hear Radio Malaysia's English service relay of BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) live broadcast of mans first landing on the moon from 1:39pm to 1:58pm (Singapore Time). Apollo 11 Lunar Module "Eagle" landed on the Moon surface at 3:49 am (Singapore Time). At 1:48pm (Singapore Time), the mission commander stepped out of the craft to walk on the surface of the moon. As Neil Armstrong climb out of his Lunar Module, he said in his scripted line "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."  When on the moon surface he went on, "Yes, the surface is fine and powdery. I can kick it up loosely with my toe."


Fourth Singapore Grand Prix

Sunday, 6th April 1969

The event attracted big names which included Australian drivers Brain Foley, Malcolm Ramsay and defending champion Garrie Cooper. Hong Kong-based Englishmen John Macdonald also showed up for the event. To complete a star-studded line-up Graeme Lawrence and Roly Levis, both from New Zealand, was here.


Keep Singapore Clean Campaign

Tuesday, 1st October 1968

Lee Kuan Yew, launching ceremony of the “Keep Singapore Clean” Campaign. In his speech, he said "We have built. We have progressed. But there is no hallmark of our success more distinctive and more meaningful than achieving the position as the cleanest and greenest city in South Asia."


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