Year 1963

Places

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."


First Singapore Armed Forces Day

Tuesday, 1st July 1969

The first Singapore Armed Forces Day (SAF Day) saw a 1,500-strong contingent of servicemen and women in a grand parade finale and march past at Jalan Besar Stadium. In a day filled with muster parades, open houses and pledges of loyalty, the most solemn moment was the presentation of the SAF Flag for the first time to the 3rd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (3 SIR) by the then Minister for Interior and Defence, Mr Lim Kim San.


Ethnic riots in Singapore

Tuesday, 13th May 1969

Ethnic riots break out in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and later spill over to Singapore. This is also known as the "Seven-Day Racial Riots" between 31 May 1969 to 6 June 1969. Rumours began to spread here from KL that the Singaporean Malays, a minority in Singapore, would be subjected to revenge after Malaysian Chinese were unfairly treated by the Malaysian government. Chinese secret societies began plans to attack the Malay-majority Jalan Ubi and Jalan Kayu. The Malay triads retaliated by burning Chinese shophouses in Geylang. The Internal Security Department (ISD) of Singapore worked with the police to quash all conflicts, but the seven-day riots still caused at least four deaths and 80 injuries. The mounting tensions between the two races continued for another couple of years, but the government made efforts to ensure such high level of violence would not happen again.


The Eight New Aircraft Arrived At Seletar

Thursday, 1st May 1969

The eight new aircraft arrived at Seletar in huge wooden crate stencilled with the name of the aircraft maker and the words, "Airplane inside - Use no hooks". And locally trained SADC technicians had to assemble the aircraft. Such was the awe and excitement inspired by the arrival of the new fleet of Cessna 172K (also known as T-41 Mescalero, Military harden version). The SADC (later the RSAF) was established at Seletar Airbase in September 1968, with the setting up of the Flying Training School (FTS) utilising three Cessna 172G/H on loan from the Singapore Flying Club. These eight new Cessna 172K takes over the duty for more selected trainees to participate in the basic flight-training course.


SAF School of Technical Training Opened

Wednesday, 16th April 1969

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) School of Technical Training at Royal Air Force (RAF) Seletar was officially declared open. The school was setup with the help of Airwork Services Limited, a British company specialising in defence service, and the RAF. The school offers training in 11 aircrafts like the Ex-RAF Gloster Meteor PR.10 fighter.


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.


People's Park Shopping Centre Unveiled

Saturday, 22nd February 1969

People's Park Shopping Centre was unveiled at New Market Road. People's Park was build on the site of an old market in Chinatown. People's Park Centre is a mixed-use development which features four floors for retail shopping and a pair of towers which are used for office space and residential usage.


DBS Open For Business

Friday, 29th November 1968

DBS was established in 1968 as the Development Bank of Singapore Limited. The DBS was set up to provide financial assistance to manufacturing and other industries in Singapore for the purpose of Singapore's economic development and industrialisation.


RAF Lightning Crashed At Tengah

Thursday, 12th September 1968

A Royal Air Force (RAF) Lightning F6 caught fire and spun into ground on approach to RAF Tengah. The aircraft was part of No. 74 Squadron RAF.


RAF Hunter Crashed In Farm House

Monday, 22nd July 1968

The occupants of two farm houses in Choa Chu Kang Road had a close brush with death when an Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hunter jet fighter plummeted from the sky and crashed between them. The lone pilot of the jet was picked up by a helicopter and flown to RAF Changi Hospital.


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