Year 1969
AETI Inaugurated
Sunday, 1st October 1972
The Air Engineering Training Institute (AETI) was inaugurated. AETI is the new centralised training school for SADC (RSAF) technical personnel. The pioneering batch of AETI students was trained by expatriate trainers mainly from Britain (ex-RAF personnel).
SADC Took Over Tengah
Wednesday, 15th September 1971
Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC) took over full operational control of Tengah Air Base from the British Royal Air Force (RAF).
Biggest bank robbery in Raffles Place
Friday, 30th October 1970
Three young men took less than a minute to pull off Singapore’s biggest-ever robbery (to-date), and escaped with about One Million Singapore Dollars in busy Raffles Place. The loot was stacked in the side-car of their get-away motorcycle. The three bank robbers worked with ice-cold precision, waited until the very last second before they struck at 11.05 am outside the Chartered Bank head office in Battery Road. They were waiting for the Securicor armoured van, which carried money to the bank from the Treasury in Empress Place every day for business transactions. They managed to snatch a metal box containing the cash from the van in a split second and sped off in their motorcycle with almost no resistance.
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.
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".
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.
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."
SADC (RSAF) Was Formed
Sunday, 1st September 1968
Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) predecessor , the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC), was formed. The SADC’s immediate task was to set up the Flying Training School to train pilots. the first batch of six pilot trainees were sent to the United Kingdom to undergo training in various technical disciplines. The training was based on the Hawker Hunter, the SADC’s first air defence fighter. The rotary wing, were sent to France to begin their technical training on the Aerospatiale Alouette III helicopter.
National Service Act
Tuesday, 14th March 1967
The National Service Bill (Amendment) 1967 was first read in Parliament on 27 Feb 1967. After a spirited debate in Parliament, the NS Act was passed.
Nation Building 3 People 5 Places 13 Religion 2
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