Year 1968

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.


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."


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.


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.


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.


Trainee Pilots Landed In Seletar Air Base

Wednesday, 17th July 1968

2 Cessna 172H aircraft piloted by Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC) pilot trainees landed at Royal Air Force Seletar (RAF Seletar). This marked the transfer of the fortnight-old Singapore Armed Forces Flying Training School to Seletar from its temporary premises at Maju Camp and the birth of military flight training in Singapore. SADC's formed the first flying unit called Falcon Squadron.


SAF Flying Training School Formed

Friday, 28th June 1968

The SAF Flying Training School was setup at Maju Camp while waiting for the British Forces to release RAF Seletar. 33 out of the 500 applicants that responded to the first recruitment drive were selected. These 33 cadets Basic Military Training at Maju Camp. Then to SAFTI for officer training. Together with 4 commissioned officer to formed the first batch of FTS pilot trainees. At FTS, they underwent air grading and further selection for Basic Flying Course at RAF Leeming UK, advanced training at RAF Valley and type-traing on Hawker Hunter at RAF Chivenor.


JTC Incorporated

Saturday, 1st June 1968

JTC Corporation was formally incorporated.


POSB Increased Interest Rate to 4% Per Year

Wednesday, 1st May 1968

POSB raised its interest rate payable to depositors from 3% to 4% per year. This incentives introduced by the Singapore Government attracted another 23,000 accounts to be opened to create a total of 280,000 depositors. Total sums deposited in 1968 was S$22.8 million.


Third Singapore Grand Prix

Monday, 15th April 1968

The Singapore Grand Prix coincided with the country’s 1968 General Election. The race was won by an Australian, Garrie Cooper in the Elfin 600 and was followed closely by Jan Bussell with his Brabham BT15. Steve Holland was third in this Lotus 47.


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