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Tengah Air Base
By Peace | July 29, 2008
My brother and my husband were both from the Republic of Singapore Air Force. I never take a good look at the badge at all. I only know that the uniform looks so smart. I would love to join the air force. Long time ago, I wanted to be a nurse, then it was ‘gone with the wind’. Next, I wanted to be a police, but again, this dream vanished. Next, I wanted to join the air force and Richard said, “no good” and I tried, and I got my application rejected.
Everything is fated! Now my eyes are opened. For the first time, I ‘discovered’ Tengah Air Base Crest Badge (just now when I posted about Special Number 11, mentioning about the two friends of Richard who died in a car accident several years back.)
I was checking for the correct name of the airbase and I was so surprised to find out the Facts about Tengah Airbase — Tengah Air Base is the most important airfield of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. It is home to the RSAF’s F-16 Fighting Falcons, E-2C Hawkeyes and a large number of UAVs. The air base goes by the motto of “Always Vigilant”. Prior to Singapore’s independence, it was an Royal Air Force station known as RAF Tengah. RAF Tengah was commissioned in 1939. It was renamed Tengah Air Base (TAB) in 1971 when it was handed over to the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC). And from 1971 to 1976, under the Five Power Defence Arrangement, Tengah housed British, Australian and New Zealand forces.
Tengah Air Base (TAB) Crest Badge with Motto: Always Vigilant
Tengah’s motto, Always Vigilant, supports its main motif, a chess board Black Knight piece symbolic of the aircraft’s operational readiness in Tengah.
The sword represents war’s heraldic sword of destruction, while the state is depicted by the castle.
Constructed in 1932 by the British to give air cover to the naval base in Sembawang and commissioned RAF Tengah in 1939, the Air Base was constantly improved upon to prepare it for the increasingly sophisticated aircraft that was coming in.
These are the rest of the badges that Richard has. It is now my possession!
140 Squadron: Stand Firm In Defence : Set up in 1970, the squadron’s motto, Stand Firm In Defence, reflects the bird of prey they were named after. The Osprey symbolises strength, reliability, enviable powers of flight and control of the elements. The F16s in 140 Squadron are primarily responsible for Air Defence, Fighter Sweep and Escort and Counter Air Operations/Strategic Interdiction/Maritime Air Operations.
145 Squadron: Swift and Valiant — The squadron motif depicts a valiant hornet in an attack posture to deter potential agressors. The yellow and black strips represent speed and agility. Its blazed-green eyes and forward arching sting epitomise its readiness to strike in swift response to defend its nest, at day or night.
Established on 1st april 1984 in Tengah air base, the squadron first started flying the A4 Skyhawks. In 1992, 145 squadron was the first squadron to fly the indigenously developed A4-SUs.
The professionalism and operational readiness of the crew in 145 squadron were exemplified through the achievement of numerous awards which included the coveted best fighter squadron in 1998 and 2000, and RSAF hotshot competitions.
After nearly 2 decades the squadron ended its operations on the 30th Apr 2003 to prepare for the relocation and operation of the new F-16D BLK 52+ in CAB ( EAST).
On the 3rd Jul 2004, 145 squadron began operations from Changi air base (East) with the induction of the F-16D BLK 52+, the latest in the RSAF’s inventory.
The F-16D+ is equipped with state-of-the-art Conformal Fuel Tanks, an enhanced radar with greater detection range and improved mapping capabilities, and an improved targeting pod, which will enable the squadron to conduct precision day and night operations at a greater combat range and duration.
145 squadron is unique in the RSAF as all the aircraft are tandem seats and every mission is flown with a Pilot and WSO(FTR). This new concept of operations allows the squadron to take on even more complex and demanding missions.
Air Logistics Squadron (ALS): Strive To Resolve - The Air Logistics Squadron services, maintains and repairs on-ground systems required for air operations. Tengah’s ALS motif consists of a woodpecker pecking the worms out of a tree. Like the woodpecker, the ALS detects the ‘worms’ and ferrets them out. The squadron’s motto is Strive to Resolve.
A4SU Super Skyhawks
The RSAF aims to be among the best. To be a First Class Air Force, our people must also be among the best Air Force professionals in the world. To this end, the RSAF will strive…
* To achieve mission excellence in all aspects of operations both in peace and in war. We will fight as an integrated force with a broad spectrum of capabilities to achieve the SAF’s mission.
* To be a First Class learning organisation. We will develop our most important resource, our people, to their fullest potential through challenging and rewarding careers.
* To be best-trained. We will adopt a global training outlook to achieve professional excellence and combat readiness, whilst ensuring zero accidents.
* To achieve superior logistics. We will be agile and focused, ensuring mission effectiveness and operational success through speed and sustainment.
* To exploit leading edge technology. We will leverage on enabling technologies as force multipliers to hone the RSAF’s fighting edge.
Written 30th July 2008
Topics: Family, Internet, Singapore, View All, collection |
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