Thread: AAC Helicopters in Brunei, Early 60s

Just reading Allan Mallinson's book, "The Making Of The British Army". In the section on the Brunei Confrontation of the early 60s, he states: "By the end of 1964....forty observation and liason helicopters from the Army Air Corps, formed seven years earlier"

That seems rather a lot. Is he correct?

I think he is counting RAF/RN aircraft as in 1964 was still useing the SARO Skeeter, and they only ever had about 75 totall , the Sioux was just coming intu service

The Sultan of Brunei is quite well off, attended Sandhurst, has very strong links with the UK, pays for a resident ghurka coy, and AAC sqn.

Forty helicopters, sounds quite sensible considering what he was protecting.

Wikipedia states his personal collection of cars is valued at 4 billion US dollars
For personal use, the sultan has a Boeing 747-400 furnished with gold plated furniture with an estimated value of $233 million including $3 million on furniture, six smaller planes and two helicopters. He is trained to pilot the aircraft.

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/malaya/index.html

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Borneo/index.html

Originally Posted by MightyGem

Just reading Allan Mallinson's book, "The Making Of The British Army". In the section on the Brunei Confrontation of the early 60s, he states: "By the end of 1964....forty observation and liason helicopters from the Army Air Corps, formed seven years earlier"

That seems rather a lot. Is he correct?

It's feasible. By 1964, the Brunei revolt was well over, and the Borneo Confrontation was well underway. It was quite a large front and if the battalion I was with was typical, each would have had two choppers each (ours were called Celer and Audax!)

I seem to recall AAC having a Wing based in Singapore and I'm sure if that were so, the aircraft in the wing would all have been employed in the Confrontation.

The only AAC aircraft in the Smallwars site are DHC Beavers, fixed wing , there might have been AH1 Sioux later in the war but unlikly in 1964 as the AAC only got them about then

As the order for the first 50 Sioux was only given to Agusta in March 1964 it is unlikly that there were any in Borneo that year

In 339 pages, I would read AAC as (anybody who used helicopters)

Originally Posted by tropper66

The only AAC aircraft in the Smallwars site are DHC Beavers, fixed wing , there might have been AH1 Sioux later in the war but unlikly in 1964 as the AAC only got them about then

Sycamore were used also. One was lost in Sarawak in 63.

Originally Posted by tropper66

As the order for the first 50 Sioux was only given to Agusta in March 1964 it is unlikly that there were any in Borneo that year

I can only speak from 1965 onwards but I'm sure any old AAC hand who can remember Major Markham being awarded his decoration (AFC?) for saving Col Brammall's life (and a major British embarrassment!) circa Aug 1965) by his exceptional piloting skills, will remember what aircraft type would likely have been flying.

Originally Posted by jinxy

Originally Posted by tropper66

The only AAC aircraft in the Smallwars site are DHC Beavers, fixed wing , there might have been AH1 Sioux later in the war but unlikly in 1964 as the AAC only got them about then

Sycamore were used also. One was lost in Sarawak in 63.

While searching for crashed Belverdere Sycamore XL822 hit a tree stump and rolled over at Long Mararup in Sarawak

Originally Posted by tropper66

Originally Posted by jinxy

Originally Posted by tropper66

The only AAC aircraft in the Smallwars site are DHC Beavers, fixed wing , there might have been AH1 Sioux later in the war but unlikly in 1964 as the AAC only got them about then

Sycamore were used also. One was lost in Sarawak in 63.

While searching for crashed Belverdere Sycamore XL822 hit a tree stump and rolled over at Long Mararup in Sarawak

yep, thats the one. There is a 'War Grave' site somewhere in Sarawak to another downed Helicopter. I forget the type and details now. We looked for it in 85, didn't find it though.

Originally Posted by jinxy

Originally Posted by tropper66

Originally Posted by jinxy

Originally Posted by tropper66

The only AAC aircraft in the Smallwars site are DHC Beavers, fixed wing , there might have been AH1 Sioux later in the war but unlikly in 1964 as the AAC only got them about then

Sycamore were used also. One was lost in Sarawak in 63.

While searching for crashed Belverdere Sycamore XL822 hit a tree stump and rolled over at Long Mararup in Sarawak

yep, thats the one. There is a 'War Grave' site somewhere in Sarawak to another downed Helicopter. I forget the type and details now. We looked for it in 85, didn't find it though.

Could it be the one that got lost and went over the border and was shot down Whirlwind XR 480 17/11/65 still never been found as far as I know

Originally Posted by tropper66

Originally Posted by jinxy

Originally Posted by tropper66

Originally Posted by jinxy

Originally Posted by tropper66

The only AAC aircraft in the Smallwars site are DHC Beavers, fixed wing , there might have been AH1 Sioux later in the war but unlikly in 1964 as the AAC only got them about then

Sycamore were used also. One was lost in Sarawak in 63.

While searching for crashed Belverdere Sycamore XL822 hit a tree stump and rolled over at Long Mararup in Sarawak

yep, thats the one. There is a 'War Grave' site somewhere in Sarawak to another downed Helicopter. I forget the type and details now. We looked for it in 85, didn't find it though.

Could it be the one that got lost and went over the border and was shot down Whirlwind XR 480 17/11/65 still never been found as far as I know

Maybe, my part in the search was a day out in the jungle with a couple of 45 gallon drums of AVTUR and a Jemini. The site was further than the enduance of a Scout.

There would have been some Westland Scouts which were delivered to the AAC from 1961/62. Also the RAF had some Sycamores, Belvederes and Whirlwinds in Brunei at that time as well.

FC

XP 165 the first Scout first flew on 29/8/1960, but I can only find referance to them being used on mainlans Malaya in late 64 no ref about Borneo, there were AusterAOP9s and Beavers used there I even found the RN useing a Hiller HT1 there, but no AAC Helicopters in 1964 as yet