The Alouette III Gunship Club

 

        "The Hall of Fame"
            (1975-1980)

1. Mej.(U) Stephen Ngiau
2. Mej.(U) Chin
3. Capt.(U) Lim Tow Lean
4. Capt.(U) Sawaludin Lamin
5. Capt.(U) Raja Mohd
6. Capt.(U) Ismail 
7. Capt.(U) Senin Bin Jantan 
8. Capt.(U) Ripin
9. Capt.(U) Azam
10. Capt.(U) Ahmad 
11. Capt.(U) Benjamin Leong 
12. Capt.(U) Yeaw
13. Lt.(U) Mohd Fauzi
14. Lt.(U) Ismail Yahaya                                              
15. Lt.(U) Hashim Hamzah
16. Lt.(U) Hashim Darus
17. Lt.(U) Aziz Laji 
18. Lt.(U) Jamal Abu Bakar
19. Lt.(U) Che Yahaya
20. Lt.(U) Karim 
21. Lt.(U) Mazlan 
22. Lt.(U) Noel
23. Lt.(U) Hassim
24. Lt.(U) Raman 
25. Lt.(U) Tengku Malik 
26. Lt.(U) Yahaya 
27. Lt.(U) Azli 
28. Lt.(U) Fong 
29. Lt.(U) Zabidi 
30. Lt.(U) Hamzah
31. Lt.M(U) Kamal 
32. Lt.M(U) Eric Ng
33. Flt.Sgt(U) Verapan
34. Flt.Sgt(U) Tharma Singh 
35. Flt.Sgt(U) Mohd Isa
36. Flt.Sgt(U) Patrick Lee
37. Flt.Sgt.(U) Peter Nunis
38. Flt.Sgt.(U) Chong Kim San
39. Sgt.(U) Mohd Baki
40. Sgt.(U) Baharuddin
41. Sgt.(U) Mohd Ismail Bin Mohd Hashim
42. Sgt.(U) Azizan Bin Mat Saman
43. Sgt.(U) Mohd Jais
44. Sgt.(U) Md Daud Yusof
45. Sgt.(U) Gan Eng Keong
46. Sgt.(U) Zainal
47. Sgt.(U) Mohd Noh

An Operational Alouette III Helicopter Crewman

My First Aircrew License

Obtained my first Aircrew 'D' CAT license on Nov 28,1977 from the No 3 Squadron Aircrew Training Wing, RMAF Base Butterworth and it was a joyful moment on that graduation day. Along with other graduates at daylight hour as usual, normal in practice..."Happy-Hour" held at the squadron reception room. Many did turned up as guests and some with operational excuses. Theres plenty of food served and the aftermath levying was commonly shared...thats the way..aha..aha..aha. When night falls, again at the NCO Mess were made "alive" with another story to experience...and God knows, and the next morning with  little rest or without rest you are ready for real "Operational Tasking" and thats what awaiting you! 

"DI-MANA DAN APA SAHAJA".

Alouette III Aircrew Conversion Course No 1 / 1977

The Five Converters

Photo from left to right: Sgt(U) Mohd Ismail (self), Sgt(U) Mohd Daud Yusof, 

Sgt(U) Azizan Mat Saman, Sgt(U) Gan Eng Keong, and Sgt(U) Mohd Jais. 

We had guessed after the "Gubir Incident" on 26 April 1976, thats what brought the five of us here, at the No3 Sqn.RMAF Base Butterworth, the home of helicopter squadron and combat gunships. It was April 24, 1977 when we were done with our medical check-up and nobody knew about the Airforce intentionally planed to have courses for aircrews to be as "Combat Helicopter Gunners" specially tasked to supressed communist terrorist gaining momentum along the Malaysian/Thailand borders. In early June,1977 after attending No 1/77 Basic AQM Course at the Helicopter Flying Training School(F.T.S) RMAF Kuala Lumpur, we then finally reported at the No3 Squadron Aircrew Training Wing. We trained hard each day with the guidance from the instructors like Capt(U) Raja Mohd, Flt.Sgt Tharma Singh, Flt.Sgt Isa and a few to name and somehow or rather managed to get through with the ground school subjects, and the flying phase, successfully. 

The ground school subjects:

1. Theory and Principle of Flight.
2. Mathematics eg. weight & balance etc.
3. Metereology.
4. Aircraft on type, engine,airframe,radio & intruments.
5. Maps and navigation.
6. General duties.

The Alouette III helicopter multy-roles flying phase subjects:

1. Alouette III aircrew duties such as - winching and underslung operator.
2. Military/Non-Military Communication Flight such as - VVIP/VIP, non VVIP flights, flying doctor services, and etc.
3. Forward Airborne Control (FAC) eg. fighter aircraft/artillery strikes in forward locations.
4. Search and rescue (SAR).
5. Reconnaissance.
6. Voice broadcasting and Leaflet drop.
7. Medivac / Bodyvac / Casevac.
8. Floatation Role.
9. Aerial Photography.
10. Gunship Role.

* The RMAF offer courses in Aircrew/Air Gunner, Air Quarter Master(AQM), Load Master and Flight Engineers.The aircrew candidate's eligibility for this unique courses are as follows:

1. You must attained the rank of Corporal(Cpl) in the Airforce.

2. Passed your medical check-up.

3. Experience, and knowledgeable on other subject matters would be an advantage.

That was during my flying era days, thirty three years ago and let me say something, its unique being an Alouette III helicopter crewman. Out there above the clouds somewhere, and you are not alone. Sometime you are a co-pilot under supervision, navigator, flight engineer, hoist and underslung operator, medic, flight attendant, observer and air-gunner.The helicopter of many roles with the capability to scare the enemy when transform into a combat gunship. Whats such a unique and challenging  career to have, and I have dedicately served almost ten years of my service as a stand-alone Alouette III helicopter crewman with 1300 hours logged. Would have clocked more hours if were not for the sake of my intelligence duties held from 1983 to 1990.

AlouetteIII

After two years of my retirement, the Alouette IIIs  has finally made its way for the establishment of PUTD (Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat or Malaysian Army Aviation) on 1st July, 1994 which was under the project team director, Kol(U) Stephen Ngiau Tai Kong of the RMAF (former OC No.3 Sqn) and later handed over Kluang Air Base to PUTD in January,1996. The PUTD was declared operational on 29 March,1997 with its new wing named 881 Squadron stationed at Kluang Air Base, in turn setting a new path towards Malaysian Army Aviation history.

Airman of the RMAF

                                                                                                
              




                                                                         


          

My Profile                                                                                      

1. 1970-Feb 20, date enlisted in the Royal Malaysian Air Force as a recruit / Airman.
2. 1970-awarded the RMAFs 'Best Recruit' 1st. Intake of 1970 from RMAF Kinrara. (See photo on the right)
3. 1970-1976, serving the RMAF Logistic.
4. 1977-join the Aircrew at the Helicopter Flying Training School(F.T.S.) RMAF Base, Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur.
5. 1978-qualified as Air Gunner from No3 SQN.RMAF Air Gunnery School, Butterworth.
6. 1977-1980, piercing into Malaysian / Thailands  "Operation Theatre" on the AlouetteIII gunship helicopter based at No 3 SQN RMAF Base Butterworth - "DI-MANA DAN APA SAHAJA".
7. 1980-1983, Posted to RMAF Base Kuching - GD Aircrew (No5 Sqn RMAF Base Labuan and RMAF Sibu Detachment).
8. 1983-Imagery Intelligence Officer Course at Lowry AFB, Colorado, and Bergstrom AFB,Texas,USA.
9. 1983-1989, serving as Imagery Intelligence (PI), No 11 SQN. RMAF Base Butterworth.                                                             
10. 1990-1991, Chief Aircrew of No7 SQN.RMAF Base Kuching.(Other Duties: Deputy Base Intelligence Officer, and Squadron Islamic religious officer).
11. 1992-Feb19, Retired as WOII with 22 years of service.

Awarded in 1989 at RMAF Butterworth.

                            

                                       We were born years ago

                                           We come and we go

                                  We were like a kite

                               We stands at its height

                       We serves the country well as we go

                    We hope our new generation will follow

My farewell send-off at the RMAF Base Kuching 1991.

" Thank you men! "

From: WOII Mohd Ismail Bin Mohd Hashim (703232).