The Reconnaissance Squadron (No.11 Squadron RMAF Base Butterworth).

No.11 Sqn.crest 1983.

Founded on October 1969 with 10 x Avon CA-27 Sabre aircrafts and service was terminated on August 1975. Its Commanding Officers were Sqn.Leader Quek, S/Ldr.Jaafar, and S/Ldr.Zainuddin.

June 1983 the No.11 Sqn.was reactivated as a "Reconnaissance Squadron"  with 2 x RF5E aircrafts newly introduced into the RMAF with Mej(U) Bashir, as the officer in command, second in command Mej(U) Zakaria Salleh accompanied with several officers as  reconnaissance pilots, imagery interpreters were WO1 Mohd Isa, Flt.Sgt Mohd Ismail, Sgt.Hood and Sgt.Ghazali and the photo technical groups were Capt(U) Ganesh, Sgt Yeong, Cpl Abu, Cpl Serah Keri, Cpl Che Ani and the others. All reconnaissance activities were considered classified and was part and parcel of the RMAF intelligence. In 1993 showed the ending era after 10 years  of reconnaissance experiences. Probably by now...the airforce may be eyeing on an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) or remotely piloted vehicle (RPV). 

                       

  

  CA-27 Sabre aircraft displayed at ITU campus,Kinrara 1983.

RF5E aircraft 1983

Forward Oblique Camera Station(nose) 1983.

Imagery Interpreters of the RMAF (1983-1989).

In June 1983, the newly reactivated No.11 Reconnaissance Squadron brought the first four RMAF operational imagery interpreters to date. They were WO1 Mohd Isa, Sgt Mohd Ismail(self), Sgt Hood and Sgt Radzali. The Imagery Interpreters or Photo Interpreters(PI) were the specialists and their jobs are to interpret films and photos taken  by the RF5E aircraft from specific targets on friendly or enemy locations. Black and white films and photos interpreted may be of an infrared-red or normal type. The evaluations and assimilations of films and photos were then reported to the requesters or higher authorities concerned with an uncountable classified duties performed day or night on base and deployment operations whenever required. I  had my first experienced occupying the back seat of the F5s as a 'Target Coordinator' and Capt(U) Halimin Pandi was my F5 pilot flying. In fact the four of us had the opportunity to fly with the F5s and as a PI, was just like an Alouette III gunner sitting at the rear seat, this time with no guns but two pairs of good eyes and navigation maps and it was authorised. 

The four US trained Imagery Interpreters
Sgt.Mohd Ismail(self), Sgt.Radzali, WO1 Mohd Isa, and Sgt.Hood.

RF5E flying for imagery target acquisitions

Camera's downloaded from RF5E aircraft.

The downloaded film cassettes were sent to No.11 Sqn.base laboratory for film processing.

From left to right: Cpl Che Ani-Lab.Technician, Sgt Mohd Ismail-PI(Self).

The base dark room for photo printing (Self).

Imagery Interpreter at the light table-evaluation and assimilation process with classified report sent out.

(Photo of self)

Imagery Interpreter may have to work in External Mobil Laboratory c/w Transporter.

External Mobile Laboratory on C130 aircraft for Labuan deployment 1985.

(Photo of self at far right : Wheel choking).

Labuan deployment 1985.