Page 110 - AA 2018_09

ON TARGET
BRIAN WESTON A war by another name
WILLIAMS
FOUNDATION
The RAAF in the Malayan Emergency

his year has seen the recognition Anti-Japanese Army – during its and high capacity British-heritage
of many anniversaries from 1942-1945 guerrilla campaign against 1,000lb blast and fragmentation
World War 1 and World War 2 the Japanese. bombs, the Lincoln was well-suited
Tbut there is one anniversary The ethnic core of the MCP was to the tropical jungle operational
from another war in which Australia Malayan Chinese who, after an environment. While few communist
was involved which has received little initial campaign of terror, expected terrorists – CTs as they were called –
attention. It was the declaration, on to mobilise support for their were killed directly by the air strikes,
June 18 1948, of the commencement revolutionary cause from the ethnic they kept the CT groups on the move
of the Malayan Emergency following Malayan Chinese and the rural where they and their camps were more
the murder of three British estate ethnic Malay population, following likely to be detected and engaged by
managers by guerrillas of the Malayan which the MCP expected to escalate deployed troops and police.
Communist Party (MCP), at Sungei to widespread insurgency warfare, The Lincolns returned to Australia
Siput, Perak, Malaya. sufficient to destabilise and overthrow in 1958 having dropped 85 per cent of
The targeted assassination of three the incumbent government. The the 35,000 tonnes of bombs used in
estate managers was the opening shot revolutionary strategy was in keeping the Emergency.
of a war by the MCP aimed at the with similar campaigns under way in By the time of No 1 Squadron’s
overthrow of British colonial rule in Indochina against the French, and return to Australia there was
the Federation of Malaya. Although in China against the Kuomintang widespread recognition the
labelled an ‘Emergency’– to ensure government. counter-insurgency war was being
insurance policies essential to the Initially, the Federation of Malaya won, although such wars take patience
ongoing functioning of Malaya’s – a federation of the nine Malay and endurance until they grind to a
economy were not voided – the British protectorates and of the two close. Indeed, although the Malayan
Malayan Emergency was a war. It Straits Settlements of Malacca and Emergency was declared ended on
RAAF Lincolns dropped 85 per was conducted by the MCP, under the Penang, both British colonies – was July 31 1960, RAAF personnel at
cent of the 35,000 tonnes of leadership of Chin Peng, employing slow to respond to the MCP threat Butterworth continued to receive
bombs used in the Malayan the military skills and expertise the although that changed, especially intelligence briefings on CT activities
Emergency. awm MCP had gained from its predecessor after the assassination of the British and threats into the 1970s, and some
organisation – the Malayan Peoples’ High Commissioner, the head of the would recall watching flights of RMAF
Federation of Malaya, on October 6 Canadair Tebuan jet trainers, each
1951. From then on, Britain oversaw armed with two 500lb Mk 82 bombs,
a ‘whole of government’ response to departing Butterworth to strike CTs
the MCP threat; a response which is operating in the “border areas” not too
now widely regarded as an essential far from Butterworth.
case study for any student of counter Apart from RAAF involvement in
insurgency warfare. the Malayan Emergency, Australia
In 1950, Australia responded to also rotated battalions from the Royal
a British request for assistance by Australian Regiment through Malaya,
deploying six RAAF Lincoln heavy ensuring an Australian infantry
bombers and eight RAAF C-47 battalion was continuously in theatre
Dakota transports to the region: from 1957 to 1963. The Emergency was
No 1 Squadron to RAF Base Tengah, also noteworthy in that on August 31
Singapore and No 38 Squadron to 1957, during the conduct of the
RAF Base Changi, Singapore. Emergency, the Federation of Malaya
Air support is a key capability became an independent nation, and
in counter-insurgency warfare and remained on amicable terms with
No 38 Squadron quickly filled an Britain, its former colonial power.
essential role in transporting troops, During the Emergency, Australian
resupplying deployed troops, often air and ground forces in Malaya
by parachute into small drop zones, transitioned into Australia’s
and psychological operations. The contribution to the British
contribution of the RAAF Dakotas Commonwealth Far East Strategic
during the initial phases of the Reserve which was established in
Emergency was critical and it is a 1955 to deter external communist
contribution that has generally not aggression against countries in South-
been well-acknowledged. The Dakotas East Asia, especially Malaya and
returned to Australia in 1953. Singapore.
The Lincolns also made a strong
contribution to the Emergency with Air Vice-Marshal Brian Weston
their ability to carry up to 14 1,000lb (ret’d) is a board member of the
bombs. With its endurance, payload Sir Richard Williams Foundation.

110 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION