The Kipper Fleet
Further background details to the activities of the Far East Flying Boat Wing are to be found in Peter Gaston’s The 38th Parallel:
‘At the commencement of hostilities the R.A.F.’s Far East Flying Boat Wing was made up of three squadrons of Sunderland Mark V Flying Boats, the squadrons being numbers 88, 205 and 209. The Wings task in Korea was the offensive blockade of the Korean coastline and this was achieved by round the clock reconnaissance in conjunction with the United States Navy, flying Martin Mariners. Three main areas were covered. Firstly, to the West over the Yellow Sea towards Shanghai, then North to the East of the Shantung Peninsula and down the West coast of Korea. Secondly, the Tshushima Straits between Korea and Japan, and finally the East side of Korea as far as the U.S.S.R. and then back to Iwakuni across the Sea of Japan.
These patrols, normally flown at a height of one thousand feet, were of ten to fifteen hours and watch was both visual and by radar with turrets manned and each and every contact carefully logged. The biggest enemy was the weather. In the winter months it was not unusual to experience temperatures of minus twenty degrees Centigrade which, in a draughty, unheated Sunderland, was no joke. Coffee often froze solid in the cup and incredible feats of navigation were performed in blinding blizzards. Acute icing problems and low ceilings were a particular hazard off the Korean coast where the terrain was one of peaks and off-shore islands which rose sharply from the sea.
The endeavours of the Far East Wing and the gallant crews of the Sunderland aircraft contributed in no small way to the success of a blockade which meant that by the end of the war, unfriendly shipping movements in the area had been brought to a complete standstill. Constant vigilance ensured that the enemy could not deny to the United Nations the freedom of the seas. Thus the vital supply lines were kept open.’
1 posting – 4 countries – Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Singapore
May 1950. 88 (based at RAF Kai Tak, Hong Kong) listed the administrative duties of the squadron officers. Flt Lt Sims is listed as `I/c Room 4 “A” Block’.
October 1950. The Sunderland support to the UN in Korea had begun and 88 was incorporated into Far East Flying Boat Wing (which was based at RAF Seletar, Singapore) in September 1950. 88 deployed to Iwakuni, Japan from Hong Kong for Korean operations from July 1950.
Flt Lt Sims flew with Flt Lt Hunter and Fg Off Brand on 6 October from Iwakuni to Sasebo `picked up Admiral Brind and transported him to Yokosuka (near Tokyo)’ returning to Iwakuni next day. The aircraft was Sunderland ML745 `B’.
12 October 1950, Iwakuni B/88 Anti sub US fleet
14 October 1950, Iwakuni B/88 Chineai Bay, near Pusan (now Busan) in the south east corner of Korea.
15 October 1950, Iwakuni B/88 reconnaissance patrol Yellow sea and Korea bay, reporting `two unidentified single engine aircraft seen’.
17 October 1950, Iwakuni B/88 reconnaissance patrol Yellow sea and Korea bay
November 1950. At Hong Kong airborne on the 9th with Sergeant Weaver and Flt Lt Houtheusen in `D’ making two brief flights in preparation for the forthcoming visit of CFS (Central Flying School examiners from UK).
30th November 1950, Officer Commanding Kai tak detachment
April 1951. Flt Lt Sims is squadron adjutant.
26th April 1951, Kai tak Paracel islands, Pratas reef
June 1951 moved base to Seletar
20th September 1951. Search and rescue operation for two Vampire pilots whose aircraft had collided in mid-air.
6 November 1951. 88 Squadron now involved in Firedog operations (with 205 and 209 Sunderland Squadrons) against the communist insurgents in Malaya. Flew a strike on the 29th delivering 240 x 20 pound fragmentation bombs, 2,300 rounds of .303 and 700 rounds of .5 inch machine gun ammunition plus 2,000 leaflets. Another source gives different figures and I had difficulty reconciling them!
30 November 1951. Another Firedog sortie in Selangor state. Aircraft PP155. Captains were warned that `mortar firing will take place on target two north of 67 Northing’.
88 Squadron recorded their aircrews as at 31 October 1951. Shown as co-pilot to Flt Lt Hunter.
November 1951 Officer Commanding Seletar detachment
19 November 1951. Flew an instrument rating test in NJ272 and a second instrument rating sortie on the 21st in ML745.
December 1951 shown as the captain of `D’ but with no co-pilot shown. Perhaps because one crew had been made up for ferry duties to UK.
10 January 1952. Flew a maritime patrol `Able’. These patrols looked out for communist insurgents infiltrating onto the coast of Malaya.
88 flew a number of simulated instrument flying exercises in January 1952 including one in PP155 on the 14th.
23 January 1952 recorded as being posted home to UK on the 23rd on compassionate grounds.
Vampires collide
Looking through the 88 squadron operational record books I happened across this report
It did not mention the type of aircraft involved in the collision but referencing the 205 squadron (who were operating the Sunderland ASR) ORB’s Vampires were mentioned
60 squadron based in Tengah had converted to Vampires early in 1951 and the records revealed further details about the accident
