Singapore Trainees at 4 TTS

[shorty]

A while ago the idea of the Singapore Air Force using NZ facilities for training was floated but it never happened. It is not the first time that the RNZAF has had a hand in training Singapore Air Force Staff.
When I was on my Airframe Fitter's course in 1969/70 at 4 TTS there was a full course of SAF trainees doing their trade training. Their syllabus was the same as ours and to all intents and purposes they were just another course but with different uniform
Two things stick in my memory, one is that they always had a container of chili powder with them when they went to the mess and they would douse their meals with it as they reckoned the mess meals were too bland. They other thig is that, not being used to Woodbourne weather there rooms in the barracks would have all tthe windows closed and every heater they could find on full bore to try and emulate Singapore conitions,
Do other people remember them? Snaphead perhaps?

[snaphead]

I think I had completed my fitters course by then and was posted back to Ohakea at the end of 1969.

[shorty]

Just checked my F125 and I was a year out, my Fitters Course (#50) was May to December 1970

[camtech]

There was also two Instrument Fitters courses at 2TTS 1969 to about 1971, first one with two kiwis.

[McFly]

Apr 10, 2022 16:14:11 GMT 12 camtech said:

There was also two Instrument Fitters courses at 2TTS 1969 to about 1971, first one with two kiwis.

"Group. No. 2 Singapore Air Force Instrument Fitters course. RNZAF Base Wigram. 25/01/1971 (WgG7400-71)"

[camtech]

Instructor Sgt Bob Ellingford (RIP)

[camtech]

WgG6309-70 by Les Billcliff, on Flickr

Instructor Flt Sgt Alan Bright
Kiwi students were Graham Smith and Paul Garvin

[milton]

No 40 airframe fitters cse 1970 at no 4TTS was for Singaporeans. Our fitters course was  41st ran from April 70 thru December 70.

[boz]

When I did my Techs cse (1984 or 5?) we had two guys on the course who were either Malay or Singaporean. Good guys that really only had trouble with the standard meat and 3 veg at the mess. One of them was Muslim and Halal wasn't really around then, certainly not in the mess, so we took him hunting and let him make his own kill. Nether of then drank which was a challenge with the airmans club culture and they held out until one night when temptation got too much and an almighty bender resulted. When I was a very young bloke and my father was stationed at Woodbourne (early 60's) there used to be Thai cadets at TTS who really struggled with the food. My father started bringing them to our home once a week and they taught my mother how to cook Thai food, then they would dine with our family. I never really appreciated the early intro to Asian cuisine I gained until much later in life plus an understanding of what was real Asian food rather than the "chinese takeaway" type.