RMAF Base Butterworth
| RMAF Base Butterworth | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Characteristics | |||
| ICAO code | BWH | ||
| IATA code | WMKB | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Height above MSL | 2 m (7 ft ) | ||
| Transport links | |||
| Distance from the city center | 4 km north of Butterworth | ||
| Basic data | |||
| opening | 1941 | ||
| operator | Royal Malaysian Air Force | ||
| Start-and runway | |||
| 18/36 | 2438 m × 45 m asphalt | ||
RMAF Butterworth ( Malay : TUDM Butterworth, formerly RAF Butterworth and RAAF Butterworth ) ( ICAO : WMKB , IATA : BWH ) is a military airfield of the Malaysian Air Force near the city of Butterworth in the state of Penang , directly across from the island of the same name. It is also a base for the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Army .
history
RAF Butterworth
Butterworth opened as a Royal Air Force Station in October 1941 as part of the defense of the Malay Peninsula against the impending Japanese invasion . During the conquest of Malaysia , the base was bombed by Japanese airmen. After being captured by the advancing Japanese on December 20, 1941, the airfield was used by the Japanese Navy . After the Japanese surrender in 1945, the RAF took over the base again. Japanese prisoners of war were used for repair and expansion work.
In May 1946 flight operations were resumed. In the troubled years that followed, characterized by communist guerrillas, as part of the Malaysian independence movement, various units of the air forces of the British mainland as well as Australia and New Zealand were stationed on RAF Butterworth . In addition, squadrons of the RAF bases in Singapore came again and again , which Butterworth used as an advanced operational base.
As part of the Five Power Defense Arrangement (FPDA), RAF aircraft are still relocated every few years and take part in joint maneuvers with the other signatory states.
RAAF Butterworth
After control was transferred from the RAF to the RAAF in 1957, Australia stationed a number of bomber and fighter squadrons during the Cold War . The 3rd Squadron and 77th Squadron equipped with CAC Saber were also deployed during the Konfrontasi , a conflict between Malaysia and Indonesia in the 1960s. From August 1964 there were interceptions against approaching Indonesian MiG-21 interceptors. Since there were no border crossings, a further escalation could be prevented. Worth mentioning is the stationing of Dassault Mirage III of the 75th Squadron between 1968 and 1983.
Today the Australian Defense Force is still under the aforementioned Five Power Defense Arrangement (FPDA) with some support units and a detachment from Lockheed AP-3C Orion scouts, which are usually based at RAAF Base Edinburgh . The Australian Army also maintains an infantry company on the base for training purposes . In the context of this agreement, there are also temporary relocations of combat aircraft, see the following section.
RMAF Butterworth
On June 30, 1988, the RMAF took command of the base. As part of the Five Power Defense Arrangement , exercises under names like Bersama Lima or Bersama Shield continue to take place regularly , often with the participation of the RAF, which has not stationed any airborne units in the Far East for a long time. 2011 marked the fortieth anniversary of this exercise; that year the RAF took part in the maneuver for the first time with the Eurofighter Typhoon .
Todays use
There are currently five RMAF flying squadrons in Butterworth: the 3rd Squadron with Sikorsky helicopters of the type S-61A4A Nuri , the 12th Squadron with older Northrop F-5E / F-5F / RF-5E , the 15th Squadron with coaches of type BAE Systems Hawk 108/209 and Aermacchi MB-339AM and the 18th Squadron with multi-role combat aircraft Boeing F / A-18D Hornets .
future
The government of the state of Penang has applied for civil sharing with the government of Malaysia. The aim is to close the current civil airport on the cramped island of Penang.
Web links
- RMAF Base Butterworth on the side of the Royal Malaysian Air Force
- RMAF Base Butterworth on the side of the Royal Australian Air Force
