RAF Tengah

RAF Tengah

RAF Tengah was opened in 1939 with a grass landing ground. Tengah airfield was the target of carpet bombing when 17 Japanese Navy bombers conducted the first air raid on Singapore, shortly after the Battle of Malaya began. Construction of a 1,400 yard concrete began in 1941, and it was completed in January 1942. During the construction, it had been found that the ground was unstable where in the course of deep clay fill, lenses of water were trapped. As a result, the completion was delayed for establishing a firm subgrade for the runway and surrounding field. RAF Tengah had permanent accommodation for supporting two squadrons, and facilities including a sick quarters, permanent operations block, and temporary bomb and aviation petrol storage.