Thunderjets over Malaya

**Spinners** · April 4, 2019

Republic Thunderjet FB.1 - No.60 Squadron, RAF Far East Air Force, 1951

Even before the start of 'Operation Firedog' the RAF had been looking at the both the F-80 Shooting Star and the F-84 Thunderjet to fulfill their requirement for a jet fighter-bomber for the Far East Air Force eventually settling on the latter. The RAF wanted to keep the Gloster Meteor for home-based duties (including RAF Germany) and felt that the plywood used in the construction of the nose section of the de Havilland Vampire might be subject to the same delamination problems that had affected the de Havilland Mosquito in the extreme of heat and humidity in the Far East during World War 2. Despite the huge financial pressures of the UK's balance of payments with the US, the UK Government agreed to purchase an initial batch of 50 F-84E's which equipped No.33 squadron at RAF Tengah followed by No.60 squadron.