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RAF Dakota KN630 from 52Squadron
based in Changi, Singapore took off on the morning August 25, 1950 to drop
marker flare on a suspected CT clearing east of Gua Musang for a bombing
attack by Lincoln bombers.
En-route she landed at Kota
Bharu airfield where Major Proctor, Mr Rentse, a policeman, a malay civilian
and a native were waiting. Later she flew east of Kg Jenera and drop a
marker flare on a suspected clearing. KN630 make a second pass and believed
having an engine trouble and did not cleared the highest ridge where she hit
the trees and plunged down into a ravine. All crews and passengers
were perished on the impact.
Subsequent SAR only reach the
wreck site after a few days and found out that it is impossible to recovered
the bodies due to jungle terrain and CT activities. They decided to buried
them near the wreckage.
In July, 2008, one of the
brother of Geoffrey contacted Malaysian military officer in London and
opening a chapter of forgotten history back to life. During August and
October 2008, Malaysian Army with Army Museum took several visit to the
wreck site based on the 1950s SAR reports and found the wreck lying near a
stream.
On 3rd November 2008, MHG
team with Army Museum together with Royal Malaysian Police set a biggest
recovery operation project so far to visit the wreck site and recovered the
remains. The project was joined also by British Ministry of Defence and
Malaysian Ministry of Defence.
It took us several days to
reach the wreck site by car and foot. On our investigation, we assumed that
the plane was crashed on a vertical dive and the front section was smashed
into a stream. 58 years of monsoon climate and weather, the front section
was washed away leaving the rear fuselage and starboard wing and 2 engine
with her propellers intact. |
During the recovery, several bone fragments were found and send
for forensic DNA examinations. Some of personal effects also
were found.
We
hope that some of the KN630 relatives could contact us or Army
Museum and hope to speed up the DNA process.
Air Despatchers
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Cpl F Bryant
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Dvr P Taylor
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Dvr A Wilson
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Dvr M Goldsmith
The
RAF Dakota crews were :-
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F/Lt Edward Robert Talbot - Pilot
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Sgt Geoffrey Carpenter - Navigator
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Sgt Thomas O'Toole DFM - Signaller
Other
Passengers :-
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Major J H Proctor Loyal Regiment
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Mr A Rentse - Civilian Land Development Officer
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Muhammad Bin Abdul Jalil - Police Constable
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Yaacob - Civilian
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Sakai Tribesman Guide
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Dakota KN630
