RAF Sek Kong / Shek Kong Airfield [????- ] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

RAF Sek Kong / Shek Kong Airfield [????- ]

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Submitted by David on Sat, 2009-01-17 19:58

There is a brief history in Wikipedia.

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1950
1950
1950
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Submitted by David on Wed, 2009-10-14 14:17.

Thanks to IDJ for sending us these excellent old aerial photos of the airfield:

RAF Sek Kong Airfield, early 1950s

RAF Sek Kong Airfield, early 1950s

He also sent these notes:

Your various correspondents on this subject may be interested in the attached aerial images of Sek Kong Airfield looking towards the east. They show the various camps within the airfield's boundary with reasonable detail when zoomed in.

The pictures are somewhat unique in that they show two runways which I suspect at the time these pictures were taken were temporarily out for use due to the reconstruction works, except for the use of lightweight AOP aircraft.

From RAF Squadron histories written by squadron personnel in Hong Kong:
 
Construction of an airfield was started near Pat Heung adjacent to Sek Kong in 1938. The original intention was to build an airfield capable of accommodating three Squadrons. The site was levelled and grassed over but work stopped early in 1940 following the Japanese invasion of Guangdong when it was realised that the airfield would be in range of hostile artillery from across the border. This site was subsequently used as a refugee camp until the Japanese invaded Hong Kong.
 
After the war an airfield was built at another site at Sek Kong (start date not yet determined).
 
On 1 May 1950, 28 Squadron moved to Sek Kong from Kai Tak, but returned to Kai Tak in October 1950 so that a full runway could be laid down. By March 1951 the new runway at Sek Kong had been completed and 28 Squadron returned with its new jet De Havilland Vampires.

These aerial pictures therefore appear to be dated between October 1950 and March 1951

There is a lot of detail in the photos, so it's worth clicking on them so you can zoom in. One thing that struck me is how undeveloped the area is. Apart from the airfield, everything else looks like farmland. Compare it with the present satellite view at the top of the page, where the area is now very built up.

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 2010-03-20 23:33.

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2016-06-12 13:19.

A visit made to RAF Sek Kong in 1996 before the handover.

Experimenting with photosynth and one thing noted is that alot of overlap is required. Click:

https://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=60efb588-f2fd-4990-b772-d3b4f0b0cb87

 

RAF Sek Kong Station Badge

Submitted by sf (not verified) on Mon, 2010-03-22 16:24.

For many years, 660 squadron Army Air Corps also flew their Scout helicopters out of Sek Kong.

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2010-03-23 11:47.

Yes, the Army Air Corps 660 Squadron was based out of RAF Sek Kong. It disbanded in 1994 and reformed again at RAF Shawbury.

1992 Scout helicopter at Sek Kong.

1990s Army Air Corps Scout Helicopter

 

1982 Sek Kong Helicopter Dispersal Area with Scout helicopters in the foreground with one air-taxiing in to park. The RAF 28 Squadron Wessex helicopters are in the top left of picture.

1980s RAF Sek Kong Helicopter Dispersal Area

Submitted by sf (not verified) on Tue, 2010-04-06 07:01.

Rare photos of RAF Sek Kong/HK  + classic HK oldie hit from the Reynettes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c98Dq5cj7TY

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2010-04-06 14:13.

Thank You for the Video. Hong Kong from the 60s - My Kind of Town!

The penultimate photo shows an Auster of the Army Air Corps parked beneath the water tower (later to become the control tower) at Sek Kong.

As an aside, back in the 1950s/1960s, the Austers were based out at RAF Sha Tin at Tide Cove. The base was subsequently destroyed during Typhoon Wanda: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sha_Tin_Airfield

Submitted by DickieD on Sat, 2010-10-30 07:24.

I was amazed to find the link to my YouTube Video submitted by sf. I found it by way of Google and that led me to join the site.

In fact it was not RAF Sek Kong at that time as they were just at Kai Tak. I always assumed the tower had been a control tower previously but it was not used as such until the RAF returned with 28 Squadron.

Although I was only in HK for 5 months or so on my first stay it was enough time for me to acquire a rather useful, and long lasting (44 years so far) souvenir. There is a brief glimpse of her in the clip.

I returned for 2 years with 660 Sqn AAC in 1978 and lived at Castle Peak Villas until the Army hirings there were vacated, whence I moved to 'The Bungalows' on Route Twisk. There's a photo of those on the clip but much greenery has sprung up around them since then.

I worked shifts when we lived in Castle Peak and I often returned home after the midday handover on my trail bike via the catchment roads. The entire passage through to the Castle Peak Road was usually deserted during the week. It was an eerie feeling to stop seemingly in the middle of nowhere, with only the ticks of the cooling engine to break the silence as I enjoyed the view. And this with 6 million people only a few miles away.

We have returned on various occasions, once via the Trans-Siberian Railway! A memorable experience.

Submitted by David on Sat, 2010-10-30 23:44.

Thanks for writing - it's always good to hear the story behind the pictures.

If you post up any more photos from your times in Hong Kong onto the internet, please let us know.

Regards, David