The Air Despatch Association
Roll of Honour: 138 Air Supply Platoon
2nd August 1952 - Malaya
Valetta VX540 of 52 Sqn RAF crashed into a hillside on 2nd August 1952 at Hulu Langat, east of Kuala Lumpur.
The Ulu Langat area where the crash occurred.
The area has changed significantly since 1952.
The aircraft was on a supply dropping mission as part of ‘Operation Firedog’. All on board lost their lives and because of the security situation and location of the crash were buried at the crash site.
Hulu Langat on Google Maps
The men who died were:-
- Cpl W.H. (Bill) Lane
- Dvr Brian Dagg
- Dvr Frank McShane
- Dvr Alan Whitty
- Fg. Off. William J. Vizard, Pilot
- Sgt. John D. Pickrell, Navigator
- Sgt. David Mann, Signaller
The men who died are commemorated on the Memorial Wall at Terendak Military Cemetery
Alan Batty’s Pilgrimage
In August 2002, Alan Batty MBE made a pilgrimage to Malaysia, part of his quest being to visit the recently re-discovered crash site of Valetta VX540. A wreath, provided by 47 AD Sqn RLC, was airdropped over the crash site, in the Ulu Langat Forest, together with a Poppy stream which was provided by the Royal British Legion.
The Air Despatch Association donated an Air Despatch Memorial Plaque. This was unveiled at Cheras Road Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur by Brigadier General Akbar bin Din, without who's help the Pilgrimage would not have been possible (the promotion from Colonel to Brigadier General occurred on the day Alan arrived). The Plaque is now on display at The Museum of The Royal Service Corps Training Head Quarters, Taiping, Malaysia.
A Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Corps of Transport Association Wreath was laid at the Memorial to Those Who Have No Known Graves, inside the Camp of 7s3 Battalion Royal Service Corps (KOR Perkhidmatan Diraja) at Terendak. RAF Station Lyneham provided a wreath on behalf of 52 Sqn RAF, whose detachment was base at Sungei Besi (RAF Kuala Lumpur) in 1952 (52 Squadron RAF no longer exist, nor do they have their own Association).
Photos of Alan’s pilgrimage.