Commencement of Butterworth airfield upgrades

An advance part from No 2 Airfield Construction Squadron (2ACS) arrived at Butterworth, on the north-west coast of then Malaya, to begin work on bringing the airfield up to jet standards. The move followed Prime Minister R.G. Menzies' announcement in April 1965 that the RAAF had been offered a free loan of the RAF airfield at Butterworth as the base for an Australian air contingent to a Commonwealth Strategic Reserve in the Far East. Australia planned to commit a composite wing of two Sabre fighter squadrons and a squadron of Canberra bombers, which needed more and better facilities than currently existed. Working under threat of Communist attack, by May 1958 the runway, taxiways, fighter and bomber hardstands were all ready for operational use - a month ahead of schedule.