Shek Kong Airfield
Encyclopedia
- "RAF Sek Kong" and "Sek Kong Airbase" redirect here.
The Shek Kong Airfield , ICAO:VHSK), formerly RAF Sek Kong/Sek Kong Airfield, is an airbase located in Shek Kong
Shek Kong
Shek Kong is an area north of Tai Mo Shan, located near Kam Tin and Pat Heung, New Territories, Hong Kong.Shek Kong Airfield is located in Shek Kong. A sizable Nepal Gurkha population presents in the area even after the withdrawal of British military....
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
Special Administrative Region
Special administrative region (People's Republic of China)
A special administrative region is a provincial-level administrative division of the People's Republic of China, for which creation is provided by Article 31 of the 1982 Constitution of the People's Republic of China Article 31 reads "The state may establish special administrative regions when...
of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(PRC).
Currently, the airbase houses units of People's Liberation Army Air Force
People's Liberation Army Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...
as well as being open for civilian use during weekends.
History
Before the British handover of Hong Kong back to ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1997, the airbase was used by the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
British Forces Overseas Hong Kong consisted of the elements of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Much of the British military left Hong Kong prior to the handover in 1997. The present article focuses mainly on the British garrison in Hong Kong in the post Second World War era...
, and was then an Royal Air Force station known as RAF Sek Kong. Construction of the airbase started in 1938, and was completed only in 1950 due to the delay caused by Japanese occupation
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...
during the World War 2
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
From the mid 1980s to 1992, RAF Sek Kong was also a Vietnamese Refugee
Vietnamese people in Hong Kong
Many of the Vietnamese people in Hong Kong immigrated as a result of the war and persecution in Vietnam since the mid-1970s. There is however also small but growing community of diaspora vietnamese being sent to Hong Kong forming an expatriate community, from countries far afield like Australia,...
Detention Centre.
During weekends, the general public are allowed to use the airport for operation of private airplanes and to conduct private flight training
Flight training
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....
.
Correction
The information given below is somewhat confused and appears to be unaware of RAF Station Kai Tak, the runway of which ran inland from the seawall of the bay toward Lion Rock. 80 Squadron was based at Kai Tak with Spitfire Mk24's which were replaced with Hornets. These were conventional Hornets and not the Naval type. When the Spitfires were retired some were scrapped and a few with some remaining life were passed to the H.K.Auxiliary Air Force. 28 Squadron was based at Sek Kong in The New Territories.
Kai Tak was the RAF Head Quarters with permanent buildings for HQ, barracks, stores etc. There were also Nissen Huts. A motor boat unit was also based at Kai Tak. The occasional flying boat would visit, but during my service there from 1951 to 1954 I do not recall seeing a helicopter. (RAF technician retired)
RAF
Bold textThe RAF operated a small and limited force from 1950 to 1996, but they were temporary assignments from the UK. The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.Although technically an armed...
was the only permanent air force unit in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
A partial list of RAF squadrons stations before 1997:
- No. 80 Squadron RAFNo. 80 Squadron RAFNo. 80 Squadron RAF was a Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force squadron active from 1917 until 1969. It was operative during both World War I and World War II.-Establishment and early service:...
- 3 Jan - 1 Feb 1950, 7 Mar - 28 Apr 1950 - No. 28 Squadron RAFNo. 28 Squadron RAFNo. 28 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Merlin HC3/HC3A from RAF Benson.-World War I:No. 28 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed on 7 November 1915. Initially a training squadron it became a fighter squadron equipped with the Sopwith Camel.After the end of World War I No. 28...
- 1 May - 7 Oct 1950, 28 Mar 1951 - 15 Aug 1955, 5 Dec 1955 - 14 Jun 1957, 17 May 1978 - 1 Nov 1996 - Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air ForceRoyal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air ForceThe Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.Although technically an armed...
1979-1993
A list of RAF aircraft stationed at Sek Kong:
| Builder/Model | Type | Number | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| de Havilland Hornet De Havilland Hornet The de Havilland DH.103 Hornet was a piston engine fighter that further exploited the wooden construction techniques pioneered by de Havilland's classic Mosquito. Entering service at the end of the Second World War, the Hornet equipped postwar RAF Fighter Command day fighter units in the UK and was... |
naval fighter | 1951-1955 | No 80. RAF | |
| Westland Wessex Westland Wessex The Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft , initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force... |
helicopter | 1978-1996 | No. 28 RAF | |
| de Havilland Vampire De Havilland Vampire The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served... |
fighter | 1951-1954 | ||
| Supermarine Spitfires F.24 | fighter | 1949-1951 | No 80 RAF |
With a Vietnamese refuge camp using the runway from 1982 to 1992, the base hosted rotary aircraft only after 1982.
British Army
The British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
also operated a small air unit in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
for training and other operations:
- Army Air Corps No. 660 Squadron - Westland ScoutWestland ScoutThe Westland Scout was a general purpose military light helicopter developed by Westland Helicopters. It was closely related to the Westland Wasp naval helicopter.-Design and development:...
Support Equipment
| Model | Type | Number | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | RL tipper truck | 1980s-1990s | ||
| Gurkha Transport Regiment | Tank transporters | 1980s-1990s |
Refugee Camp 1982-1993
Beginning in 1982, the base was also a refugee centre for VietnameseVietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
boat people arriving in Hong Kong. At the peak in 1992, the centre hosted 9000 refugees. During the time as a refugee centre, the runway was closed and used for temporary housing (mainly tents). As a result, only rotary aircraft operated from the base. The refugee centre closed in 1993 and the runway restored for use by fixed wing aircraft.
PLAAF
The PLAAF has a small presence in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
since 1997. There is only 1 PLA unit stationed in Sek Kong:
- PLAAF Helicopter Regiment 39968
| Builder/Model | Type | Number | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAMC Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation , often shortened to Hafei, is an aircraft manufacturing company located in Harbin, the capital of the Heilongjiang Province of the People's Republic of China.... Harbin Z-9 Harbin Z-9 |-See also:-External links:* * *... B |
Utility helicopter Utility helicopter A Utility Helicopter is a multi-purpose helicopter. A utility military helicopter can fill roles such as ground attack, air assault, cargo, surveillance and troop transport. Their size is generally between cargo helicopters and light observation helicopters.... s |
12 | 1997-present |
The PLA ground and naval forces also use Sek Kong, mainly for training and Opening Day use.
With the PLAAF operating helicopters, the runway is mostly used for civilian fixed wing aircraft.
See also
- List of airports in Hong Kong
- Former Overseas RAF Stations
- Hong Kong Aviation ClubHong Kong Aviation ClubThe Hong Kong Aviation Club was established in 1982 upon the amalgamation of the Hong Kong Flying Club, the Aero Club of Hong Kong and the Far East Flying & Technical School.-History:...