Wing Commander Roy Carlin DFC AFC (Rtd) as the squadron leader Commanding Officer No 38 (Transport) Squadron RAAF, Malaya 1951-1952, interviewed by Colonel David Chinn MBE (Rtd)

Carlin speaks of his Second World War flying experience in the South West Pacific area and post war, including the Berlin Airlift (1948); similarities between and specific difficulties in flying transport/supply drop aircraft in Papua New Guinea and Malaya; the lack of briefing on the Malayan Emergency before deployment and during operations - only air tasking information, but no feedback; experiences as Staff Officer Operations of Headquarters 90 Composite Wing RAAF on Singapore Island; unaccompanied postings for all ranks to Malaya; taking command of No 38 Squadron at Changi Airfield - local administration and air tasking responsibilities of higher headquarters; another transport squadron (RAF) at Changi and No 1 (Bomber) Squadron RAAF at Tengah; the value of revetted parking bays for aircraft protection; types of transport squadron air drop operations - paratroop (Special Air Service (SAS)), propaganda leaflet and re-supply; relocation to Kuala Lumpur; the effects of weather on flying operations; navigation to and sequencing of resupply air drops; extraneous squadron tasks beyond Malaya due to the Korean War - Hong Kong, Japan/Korea, the Philippines and Colombo; the Berlin Airlift experience, and its non-relevance to the Malayan commitment; the performance of the C47 Dakota aircraft in the employments of No 38 Squadron in the South East Asian area; the serviceability of the Dakota, cross-training of ground crew on other maintenance skills, Second World War-experienced ground crew; flying rates for aircrew and flying conditions; discipline, health, malaria precautions, morale; lack of navigation aids generally; a trying time - when the RAF was changing over its transport aircraft and sought No 38 Squadron support; strange aircraft loads - illegal civilian cars; a Christmas gift of brandy; the effect of tropical weather on flying operations; honours and awards; some reflections generally on experiences.