Date:	Saturday 14 February 1942
Time:	day
Type:	de Havilland DH.60X Moth
Owner/operator:	'A' Flt Malayan Volunteer Air Force
Registration:	VR-SAF
MSN:	451
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Palembang Airfield, Talang Betutu, South Sumatra -   Indonesia
Phase:	Standing
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Palembang Airfield, Talang Betutu, South Sumatra
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
DH.60X Moth VR-SAF was rebuilt [as a landplane] in 1939-40 and impressed into 'A' Flight, Malayan Volunteer Air Force 1.12.41. The Unit was formed at Kallang 1.12.41 with six Moths [VR-SAF, VR-SAG, VR-SAI, VR-SBH, VR-RAS and VR-RAT]. One was destroyed at Singapore in January 1942 in an air collision with a RAF Brewster Buffalo.

Five survivors ferried to Palembang Airfield, Talang Betutu, South Sumatra 4.2.42. One damaged beyond repair after wing spar hit by bullet near Palembang. It is believed that VR-SAF was one of the four remaining Malayan Volunteer Air Force DH.60 Moths destroyed in the Japanese attack on Palembang Airfield, Talang Betutu, South Sumatra, Indonesia 14.2.42.

1. http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/dh60.pdf
2. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_G-A1.html
3. https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-EBUK.pdf
4. https://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_VR-S.html
5. As G-EBUK: http://www.afleetingpeace.org/index.php/page-great-bitain-registers-g-eb/g-eb-part-2?highlight=WyJnLWVidWsiXQ==
6. As VR-SBH: http://www.afleetingpeace.org/index.php/page-other-registers/vo-vp-vr?highlight=WyJ2ci1zYmgiXQ==
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Palembang#Airborne_attack
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Mahmud_Badaruddin_II_International_Airport#History

c/no.451 DH.60X Seaplane [Cirrus II #178] registered as G-EBUK [C of R 1491] 27.9.27 to The Singapore Flying Club. C of A 1290 issued 16.1.28. Named \"Humming Bird\" 28.4.28 (or possibly \"Cherub\\\"; note that G-EBUJ and G-EBUK were named \"Cherub\" and \"Humming Bird\" - but it is not clear which aircraft had which name). Hit buoy on landing Singapore & sank 26.7.29; salvaged and rebuilt. Fitted with Cirrus III [in 1930]. Owner renamed Royal Singapore Flying Club 7.32. Fitted with Cirrus Hermes II engine (in 1933) and reportedly [by 3.34] as a landplane. VR-SAF was reported by RSFC 7.34 as having been purchased by club about 18 months earlier as a Cirrus III-engine landplane. Registered as VR-SAF 14.7.34 to Royal Singapore Flying Club (“recently converted to seaplane”)

(The old Cirrus Hermes engine of VR-SAF was used in the reconstruction of a new Moth, which was registered as VR-SBH 10.38 to the Royal Singapore Flying Club). Registration VR-SAF cancelled 1.9.34. Reported as converted to landplane in 1937 and fitted with Gipsy I, but unconfirmed since still a seaplane in 1939. Withdrawn from use by 12.39.

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
28-Mar-2024 20:19	Dr. John Smith	Added
28-Mar-2024 20:21	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative]