Sq 117 hijack
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Quite possibly. I'd left for Australia by that time, so I didn't get my Pioneer subscription anymore. Anyway, he's a quiet sort of lad, so I don't know if he'd launch into an Oscar acceptance speech.Originally posted by Icemoon:Topped SF course .. was he featured in ST or Pioneer? Last time the papers featured this red beret topping the SF course also. These people featured will thank their wife or gf for giving them support blah blah .. haha
Hmm - given that the man is not very popular at all in the formation, I think he would be foolish to enter the killing house.Originally posted by Icemoon:Well, I am pretty sure our SOF are way better than D81 or the Egyptian one. In fact, Teo CH could have sit inside their killing house and come out in one piece.
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I have been reading this thread with a lot of interest. Stuff like CT and SOF is something I certainly don't know much but crave to learn more.Originally posted by Icemoon:Topped SF course .. was he featured in ST or Pioneer? Last time the papers featured this red beret topping the SF course also. These people featured will thank their wife or gf for giving them support blah blah .. haha
Well, I am pretty sure our SOF are way better than D81 or the Egyptian one. In fact, Teo CH could have sit inside their killing house and come out in one piece.
The part in blue .. wasn't that my whole point??
Icemoon, after reading posts by Gedanken and storywolf, would you not agree that labelling Singapore's SOF 'below par' is harsh considering that SQ117 was a well-executed mission? The analogy that I can do something simple should not lead to the conclusion that my capabilities are below average. -
Just to correct some information about the Garuda hijack ("Woyla" ) .
Detachment 81 did not exist at that time. The team was made of commando volunteers available at that point of time.
The team was provided with Uzis and Beretta .22 by General Moerdani himself, in his office, about 48 hours before the rescue. (Do generals keep a private stash of firearms in their office?)
Detachment 81 was formed only after the Woyla incident in 1981 - hence the team is called Detachment "81". Today, the team is a very well trained full-time dedicated unit. -
JL, to be fair I don't think Icemoon has said that SOF is below par. What he seems to be saying is that the SQ117 mission is not one that marks SOF as being amongst the best. From different angles, he's both right and wrong.
As hostage scenarios go, there have been a lot worse than SQ117, and if you look at it that way, Icemoon is right in saying that it's not a mission that nobody else could have pulled off.
On the other hand, those of us who have had some experience (and also some of the more astute observers) would note that the scenario doesn't have to be very complicated for things to go pear-shaped. As an example, blowing the aircraft doors with charges is SOP for aircraft storming, but just because everybody does it doesn't mean that it's easy to do it right all the time, as EgyptAir 648 demonstrates.
Insofar as SOF carried everything out perfectly, I'd say that SQ117's execution puts them up there with the best of the CT world. You can't go past 100%, but you can easily go below it. -
Double post.
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I agree with you. Perhaps I lost what his intention was in the numerous posts. Considering this is the first hijack that the SOF encountered, its a tremendous credit to the planning and training that the mission was smooth.Originally posted by Gedanken:JL, to be fair I don't think Icemoon has said that SOF is below par. What he seems to be saying is that the SQ117 mission is not one that marks SOF as being amongst the best. From different angles, he's both right and wrong.
As hostage scenarios go, there have been a lot worse than SQ117, and if you look at it that way, Icemoon is right in saying that it's not a mission that nobody else could have pulled off.
On the other hand, those of us who have had some experience (and also some of the more astute observers) would note that the scenario doesn't have to be very complicated for things to go pear-shaped. As an example, blowing the aircraft doors with charges is SOP for aircraft storming, but just because everybody does it doesn't mean that it's easy to do it right all the time, as EgyptAir 648 demonstrates.
Insofar as SOF carried everything out perfectly, I'd say that SQ117's execution puts them up there with the best of the CT world. You can't go past 100%, but you can easily go below it. -
CT MP5 make a laser dot thus it does helps alot to be dead on.Originally posted by Icemoon:Opps .. I might be wrong then. If the CT took the shot with the hostage in front, then I cannot but say his skill is really good. After all, even snipers need to carefully aim before they take such a shot.
Fearfully threw his canister? Not light it up meh? Why did the commando scoop up the canister?
Why the CT pick it up ? Well to check if it been ignited , and if it is possible throw it out of the plane ! -
Always remember there could be other SFs that is ready for action but has not have the chance to show wat they could do yet or perhaps they have participated but wasn't given due 'credit'
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Detachment 81 is not a low profile mission.Originally posted by Icemoon:It was to laugh at the poster who cited the detachment 81 example. He chose a low profile mission when a high profile one could suffice.
So does it mean he dunno the high profile ones or he wanted to enlighten me about a lower profile one?
It was planned to be published thru out world's newspaper... but it coincided with President Reagan's assassination attempt... so the news was shadowed. -
I have a mini-library of sorts when it comes to Military History and Military related matters. One of the books I have is titled: "Hijack! SQ117". It's authored by Sumiko Tan, the Straits Times journalist. Perhaps, you could loan a copy from National Library if you're really interested. It's written in re-enactment fashion just like a Crimewatch video so it may get a bit dramatic at times but the facts are legit.
Anyway to answer the questions:
1) The hijackers had three knives (2 table knives and 1 that looks like it's either a large pocket knife or maybe a switch-blade, [pic is in the book]). The bombs they said they had were actually six cylindrical firework canisters that shot sparks up to a meter high. The hijackers had also doused the aircraft in alcohol from the aircraft's liquor store and had made threats to set the aircraft alight.
They did not have any firearms.
2) There were TWO stewards who were pushed out of the plane. One was Steward Bernard Tan and the other was Chief Steward Phillip Cheong. The first suffered some spine injury and was evac by police surrourding the plane. The second ran to nearby police on his own power.
3) As for weapons, the book only says the Commandos used submachine guns and stun granades. -
Originally posted by Quirinus:
I read that book b4.
I have a mini-library of sorts when it comes to Military History and Military related matters. One of the books I have is titled: "[b]Hijack! SQ117". It's authored by Sumiko Tan, the Straits Times journalist. Perhaps, you could loan a copy from National Library if you're really interested. It's written in re-enactment fashion just like a Crimewatch video so it may get a bit dramatic at times but the facts are legit.
Anyway to answer the questions:
1) The hijackers had three knives (2 table knives and 1 that looks like it's either a large pocket knife or maybe a switch-blade, [pic is in the book]). The bombs they said they had were actually six cylindrical firework canisters that shot sparks up to a meter high. The hijackers had also doused the aircraft in alcohol from the aircraft's liquor store and had made threats to set the aircraft alight.
They did not have any firearms.
2) There were TWO stewards who were pushed out of the plane. One was Steward Bernard Tan and the other was Chief Steward Phillip Cheong. The first suffered some spine injury and was evac by police surrourding the plane. The second ran to nearby police on his own power.
3) As for weapons, the book only says the Commandos used submachine guns and stun granades.[/b]
I think it was mentioned inside .. the SOFs peppered the toilet door with the terrorist inside? -
Hi All,
Just to sidetrack abit...does anyone here heard of the SQ 117 Hijack song by Jack Neo many years back?
Since this thread started, I've began reminiscing those ah beng army songs, especially this one...anyone here have them to share?