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'Killer' and RMAF squadmates reunite, 45 years on

NILAI: It was a perfect occasion to reunite with their Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) squadmates, after 45 years.

These were the daring airmen from 'Intake 1976' who not only kept the assets in tip-top condition but risked their limbs and lives in the most dangerous and vulnerable conditions.

The reunion was the brainchild of Warrant Officer I (Rtd) Chandirasekharan Subramaniam aka 'Killer', who rallied his squadmates to a dinner at the Nilai Convention Hall, on the weekend of Dec 18.

The occasion also doubled up to celebrate the wedding reception of his youngest daughter, paediatrician Dr C. Debashini to anaesthetist Dr R. Elangkesh – both of whom serve at Seremban Hospital.

Present were Chandirasekharan's wife G. Suseeladevi, and Elangkesh's parents K. Rajendran and wife T.M.K. Parameswari.

Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and the flash floods in the Klang Valley, only 20 out of the 350 squadmates from all over the country managed to attend the event, along with their spouses.

"Nevertheless, it was a great meeting and catching up with them renewed our camaraderie.

"We are a close bunch who shared many glorious years, with plenty of tales to tell, during our service years with the RMAF.

"Although circumstances have kept many of us apart for varying reasons, we still communicate via WhatsApp and mobile calls," said Chandirasekharan, 65, who was among 13 who miraculously survived a Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri crash on Gunung Silabu near Kampung Ensika in Sebangan near Simunjan, Sarawak on April 25, 1981.

Chandirasekharan, who was trained as a rotary-wing airframe technician, was then just a 25-year-old Airman I (equivalent to an army private) serving with the RMAF's 7th Squadron.

The co-pilot, Lieutenant Zakaria Shaaban and another airman, Sergeant Kanagaratnam Supramaniam, perished in the horrific crash during adverse weather while returning to the Kuching RMAF base via Miri and Sibu, after an earlier week's detachment in Bario.

"My squadmates and I try to reunite, but in smaller numbers, over the years.

"In fact, I have been planning to have a large scale reunion – with serving RMAF comrades, their family and relatives - in conjunction with the unique crash 'Survivors 40th anniversary' soon," said Chandirasekharan, who retired in July 1998 after 22 years of service, having flown over 1,000 sorties in both the Alouette III and Nuri.

He added that it would be memorable, if all of them could get together after such a long time.

"I still get flashes of the accident in my sleep, some nights.

"I vividly remember every detail which is in my memory and I shall carry it to my grave," said Chandirasekharan, who was the pioneer in establishing the RMAF vibration specialist team (for helicopters), which he headed until his retirement.

Chandirasekharan now manages a parts supplying company for soil improvement. He was also an excellent hockey goalkeeper and represented Sarawak in the Razak Cup, earning the sobriquet 'Killer' for his outstanding performance in goal with good reflexes and ball sense.

He was equally a talented wicket-keeper representing the RMAF and the armed forces in cricket, and was a national-class hockey referee and international cricket umpire.

Corporal (Rtd) Baloo Ramasamy, 65, aka 'Bear', recalled how some of them spent six months basic recruit training at the Port Dickson garrison, while another batch trained at RMAF Kinrara in Puchong, Selangor.

"We followed up with another one year at Kinrara in various trades and skills as artisans in aircraft airframe, engines, instruments, electrics, radar, wireless and radio, safety, drivers and administration.

"Then, we got posted to the various air bases around the country," said Baloo, who left after 13 years as an air instruments technician, to join the oil and gas industry.

He moved up the ranks, working first with Racal, then Thales, Fugro Survey and then Veripos (part of the Hexagon group) as its Asia-Pacific general manager based in Singapore.

"I remember our squadmates and I last had a large gathering in Penang in 2008, after which work and other commitments kept us apart," said Baloo, who as a young airman was sent for specialized technical training at the Northrop University at Inglewood, Los Angeles, California in the United States.

Capt (Rtd) Ramasamy Subramaniam, 67, counted his blessings for graduating as a commissioned officer in later years, after he had earlier attained the rank of flight-sergeant.

"I am the only one among my squadmates who progressed to become an officer and, thus, have experienced both dimensions from the other ranks," said Ramasamy.

Warrant Officer II (Rtd) Manikam Mariapan, 65, was elated to renew his acquaintance with his squadmates.

"We are a close knit family and cherish our years of friendship very dearly," said Manikam.

Corporal (Rtd) Ganasan Palaniappan, 64, is still actively managing his 'Ganesh Malar Enterprise' flower farm in Cameron Highlands, Pahang.

"Business is brisk and it keeps my mind occupied," he said, adding most of his squadmates were very successful in their second careers.

After the dinner reception, the squadmates met up for a luncheon at Chandirasekharan's house in Taman Desa Jasmin Nilai before spending two nights in Port Dickson for a retreat with their spouses.

Among the other squadmates at the retreat included Nilai University aircraft maintenance senior instructor Corporal (Rtd) Baskaran Chitravelloo, Flight-Sergeant (Rtd) Sathia Segaran, Warrant Officer II (Rtd) Rajaram Naidu and Warrant Officer II (Rtd) Krishnan Kutty B.K. Nair - all aged 65.

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