This year marks the 40th year since the F-5 was introduced into service in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). From 1979 till 2015, the F-5s and the aircrew who operated them rendered 36 years of sterling service as the RSAF’s first supersonic jet fighter. It also took the RSAF to new heights by allowing them to participate for the first time in Exercise Red Flag in the US in 1982. The RSAF F-5E was upgraded locally to the F-5S version which had more advanced avionics to level it up to almost the same capabilities as its more advanced contemporaries. The RSAF was also one of only 4 countries that operated the RF-5E ‘Tiger Eye’ reconnaissance version with unique modifications to the basic F-5E platform. 144 SQN ‘Blackites’ was formed in 1979 to operate the F-5s. Subsequently as more of the aircraft were delivered, 149 SQN ‘Shikras’ was set up in June 1985. When the Hawker Hunters were retired from service in 1992, 141 SQN ‘Merlins’ initially having been stood down, was reformed in 1994 to operate F-5E/RF-5E and subsequently the upgraded F-5S/T/RF-5S until the squadron was eventually disbanded in 2005 with its aircraft reassigned to both 144 SQN and 149 SQN. Notable individuals who flew the F-5s during their RSAF careers include the current Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Secretary-General of the Trade Unions Congress (NTUC), Mr NG Chee Meng and his brother, the current Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office and Chairman of the Government Technology Agency (GovTech), Mr NG Chee Khern. Posted here are some pictures of the various RSAF F-5s from 141, 144 and 149 squadrons and a few of the patches associated with them. Check out the retro RSAF TV ad featuring the F-5 at the end that is just so 80s. Photo credits: @yongkiat.goh @rocketfuel168 Patch credits: @wondering_wander Video source: https://youtu.be/8k0GOozMIwM #LestWeForget #TheRSAF #OneSAF #OurHomeAboveAll #F5Tiger #F5E #F5S #F5T #RF5E #RF5S #TigerEye #149SQN #Shikras #Steadfast #144SQN #Blackites #DaretoExcel #141SQN #Merlins #DetecttoDeter #MilitaryEnthusiast #MilitaryHistory #PioneerGeneration #Singapore #PlanesPatchesPeople (at Singapore) https://www.instagram.com/p/By5g1frBpMA/?igshid=15kjlwmnsqyuc