2015/05 - Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

Singapore's founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, passed away on 23 March 2015. Chief of Air Force MG Hoo Cher Mou and other senior RSAF officers served as vigil guards while Mr Lee's casket was lying in state at Parliament House. On 29 March, despite the steady downpour, more than 800 RSAF personnel lined the streets for the procession for the state funeral of Mr Lee. He was accorded the SAF's highest honours with a 21-gun salute, an aerial flypast, and a ceremonial sailpast.

Senior RSAF officers took turns to keep vigil while members of the public paid their last respects to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

COL Nalpon Patrick Selvan (right) leading the Black Knights and RSAF personnel in a minute of silence in honour of Mr Lee.

“Due to heavy rain and low cloud base over the Padang, the Black Knights managed to execute a flypast but were unable to perform the Missing Man Formation. However, I am certain that everyone heard the familiar roar of the RSAF’s F-16C as we flew through the rain. I am honoured that we were able to achieve this for the RSAF as a mark of respect for Mr Lee Kuan Yew.”

COL Nalpon Patrick Selvan, Commander, Fighter Group, 2015 on the RSAF’s participation in the state funeral