Operation Helsby

Operation Helsby was a British-led special forces military operation conducted from 8 February to 3 March 1952 in the Belum Valley, Perak, Malaya, during the Malayan Emergency. The primary objective of the operation was to flush out communist armed forces that had established the valley as a strategic base and stronghold and to dismantle the communist regiment operating there. According to historians such as Stavros Atlamazoglou, Dr Stephen Rookes, and Arthur D. Barontes, Operation Helsby was the first recorded special forces mission to utilise helicopters in direct support of ground units.

The operation was led by the Malayan Scouts (SAS), with support from 45 Commando of the 3 Commando Brigade and the Malayan Police Jungle Company (now known as the General Operations Force). Helicopter air support played a crucial role and was provided by the Far East Air Force (FEAF) Casualty Evacuation Flight, which was later upgraded to No. 194 Squadron RAF in 1953. Additional air support came from No. 267 Squadron of the Royal Air Force and No. 38 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Although the operation succeeded in clearing the Belum Valley of communist forces, it came at a considerable cost: the Malayan Scouts suffered 21 casualties, with additional, unconfirmed losses likely among other supporting units. Despite the tactical success, the targeted communist force—later identified as the 10th Malay Regiment MNLA—managed to evade capture. The regiment subsequently relocated and continued its insurgent activities, contributing to the protracted conflict until the eventual ceasefire in 1989.