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Operation Cat Drop – Borneo 1960 T-Shirt

$50.89 $43.61 AUD (plus tax)
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Operation Cat Drop — Borneo, 1960

The Royal Air Force once parachuted cats into Borneo. Yes, actual cats.

In March 1960, a British RAF transport aircraft flew over the remote Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, Borneo, carrying a rather unusual cargo.

More than 20 cats.

Their mission? Help tackle a rat problem threatening local crops.

With limited access to the remote settlement of Bario, the RAF delivered the cats by parachute, safely enclosed in containers alongside thousands of pounds of other supplies.

The official flight records confirm the operation. The cats reportedly landed safely and were much appreciated.

Naturally, the story became even stranger in the retelling.

Later accounts claimed that insecticide spraying to control malaria had killed local cats, allowing rats to multiply and forcing authorities to restock the feline population from the sky.

Some versions even claimed that 14,000 cats were dropped. That figure is unsupported, and the famous chain of ecological disasters remains disputed.

But the central event was real: in 1960, the RAF genuinely dropped cats into Borneo by parachute.

Our Operation Cat Drop T-shirt celebrates this magnificently improbable piece of aviation history with a playful, vintage-inspired illustration of parachuting cats descending over a tropical village.

Part military operation. Part pest control. Entirely unusual cargo.

Operation Cat Drop. The original airborne feline deployment.

An original Temporary Tourist design celebrating the stranger corners of documented history.

Select color: Sand

Select size

More details

  • Solid colors are 100% ring-spun cotton
  • Sport Grey is 90% ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
  • Heather colors are 65% polyester, 35% cotton
  • Lightweight fabric (4.2 oz)
  • Relaxed fit
  • Unisex sizing

Quality Guarantee & Returns

  • Quality is guaranteed. If there is a print error or visible quality issue, we'll replace or refund it.
  • Because the products are made to order, we do not accept general returns or sizing-related returns.

Operation Cat Drop – Borneo 1960 T-Shirt Size Guide

Size guide preview
Size label Length Width Sleeve length
S
28
18
16.75
M
29
20
17.88
L
30
22
19.13
XL
31
24
20.38
2XL
32
26
21.63
3XL
33
28
22.75

Measurements are provided by suppliers. Product measurements may vary by up to 2" (5 cm).

Pro tip! Measure one of your products at home and compare with the measurements you see in this guide.

 

A Length

Place the end of the tape beside the collar at the top of the tee (Highest Point Shoulder). Pull the tape measure to the bottom of the shirt.

B Width

Place the end of the tape at the seam under the sleeve and pull the tape measure across the shirt to the seam under the opposite sleeve.

C Sleeve length

Place the end of the tape at the center back of the collar, then pull the tape measure along the top seam of the sleeve. When you get to the shoulder hold the tape in place at the shoulder and continue to pull down the sleeve until you reach the hem of the sleeve.

Shipping & returns

Made to order. If something’s wrong with your order, we can help.