redhills lake 1944 looking for info

[markclark]

hello can anyone tell me anything about redhills lake india during 1944 as dad was stationed there on cats and interested .

[Zoran Petek]

191 Sqn, 225 Group, RAF ACSEA
Based at Redhills lake since 1943 (detached from Korangi Creek, Karachi, India).
Complete squadron moved there in November 1944. Moved to Koggala, Ceylon in 1945.
Other detachments at Cochin, India in 1943, and Chittagong, India, Nov 44.
Flew on Catalinas such as Catalina IB FP307/V, IV/IVB: JX296/X (Nov 44), JX310/V, JX343/R, JX350/S, JX355/X (Dec 44), JX374/Z.


Also 240 Sqn (reformed in July 1945) as seen on this photo

[markclark]

thanks for that he flew with 210 sqd with FP174 and JX576and FP 131 AM266 FP536 Z 2147 VA728 Z2146 VA723 then moved with 240 SQD to india in VA732 in which they flew to bangalore and he stayed with that plane thru 1944 with just one excurtion to VA 716 but generally his time was spent with 732 . In addition he also did his time with lancs and wellingtons.

[Vandellyn]

thanks for that he flew with 210 sqd with FP174 and JX576and FP 131 AM266 FP536 Z 2147 VA728 Z2146 VA723 then moved with 240 SQD to india in VA732 in which they flew to bangalore and he stayed with that plane thru 1944 with just one excurtion to VA 716 but generally his time was spent with 732 . In addition he also did his time with lancs and wellingtons.

A bit late in responding, but my dad James Park was based at Redhills from January '44 to June '45 and flew as first pilot for 240 squadron. He flew VA723 on February 3,17, 18, and 26. Mostly he flew VA718 which a typhoon beached in September '44 in Diego Garcia. It's still there today. There's a website if you google. He also flew VA732 on July 1 and 7. He flew VA716 on May 1, 10, June 28, July 3, 5, 11, and 22. He flew 23 different Catalinas altogether on his tour. If you have your dad's logbook you should be able to check the dates.

So there is a good chance they knew each other. I was recently contacted by the son of Ron Tench who was 2nd pilot with my dad on FP165 and they flew 27 times together.

Still a small planet.

Brian Park

[markclark]

Would u believe it havent been on here for ages but just by chance looked tonight. my father flew with flt Boulnois and he was in the plane amongst many dates the 18 feb at 2100hrs just local night flying on 4th feb 0935 was local bombing and did air testing on 2 and 4 July they must have known each other , Sadly Dad has passed away but I think he was know as Knobby Clark.

[Zoran Petek]

https://i.postimg.cc/d0KZd5y8/VA723-...hills-Lake.jpg
Caption says: VA723 an RAF Mark IIA at Redhills Lake. As ‘F’ of 240 Sqdn it had flown on special duty operations ‘Lunch’ and ‘Siren VA’.