Jeep Carrying Halifaxes in India

[AndrewClark]

Simon G - Thanks again for this very useful extra information. My late father-in-law took five Halifax photos, presumably all at the same time. Two photos show the rear of an aircraft which has a rear turret fitted with four guns, one shows a jeep on a pannier beneath the aircraft (next to an aircraft carrying two code letters which may be CC??) one shows three aircraft dispersed with a relatively high mountain range in the background (at least one aircraft has no bomb doors fitted) and the final photo is of an aircraft carrying at least five (500lb?) bombs and no bomb doors. Based on what you have said, the fact that the aircraft’s rear turret carries guns suggests to me that the photos would have been taken January – March 1946 or June 1946 onwards. As we know that he arrived at Chaklala on 1^st April 1946, he would have missed the January detachment there but, as he moved to Samungli sometime in 1946-7 and left in April 1947, it seems quite likely that he would have taken the photos there, sometime between June 1946 and April 1947. Does that seem like a reasonable hypothesis to you………?

[Jagan]

Similar photos on Flickr

A set of B and W photos from Lac Arthur Foster's time with the RAF with 298 Sqn in India 1945-46. They were involved in dropping rice to hard to reach areas.

Arthur Foster was my husband's Grandfather. He was an RAF mechanic and worked from various bases through India, on keeping the planes running.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/14415433@N02/7420389176/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/144154...7630237914772/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/144154...7630237914772/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/144154...7630237914772/

[AndrewClark]

Many thanks, Jagan - I hadn't seen these. The second one is particularly interesting, as it seems to show bomb doors (or at least partial doors) fitted, whereas these appear to be absent on my late father-in-law's photo. Also interestingly, another photo on the same is labelled as "Used Containers on Chahala (sic) Drome". but in several of the photos of the same set the aircraft are wearing SEAC style roundels and fin flashes, whereas the aircraft in my late father-in-law's photos are wearing red, white and blue markings. This, to me, seems to add credence to my theory that his photos were taken later and, therefore, at Samungli. Again, I'd really welcome others' thoughts on this.......

Thanks again

Andrew

[Jagan]

HI Andrew yes, these are all showing SEAC markings. It would be interesting to see the later images with the Red/White/Blue Roundels and potential Ids of the same. They are likely in 1946-47 timeframe.

some ids of ac in this lot are as mentioned in Alex Smart's post

PN261 https://www.flickr.com/photos/144154...7630237914772/
NA354 https://www.flickr.com/photos/144154...7630237914772/

[AndrewClark]

Many thanks again Jagan, that is really useful information. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to share the photos at the present time, but will let you know if and when I am. Cheers

Andrew

[AndrewClark]

Hi Jagan. Just sending you a pm on this. Cheers, Andrew

[AndrewClark]

Jagan, scrub that - you box is full!! Hi Jagan. Here's what I was trying to send:

Firstly, thanks for all you do with this website - it is amazing & I am so, so grateful for it.

Secondly, I now have permission from the owner of the photos in question to send you copies of them, although he has asked that you keep them for your personal use only. If you let me have your email address, I will send them to you.

Cheers, Andrew