Dear Danny,
Let me dig up what more I have..
And thanks for your thoughts on the photos..
Photo 'A',
The gunner in the photo is apparently Plt Offr Jagjit Singh . I think we can see him in Photo 'B' - the only Sikh with the turban.,
Photos B and C were certainly taken after 27.3.44 - because Sqn Ldr Sutherland took over command on that date!.. they may have been taken in quick succession - as I can see Tinhat man and Sidcot man in both photos apparently looking like they were taken moments apart.
I got these photos and the others i am posting below ten years ago when I visited late Gp Capt Philips. I only had a crummy digitial camera and the result was these poor copies...
Others from that visit
8 Squadron group - said to be immediately after formation - thus no RAF/Commonwealth officers other than Indians in this picture. You can make out the CO Prasad, Flight Commander Chopra, Plt Offr Jagjit Singh and J S Dhillon..
Ground crew - photo had inscription "Some of my boys"
Now this is photo of Gp Capt CGI Philips. I kick myself for the poor quality reproduction. But the Vengeance that he was standing by - he said was his with an emblem of a lightning weilded by a hand/fist.. and the sorties marked as bombs..
and finally a better photo of him - when the sqn converted to Spit VIIIs..
Also one more story about 8 Squadron..
Dodging a Vultee Vengeance in India about Ettinger.. you heard or seen it I hope!
And Canadian historian Hugh Halliday's interest in 8 Sqn RIAF!
No.8 Squadron, IAF