Ian B-B - Taten Hill is entered as such in my log book so that was certainly the correct spelling at the time; has it now morphed into one word?
Chugalug2 - As you suggest, our cross-India flight courtesy BOAC may well have been down to seats being available. On the other hand we were still at war with Japan and, given the planned invasion of Malaya, there was probably a need for front line squadrons to be kept fully manned. Three and a half weeks elapsed between my crew's arrival at Karachi and ending up with 194 Sqdn at Akyab, not over rapid perhaps but a lot quicker than if we had crossed India by rail.
Danny42C - Yes we did SBA in the link too, not a pleasant experience I grant but then the Link never was! Life in this instance could be made easier by judicious use of the rudder alone without bothering with 'aileron', but was liable to incur the instructor's displeasure.
The next instalment will follow shortly!