75th Anniversary of VJ Day

[Bergerie1]

Tomorrow, 15 August 2020, is the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day.

I remember well VE Day in 1945 when my father was still a POW in Singapore. It was not until 15 August 1945 that we felt able to celebrate, and not until late October that he came home.

I hope everyone will remember, not only The Forgotten Army, but all those soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians who suffered so terribly. Tomorrow, I shall stand in silent remembrance. I hope others will do so too.

[jolihokistix]

Very glad your father came home, B1. Quite a moving story. I shall breathe a deep breath.

A Portuguese lady nurse I knew in London told me she had been to the gates of Changi Prison to say goodbye as all the remaining Westerners were being rounded up and herded inside, and despite loud protests from her about 'neutrality' etc., the guards grabbed here and pushed her inside too, where she spent the rest of the war.

[Mogwi]

A number of my father's fellow pilots from HMS Indefatigable were shot down and captured during the closing weeks of the war in the Far East. When their Japanese guards heard of the surrender, they marched them out onto the beach, made to dig their own graves and cut down.

He was not a fan of the sons of Nipon.

mog

[SLXOwft]

Mog - I was intending to post something on the (assumed) 75th anniversary of the Palembang murders. There are various versions of what happened and when but this is what is recounted on the FAAOA website. I hadn't heard of the same happening to Indefatigable aircrew.

Palembang Nine

The 'Palembang Nine' was a group of nine men from the Royal Navy British Pacific Fleet. The men were either pilots or crew members of HMS Victorious, HMS Illustrious or HMS Indomitable.

Claims emerged from surviving war veterans that a number of airmen survived the raid on the Palembang oil refineries and were held captive by the Japanese before being executed. The number of men is generally held to be by nine but research by the NZ FAA museum has cast doubt on this figure indicating it may be twelve.

The names of the 'Palembang Nine' on the plaque in the FAA museum are

Lt. John Haberfield (below)- Pilot from 1839 Fighter Squadron (HMS Indomitable)
Lt. Evan John Baxter - Pilot from 1833 Fighter Squadron (HMS Illustrious)
S/Lt. Reginald James Shaw - Pilot from 1833 Fighter Squadron (HMS Illustrious)
Lt. Kenneth Morgan Burrenston - Crew from 849 TBR Squadron (HMS Victorious)
S/Lt. John Robert Burns - Crew from 849 TBR Squadron (HMS Victorious)
S/Lt. Donald V Roebuck - Crew from 849 TBR Squadron (HMS Victorious)
S/Lt. William Edwin Lintern - Crew from 849 TBR Squadron (HMS Victorious)
Petty Officer Ivor Barker - Crew from 849 TBR Squadron (HMS Victorious)
Petty Officer J S McRae - Crew from 849 TBR Squadron (HMS Victorious)

The first two named were RNZNVR officers.

[SLXOwft]

I am aware of at least one frequent poster whose father didn’t come back. My own father did, his war service ranged across seas from Northern Russia to New South Wales. As ex-Navy he always seemed embarrassed by his Burma Star, as if he felt he was not worthy to wear the same medal given to those who endured so much on and over the land. I do worry that those who served “out East” always come a distant second as far a commemoration. I too will be standing in silent remembrance.

On a lighter note:

A Lancaster flypast of the RAFM, Hendon (or London if they insist) is scheduled for Saturday 15 August at 11:30am.

Anyone know if currently extant (flying) squadrons plan to commemorate VJ day in the air?

I did a bit of digging when bored and AFAIK the active squadrons (not all flying squadrons obviously) with relevant service are:

RAF Squadrons

5, 8, 11, 17, 22, 24, 27,28, 45, 47, 54, 60, 84, 99, 100, 202, 230, and 605

RN Air Squadrons

814, 815, 820, 824, 845, and 847

The future Lightning squadron 809 and the no longer to be reformed 849 both had relevant service. It is particularly poignant that 849 RNAS have not reformed given how many of the Palembang nine were members.

AAC (as RAF) Squadrons

656, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 681 and 684



An aside to our US and other relevant fellow members, I am aware that the date of VJ day is 2 September in the US and 3 September in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, and Taiwan.

[Krystal n chips]

I had two Uncles who were sunbathing in Singapore before embarking on a new career building railways. Another, after a stroll along the dunes at Dunkerque, subsequently went to warmer climes in Burma. I'm pleased to say I've inherited his sardonic DNA.

My late father was working for Weir Pumps in the 70's in Manchester when it was announced that a Japanese delegation would be visiting one day. The management, being well aware many had been involved, indicated if anybody wished to have a day off, that would be fine . The delegation duly arrived , the temperature seemingly dropped off the Kelvin scale as they were greeted with some "heartfelt sentiments " to the extent the tour of the factory was rapidly terminated.

However, as we know, narcissists and "walts" are only too common and walk amongst us. Enter a security guard at said factory who was always in the local rag, with medals, telling the world of his time in Burma...until, one day, a new arrival who had also been in Burma asked some questions, then some more questions and lo and behold, it turned out said walt had been in Burma, only not at the time or locations when the fighting was going on and had never actually been anywhere near the front line. He "left" shortly afterwards, and, strangely, never graced the local rags pages again.

[SLXOwft]

Mog - I've now found at least one

Sub-Lieutenant Frederick (Fred) Hockley RNVR (born 1923) was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm fighter pilot who was shot down over Japan while taking part in the last combat mission flown by British aircraft in the Second World War.Nine hours after Emperor Hirohito announced the unconditional surrender of Japan, on 15 August 1945, Hockley was secretly executed by soldiers from the Imperial Japanese Army. The two officers who instigated the killing were convicted of war crimes and hanged in Hong Kong in 1947.

He was a Seafire pilot of 894 NAS on board HMS Indefatigable.

[Mogwi]

Yes, Mog senior was on 894, so that ties in. He also took part in the Palembang raids - hence, I guess, his connection with the "Palembang 9".

I think that I might have seen Fred Hockley's name in my father's album.

Mog

[Bergerie1]

My father was on the Mata Hari. You can read on the Muntok Peace Museum website what happened to all those little ships trying to leave Singapore on the night of 12 February 1942.
https://muntokpeacemuseum.org/?page_id=27

[Paul Lupp]

My mum was a very young girl at the time and was in Changi prisoner-of-war camp with her family. Does anyone know what has happened to Sheila Bruhn / Sheila Allan who wrote "Diary of a girl in Changi"? Mum stopped getting Christmas cards from her 2 Decembers back; she was living in Australia near Sydney (and mum is in the UK). Mum is now one of a very few survivors of Changi who is still alive, although nobody has contacted her about joining in any celebrations.

[Economics101]

Jolihocistix: your reference to a Portuguese lady at Changi reminded me of my late mother-in-law who was of British nationality but of Portuguese ancestry (de Sousa) and whose British Army husband was captured at the fall of Singapore. He survived captivity in Singapore/Malaya but was put on the prison-ship Rakuyo Maru bound for Japan, and which was torpedoed on 12 September 1944 by the USS Sealion. He was one of the thousands of “Hell-ship” casualties.
My late wife was born in October 1941 and evacuated to Australia safely before the fall of Singapore with her mother, so she never knew her father. Mother-in-law did not have a high opinion of the Japanese, and I nearly caused World War 3 once when I said I fancied buying a Mazda sometime in the 70s.

[kiwi grey]

My father was an Observer in 1772 squadron FAA, embarked on Indefatigable, flying in Fireflies (Dad was the only "RN" officer in the squadron, all the others were RNVR / War Service officers).
His log book records attacks on Tokushima, Takamatsu, Shikoku, Nagoya Bay, Matsushima, Korigama & Taina [names are Dad's spelling, may not be correct!] in July & August 1945.
On 24th July 1945 "Maurice & Don ditched. Don later picked up (2 days)". On 28th July Dad was "grounded with a bad cold", but his regular pilot LT. Stevens is "missing over target with Mike" [presumably another Observer]. On 10th August "Much flak. Roberts & McBride bought it. Darby & O'Neill bailed out"
RIP "Maurice", "Steve", "Mike", "Roberts" and "McBride" - at least five fatalities out of presumably twelve 2-man crews in the Squadron. 20% casualties in two months combat flying seems horrifyingly many from today's perspective.

With a little luck, and Covid-19 permitting, I will be attending Dad's 100th Birthday in Sydney in December.
He is the last survivor of BRNC Dartmouth Benbow Term, starting in 1934 and graduating in 1938

[tdracer]

According to numerous reports from the time, the Japanese were planning to execute nearly all the POWs if/when the invasion of Japan started. Dropping the bomb and the resultant sudden surrender stopped that.
Good article on one of the more notorious camps:

https://www.airspacemag.com/airspacemag/candy-food-home-thanx-180975333/

[Bergerie1]

Economics101,

Your mother must have been evacuated on the same ship as me, the SS Nellore, from Singapore arriving in Fremantle WA on 8 January 1942.

[PPRuNeUser0131]

"The two officers who instigated the killing were convicted of war crimes and hanged in Hong Kong in 1947."

GOOD

Another way of conducting a Jap Surrender ...

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/473x654/jap_surrender_cacd62e0a06251f4b7316d293a4df188d48bc2d4.jpg

[Finningley Boy]

This is what fascinates me about the Second World War above all, the shear scale of the engagement, breadth and depth. Just looking at what is just an indication of a small yet, by modern comparison, extensive number of operational squadrons posted earlier in the thread. The other characterizing aspect, the adherence to formality, not just of the Japanese in surrendering, but the Germans also just three months earlier. Then again, the shear destruction brought to bear not surprisingly left many believing they were witnessing the end of civilization. Doubtless people in the UK the USA, Antipodes and the liberated countries wouldn't see things that way but the people of the two principal axis nations must have believed they were witnessing the apocalypse, and I believe more so for the Germans.

FB

[Chugalug2]

The war in the Far East marked the beginning of the end of the British Empire far more so than the war in Europe. Yet the irony is that it was those from the Colonies and Dominions as well as from the home country that stopped the Japanese advance on the very border of India, and fought the Japanese Army back from whence it came. All this time my father, a Bombardier in a TA RA LAA battery, spent incarcerated as a POW having been captured in the chaos following the Fall of Singapore. After the long voyage out from the UK their ship was turned away from Singapore and they disembarked instead in the Dutch East Indies where they were very soon overrun and captured, managing at least to spike their Bofors guns beforehand.

Their captivity ended up in Japan where they were set to mining coal. I knew that the camp was administered by an HQ in Fukuoka on the Japanese island of Kyushu. It took the kindly and knowledgeable guidance of a fellow PPRuNer resident in Japan to discover that the camp was not on Kyushu at all, but on the neighbouring island of Honshu. He has located both the camp and the mine for me from the mass of Japanese records that are accessible online (providing you can understand the Japanese language of course). This highlights to me not only the power of the internet but in particular the comradeship of PPRuNe, of which I have been the most fortunate recipient. Following on advice from other PPRuNers I had already obtained his medals which I wear with pride every year on Remembrance Day

At war's end the camp administration came under Hiroshima anyway. The IJA was as beset by bureaucracy as any other army it seems. Sadly my father didn't make it, dying just four months before Japan's surrender. Other than a few local press cuttings pasted into a scrapbook by my grandfather I had little to go on, other than the location of his grave in the CWGC cemetery at Yokohama, which I and my family have visited. It is of course as meticulously maintained as one would expect.

I too will stand today in memory of him, of his comrades, and of all who fell in the 'Forgotten War'.

[MPN11]

I trust colleagues will not think it inappropriate fo me to mention our sadly-departed Danny42C, who contributed in his small and self-deprecating way to the eventual victory. He's the only personal contact I have ever had with someone who served in that awful war theatre, fighting an enemy whose human principles were so different to ours.

"Bless them all ... " and especially you, Danny, if your celestial laptop is still functioning and you can read this.

[WHBM]

My father, who had gone on from Bomber Command Halifaxes in Yorkshire to DC3s in Burma in the last couple of years, was involved in the initial repatriation of the POWs to the UK. They were all appalled. I understand the POWs were mainly airlifted home.

His Burma Star somehow disappeared in the family many years ago. Seeing one on the TV this morning recollected it. Is there any central record of them by which I could get just an image. Were they serial numbered ?

Anyone know the route of the Red Arrows here in London this afternoon ? Alas, it's not CAVOK for the first time in weeks, overcast 700ft.

[tucumseh]

Surrendered Japanese Fleet in Stores Basin, Singapore. Sorry, no more details except that my father took them before returning home.

https://iili.io/djvXr7.md.jpg (https://freeimage.host/i/djvXr7)

[Tankertrashnav]

.His Burma Star somehow disappeared in the family many years ago. Seeing one on the TV this morning recollected it. Is there any central record of them by which I could get just an image. Were they serial numbered ?


All WW2 stars and medals to British recipients were issued unnamed, and without any service details (those to South Africans and Australians were named). If you wanted to replace the Burma Star that has gone missing any reputable dealer will sell you one for under £20. I can give you a recommendation if you PM me. I would avoid ebay, as there are a lot of modern copies of WW2 medals on there masquerading as originals.

[SLXOwft]

WHBM yes RAFAT are due over Chelsea at 1730 BST but they have already cancelled Edinburgh and Cardiff due to the met conditions. They are due to depart Prestwick for NI as I type and Belfast is still on

Updates are available on their twitter feed https://twitter.com/rafredarrows

Full Route as Published
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/red-arrows-2020-vj-day-route-flypast-today-how-to-watch-a9671871.html

MPN11 - It is was very sad that Danny42C is not with us to share his thoughts.

[ancientaviator62]

I have a copy of a chap's logbook when he was OC10 Sqn at VE day. His last bombing sortie was on 25 April 1945 to 'Wangerooge'. This was the Halifax . His next entry is July 12 with the Dakota Mk IV. Four Group was being turned into a transport group and sent to India and Burma with the 'Dak'. His log book contains several entries of flights in India and just stops on November 28 when I assume he was repatriated home and being HO, demob. It must have been a very bitter pill to those who survived their bomber days to be then sent away to India as the for all they knew the war against Japan could have dragged on for years.
I did once meet an ex POW of the Japanese who was adamant that the A bomb saved many a POW life. He said he was told by his captors that they had orders to kill all prisoners, civilian as well as military when the first allied soldier set foot upon the main Japanese homeland.

[WHBM]

It must have been a very bitter pill to those who survived their bomber days to be then sent away to India as the for all they knew the war against Japan could have dragged on for years.
As with Mr WHBM Senior, described above. Did his first tour on Halifaxes, all voluntary of course, didn't put down for a second, someone else can have a turn ... next week sent to Burma.

[Bergerie1]

ancientaviator62,

I don't know the provenance of this source, but it was certainly my understanding that the POWs were to be killed if allied forces landed on the main islands of Japan.
Taiwan Documents - Order to flee, Order to kill all POWs (http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/Formosa/taiwandocs.html)

I undestand both sides of the argument and, as horrible as the use of the atom bomb was, I believe less people (Japanese included) died as a result than would have been the case had conventional weapons been used.

And please, everyone, don't attack me because I expressed that view. I am no supporter of nuclear weapons (quite the reverse), but perhaps they did end WW2 with less slaughter and perhaps they also saved us from WW3.

[Geriaviator]

The end game would almost certainly be an invasion of the Japanese mainland, and that was a fearsome prospect. It was soberly estimated that such an operation would cost a million Allied lives, quite likely including my own, given what was known about the fanatic fighting quality of the Japanese soldier in defence. Japanese civilian losses would be horrendous, as experience in Okinawa had shown.
From In with a Vengeance, Danny 42C's account of his dive-bombing experiences in Burma as a member of the Forgotten Air Force supporting the Forgotten Army -- though never forgotten by all who shared his company on the Brevet thread. If anyone wants a copy please PM your email addy to me. RIP our dear pal Dennis, from Brian48nav, Chugalug, Harry, pzu and all who shared our virtual crewroom over many years.

[Union Jack]

I trust colleagues will not think it inappropriate fo me to mention our sadly-departed Danny42C, who contributed in his small and self-deprecating way to the eventual victory. He's the only personal contact I have ever had with someone who served in that awful war theatre, fighting an enemy whose human principles were so different to ours.

"Bless them all ... " and especially you, Danny, if your celestial laptop is still functioning and you can read this.
Very nicely done and very nicely phrased - BZ MPN11!

Jack

[Union Jack]

Also remembering today the Forgotten Navy of the Forgotten Army http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/slimsnavy.htm

Jack

[Chugalug2]

Thank you MPN11 and Geriaviator for reminding us that Danny 42C brought the Forgotten War to life here on the WWII Pilot Brevet thread. In doing so he ensured that neither he nor the Burma Campaign will be forgotten on this forum. A remarkable man from a remarkable generation (sorry Dennis, I know how much you blanched at such a description, but the proof was in the pudding).

[Uplinker]

I was working for the BBC yesterday at the National Memorial Arboretum VJ day 75th Anniversary. I stood with all the others present for the two minute's silence. Fascinating to see uniformed representatives of all the Eastern campaigns.

Could I thank the pilots of the Lancaster/Hurricane/Spitfire fly-past. Absolutely glorious. Flying right overhead at about 500' and brought tears to my eyes, as the sound of Merlin engines in flight always do, because of what they achieved for us. Thank you guys :ok:

[XV490]

When I was a boy, my father told me his first-ever flight was in a Dakota while he was with the 14th Army, but he didn't explain the circumstances. Only by going through his army papers have I been able to surmise the reason for the flight.

In March 1944 while serving in the artillery with 23 Indian Division at Shenam near Imphal, he contracted typhus and was hospitalised in, from what I can gather, Calcutta, several hundred miles south-west – where he remained for two weeks. With a high fever, I doubt he remembered the RAF evacuation flight out of the line, but probably the return trip to Imphal (or Palel airfield) in April.

Like so many he rarely talked about his two-plus years in the Imphal/Shenam region, but surprised us one year with the story of how he'd been placed in the 'not expected to survive the night' room in the hospital.

Needless to say he pulled through; the others in the room did not. Then it was back by Dakota to the mountains of the 'Shenam Saddle' in time for the big scraps with the Japanese, who were intent on surrounding Imphal.

Many lives were saved by the RAF Dakota units based at Imphal, not just with casevacs but also with supply drops over the jungles.

[Mogwi]

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1540x2000/ivor_crash_b79beb9439e8fa2af89649a417da2bc6e45042ad.jpg

Mog senior "arrives" on Indefatigable after attack on Palembang. Donk stopped on short finals due to Jap bullet in the glycol tank from the flying boat that he had just shot down.

Note the disembodied port wheel and prop blades heading over the side!

Mog

[SLXOwft]

So taking hits is a family habit? :eek:

Impressive that he got it on deck and then he could walk away from that, I assume he couldn't or chose not to lower his hook? I have always thought Seafire pilots had to be bloody brave to fly one never mind fight it.

Strikes me 894 NAS's war service would have made a great book.

[Archimedes]

So taking hits is a family habit? :eek:

Impressive that he got it on deck and then he could walk away from that, I assume he couldn't or chose not to lower his hook? I have always thought Seafire pilots had to be bloody brave to fly one never mind fight it.

Strikes me 894 NAS's war service would have made a great book.

Tongue in cheek question - are there any photographs of Seafires landing on which don’t show them turning themselves into a large jigsaw puzzle?

The Seafire pilots seem to have accepted the inadequacies of the type as a deck landing aircraft with a degree of equanimity; the relative lack of coverage of the FAA’s efforts in the Far East is as surprising as the failure to cover the work of the RAF ‘over there’.

[WB627]

ancientaviator62,

I don't know the provenance of this source, but it was certainly my understanding that the POWs were to be killed if allied forces landed on the main islands of Japan.
Taiwan Documents - Order to flee, Order to kill all POWs (http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/Formosa/taiwandocs.html)

I understand both sides of the argument and, as horrible as the use of the atom bomb was, I believe less people (Japanese included) died as a result than would have been the case had conventional weapons been used.

And please, everyone, don't attack me because I expressed that view. I am no supporter of nuclear weapons (quite the reverse), but perhaps they did end WW2 with less slaughter and perhaps they also saved us from WW3.

Frankly, I am grateful for the dropping of the atom bombs, horrible as the effects on those nearby were. I also understand that it saved many lives, both allied and Japanese. The Japanese could have surrendered after the first bomb, the writing was on the wall, and saved those who died at Nagasaki.

My father had not long been awarded his wings and would no doubt have been posted to the pacific, if the war had continued for much longer. My father in law, was on embarkation leave from 619 squadron, prior to departure to the far east. He married my mother in law on August 6th, only to be immediately recalled and miss his honeymoon.

I suspect that there was a good chance that neither would have survived, if we had to fight the Japanese to their last man standing.

My wife's uncle had just turned 19 when he was killed in Burma. Although he was from Anglesey, he was a Private in the Devonshire regiment and having no known grave, is remembered on the Rangoon Memorial and Exeter Cathederal.

[Nugget90]

RAF Squadrons in India and Burma

SLXOwft listed many squadron numbers but this list contained neither Nor 117 nor 215 Squadrons, both of which were actively engaged in operations in that theatre. I know this as my late father flew for both units during the Burma campaign, and for the interest of my family I have researched this carefully. Some of the details are as follows:

In 1940 my father flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain from RAF Hullavington in defence of the aerodrome. Then in 1941 he transferred to RAF Marham where he flew 24 operational sorties over France and Germany in Wellington 1Cs, on one occasion crash landing at night near Cromer after the fuel ran out. (He had instructed the crew to bale out, which they did successfully, but 'somebody nicked my parachute' so he had no option but to stay with the aircraft.) In 1942 he was posted to Air Headquarters India arriving in Delhi in July and remaining there until October when he was posted to HQ 227 Group at Bombay. In January 1944 he was again posted, this time to No 215 Squadron at Jessore after converting onto Wellington 10s where he became their 'B' Flight Commander. At this point he and others were permitted to wear the ribbon of the 1939 - 43 Star (later to become the 1939 - 45 Star). In May 1944 all but two crews were detached to support No 117 Squadron at Sylhet to fly C47 Dakotas on Army supply missions: in three weeks he flew 20 sorties each of which lasted up to five and a half hours, and frequently encountered low cloud. On the 14th of June he flew a Dakota back to Jessore with 29 crew members on board!

In July 1944 No 215 Squadron converted to Liberators and moved to Digri. My father, now promoted to Acting Wing Commander and commanding the Squadron recorded that it contained aircrew from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, eight from Canada, six each from New Zealand and South Africa, one from the USA, one from Brazil and one from Fiji - and the Equipment officer was from India. Feeling somewhat outnumbered by their colleagues from other lands, the English made up and wore their own shoulder flashes bearing the word ENGLAND! Typical targets were Prone, Anisakan (Mandalay), Kalewa, Vinn, Korat and Pyinama, but on the 10th of December they attacked the railway station at Kanchanaburi, which as I am sure many will know is the 'real' Bridge over the River Kwai. I have unearthed a statement from a POW who was lying in a ditch as the attack took place and commented just how much this lifted their morale believing, incorrectly, that the aircraft must have come from Rangoon (which was relatively close) meaning that the allies were advancing quickly. In fact 2,500 miles would have been a more accurate measurement. Anyhow the flak was heavy at 500ft, as my father recorded in his pilots flying log book, but the bridge was damaged by those bombs that struck it. Later in the month the crews re-converted onto C47s to join the newly established Combat Cargo Task Force, at which point my father was released to fly back home having completed 40 operational sorties and accrued 242 hours in so doing. The journey home took just three days! By now additional Stars had been awarded: Burma, Pacific and Aircrew Europe.

And on that point, little mention was made in last night's otherwise excellent programme of the Pacific Star that I noticed several veterans were wearing, for this too was part of South East Asia where the fighting continued until at least the Japanese surrendered. My father had qualified for this Star, too, as the Squadron had flown over French Indo-China (as it was then) but could wear only the Burma Star plus a Clasp bearing the word 'PACIFIC'. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership on operations, of which he was justly proud.

One final word. Like others here, I knew that some of my friends had lost their fathers in the course of the South East Asia campaign, and if they read this they should know that they were in my thoughts last night. Overcoming a rapacious enemy was a joint effort for which a heavy price affecting very many families had to be paid, but for as long as we continue to remember those who sacrificed their lives or suffered terrible lasting injuries on our behalf I am sure we will do all we can to prevent this ever occurring again. "Lest we forget."

[WHBM]

Many lives were saved by the RAF Dakota units based at Imphal, not just with casevacs but also with supply drops over the jungles.
This is just what Mr WHBM Senior (see above) was doing with their Dakotas. Never heard about medevac, they principally did missions for the ground forces, apart from all sorts of other transport jobs. They went out (and back) by sea from Glasgow to Bombay, then by rail to the far east of India in Assam, where they picked up the aircraft. The most notable missions were food resupply to the army below, who were principally Indian enlisted men with British officers. Aircraft came in low at about 2,000 feet, circled the jungle clearing drop zone, no airstrip, all those below just stood clear. Supplies, principally rice, loaded loosely in bags, about 1 ton per bag. Open the door, put the aircraft in a tight bank, several (Indian) aircraftsmen at the back start booting the first bag over the door lip, slowly and slowly out it goes ... WHAM ! . Suddenly gone. No parachute, hence the very loose loading of the bags. Keep going round for the next one. The men at the back were entirely unrestrained, working close to the open door in the banked aircraft. Occasionally the bags burst on landing, not seen as too much of an issue, because, to make a first person quote "Well ... it was going to be boiled anyway, they just scooped it up".

[SLXOwft]

Nugget90 - just for clarity my list was of UK squadrons that are currently active , in one form or another, which have relevant battle honours plus 202 which had a Catalina in Ceylon when a fleet the IJN including five Aircrat Carriers and four Battleships attacked on Easter Suinday 1942. As my father served on a ship that was based in Trincomalee I have a particular interest in WW2 events in Ceylon (Sri Lanka as it now is). Of this raid Churchill said "The most dangerous moment of the War, and the one which caused me the greatest alarm, was when the Japanese Fleet was heading for Ceylon and the naval base there. The capture of Ceylon, the consequent control of the Indian Ocean, and the possibility at the same time of a German conquest of Egypt would have closed the ring and the future would have been black."

On that subject I must mention the late Air Commodore Leonard Joseph Birchall, CM, OBE, DFC, OOnt, CD "The Saviour of Ceylon", who two days after arriving from Sullom Voe was on patrol in his Catalina of 413 Squadron RCAF and sighted the Japanese fleet; his crew managed to get off a warning signal while under attack from c.12 Zeros, he and other survivors were repeatedly beaten as the Japs tried to establish if a signal had been sent. The signal enabled necessary actions to be taken.

No 11 Sqn and the fairly recently disbanded 30 Sqn were among those involved in the defence.

I am aware many other squadrons served in theatre but they are no longer active. From an RN perspective there are some with farly recent existance such as 800, 801 and 848 NASs.

Addition: I have always thought the Burma Star (and Pacific Clasp) or Pacific Star (and Burma Clasp) - was a bit rough - mind you given how long the Artic Star took to arrive may be not. For those who don't know those eligilble for both only got the first earned plus the clasp for the other. HMG seems less mean these days; I am sure many of us remember serving with men with multiple clasps on the GSM as the only visible recognition of their active service.

[Brian 48nav]

Geriaviator,

Many thanks for including me in the tribute to our dear departed Danny.

In my short RAF career 65-73 I must have come into contact with or even flown with veterans of the war in the Far East - but if I did they never spoke about it! I only found out about the fact that 'Jolly' Jack Huntington ( who was on 30 at Fairford with Chugalug2 and me ) had flown Vengeances in the Far East from the book 'Flat Out', the history of 30 Squadron.

In those far-off days there was still loads of WW2 veterans at both Nav' Schools and on Hercs - in fact on 48 we had a former BofB Hurricane pilot - again very few of then ever spoke of their war service.

[dc8l382]

[QUOTE=WB627;10862465]Frankly, I am grateful for the dropping of the atom bombs, horrible as the effects on those nearby were. I also understand that it saved many lives, both allied and Japanese. The Japanese could have surrendered after the first bomb, the writing was on the wall, and saved those who died at Nagasaki.

I concur. My Dad was on Tinian preparing for the land 'invasion'.

[layman]

re Seafires landing successfully

Commander Mike Crossley wrote "They Gave Me a Seafire" e.g. https://www.bookdepository.com/They-Gave-Me-Seafire-Commander-R-Mike-Crosley/9781473821910

He was leading a combined 801 & 880 squadron on the HMS Implacable in the BPF at war's end.

A while since I read it but I seem to recall by the tine they were attacking Japan itself, the later model Seafires, altered landing procedures, and different ground attack tactics, enabled quite low loss and damage rates

[Geriaviator]

Thanks for the reference, They Gave Me a Seafire is a brilliant book which is available on Kindle. Cdr Crossley explains the Seafire saga which began with a strengthened Spitfire and arrester hook which accentuated that wonderful aircraft's CG problems. Measures to cope with these problems included an elevator bobweight which produced even more difficulties, all combining to claim the lives of several of his comrades. Too long to cover in the depth it deserves but those interested will find it fascinating. Operating such beasts on land would have worried me, but anyone who lands anything on a carrier has my fullest admiration, all honours to the Fleet Air Arm!

[Tankertrashnav]

Addition: I have always thought the Burma Star (and Pacific Clasp) or Pacific Star (and Burma Clasp) - was a bit rough - mind you given how long the Artic Star took to arrive may be not. For those who don't know those eligilble for both only got the first earned plus the clasp for the other. HMG seems less mean these days; I am sure many of us remember serving with men with multiple clasps on the GSM as the only visible recognition of their active service.

Also clasps "Air Crew Europe" or "France and Germany" on the Atlantic Star (but not both). I don't think it was a matter of parsimony, more a way of avoiding over long medal groups. As things stood it was still possible to be awarded five stars out of the eight issued (six, now that the Arctic Star has been instituted). One well known recipient of a "five star" group was Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, RN, whose group contains the Burma Star with Pacific clasp referred to by SLXOwft.

[Mogwi]

So taking hits is a family habit? :eek:

Impressive that he got it on deck and then he could walk away from that, I assume he couldn't or chose not to lower his hook? I have always thought Seafire pilots had to be bloody brave to fly one never mind fight it.

Strikes me 894 NAS's war service would have made a great book.


I believe that his hook was down but was taken off by the round down, leaving a dent that was still there when she was eventually scrapped. The final 1st Lt (Lt Cdr Sir Keneth Craddock-Hartopp DSC BT RN - He of Yeovilton gin pennant fame) said years later that it was impossible to get the rust out of the crease to repaint it! The Captain of Indefat remarked to Mog senior that he had now destroyed 5 aircraft, 2 of which were hostile!

Mog

[Bengo]

I believe that his hook was down but was taken off by the round down, leaving a dent that was still there when she was eventually scrapped. The final 1st Lt (Lt Cdr Sir Keneth Craddock-Hartopp DSC BT RN - He of Yeovilton gin pennant fame) said years later that it was impossible to get the rust out of the crease to repaint it! The Captain of Indefat remarked to Mog senior that he had now destroyed 5 aircraft, 2 of which were hostile!

Mog

Cue the A25 song.

N

[Old-Duffer]

A25!

They say in the air force a landing's OK
If the pilot can't fly but still walk away
But in the fleet air arm, the outlooks pretty grim
If the landings a prang and the pilot can't swim.

and so it goes on for a variable number of verses!

Old Duffer

[esa-aardvark]

I was born in 1942. By then my father had left for Canada, then USA, then India, Then Burma.
At wars end back to India to stay until independence day. So I was 5 years old when I met him.
He did have the Burma Star.