Where was this photo taken?

[India Four Two]

While looking for information on the Brisfit mentioned here:

https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/636073-world-owes-me-living-1945-film.html

I stumbled on this remarkable site for anyone looking up information on old aircraft:

Golden Years home (http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/home.html)

I was intrigued by the photo on the home page. European aircraft but some unusual military uniforms. The sailors’ uniforms look American:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1298x588/0cb0da93_4d4f_4edf_a613_9163ca69e0ac_8a614e3c645c4ad44d9a9db 696bb96d6c8b84e13.jpeg

Does anyone know the location and occasion on which this photo was taken?

[treadigraph]

VQ-P = Palestine perchance? Edit: yep so Jerusalem?

[GeeRam]

Maybe the old coastal airport at Tel-Aviv......which could explain the sailors?

[Allan Lupton]

Looking for the Atalanta I found the photo described as "GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE 1ST JEWISH PILOTS OF THE KATZ (PALESTINE FLYING SERVICE) FLYING SCHOOL AT LOD AIRPORT."
Date stated as 21 April 1939

[DaveReidUK]

Interesting - the Fokker in the background was reportedly written off in January 1939.

[India Four Two]

I've found another picture taken at the same time plus some other HP42 photos in Palestine.

https://www.flickriver.com/photos/39411748@N06/tags/imperialairwayshandleypagehp42/