On the back of this photo it says 20 Squadron India. My Dad had an idea that it was taken at RAF Kalyan, near Bombay. If so, it's 1943. The squadron had come back from the Burma campaign to train on Hurricane Mark IID's equipped with 40mm cannons. They returned to the Burma campaign at the end of 1943. I've enlarged a section of it to show my Dad, Tom Stewart, who's at the centre of the bottom row, to the right of the cannon. On the back of this photo it says Norry McGarvie and Joe Rintoul, Northern India 1944. Thanks to Ross, I now know that two of the men in 20 Squadron were: 1366390 L.A.C. Rintoul, F.M.A 1072568 L.A.C. McGarvie, C.S. & M.W. I think I can see two of the men in this rather tattered photo in the first photo with the Hurricane. Second from the right in the top row above looks to me like this chap in the Hurricane photo: Bottom right could be this chap: I hope these photos help someone with their family research. Comments and observations very welcome.
I enlarged the propellor section - it looks like it's LB793, a Hurricane Mark IIC A quick Google search turned these up: January 22 1944: 113 Sqn. Hurricane LB793 "S" was one of a flight of three that were lost in Burma after running into cloudy weather, and running out of fuel landed on an airfield which had been just captured by Japanese, F/O J.A. Illman, F/O A.L. Herbert RAF were taken prisoner, F/S H. Clement RAF evaded (N.L.R. Franks). F/O Illman and F/O Herbert were killed the same day and have no known grave. F/S Clement took 2 weeks to walk back, avoiding Japanese patrols. The captured aircraft were destroyed by Hurricane strafers the next day (C. Shores). https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca/canadaairwar/canadaairwar1944.pdf Flying Officers Illman and Herbert and Flight Sergeant Clement became separated in low cloud and rain from the leading aircraft on the way back and lost themselves. When they were very short of fuel they saw an airstrip and thinking that it was one of ours, landed there. Unfortunately the airstrip - Tamu - was held by the Japanese. Illman and Herbert went off to seek assistance, leaving Clement to look after the aircraft. Soon after they left, Clement heard shots and guessed that they must have been fired on by the Japanese. He promptly hid in a nearby monsoon drain and his quick thinking almost certainly saved his life, since a Japanese party arrived at the aircraft shortly afterwards and began to search for the third pilot. Clement had to stay hidden until a flight of Hurricanes appeared and strafed the three aircraft on the ground, so that they could not be used by the Japanese. He then made his escape and spent the next two weeks walking back to the Imphal Valley. Not only did this involve the usual problem of survival in very difficult jungle terrain, but also evading the Japanese patrols which were searching for him day and night. He finally walked into Palel, on 7th April - a first class effort, 113 Sqn lost 1944-03-22 Hurricane II LB793 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database] Edit: 10 November 2022 - Just a note to say that I'm assuming the propeller was taken from a Mark 2C Hurricane for use on the Mark 2D in the photo. The 40mm cannons characterise it as Mark 2D.
"Thanks to Ross, I now know that two of the men in 20 Squadron were: 1366390 L.A.C. Rintoul, F.M.A 1072568 L.A.C. McGarvie, C.S. & M.W." 1366390 George Chambers Rintoul & 1072568 Henry Allison McGarvie.
Thanks High Wood. Did you find the names in the Appendix to 20 Squadron's Operational Record or another source?
As usual for that pay website - the source info is free down load public domain elsewhere Search results: air AND 78 | The National Archives Ross
Agreed, but if you don't log in you can still check a service number against a name as they have transcibed AIR/78.
Thanks for sharing Son of LAC I have a few 20 Sqn album links to share if its of interest RAFCommands Website RAFCommands Website RAFCommands Website
LIkely the earlier accident at Dum Dum given in this page Hurricane II LB793 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database] my have resulted in removal of the prop or prop blade..
Thanks Jagan, I'd found these photos already when I was doing searches. It was good to be able to put faces to some names, like the New Zealander Sandy McPhail (J.D. McPhail) who my dad mentioned had "pranged at Imphal" and injured his collar bone and ended up in hospital at the same time as him.
for more details of RNZAF you come across Errol Martyn series of books if RNZAF casualty for extensive bios Tomorrow Record New Zealanders by Errol Martyn - AbeBooks Colin Hanson - sadly passed away now - if the RNZAF person had an award, again extensive bio https://natlib.govt.nz/records/30808894?search[creator]=Hanson,+C.M.&search[subject_text]=Graham,+Peter&search[path]=items Ross
