I'm seeking to identify a Canadian Paratroop Officer shown with war correspondents and others in a couple of photos on the Australian Archives. There are mentions of such an officer in the book "Blossoming Silk Against the Rising Sun" and HyperWar's "The Approach to the Phillippines" where he is described as an observer and advisor to General Edwin D. Patrick on the suitability of the runway at Kamiri Airfield as a DZ. Links to Australian Archive photos: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/017420/ http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/017421/ A clearer photo from the State Library of Victoria: I thought I would try here first before going elsewhere for assistance. Regards ...
Major R. F. Routh It turns out the Canadian Paratroop Officer is Major R. F. Routh. After the the death of Major Hilton D. Proctor in a jump accident Major Routh became Acting Commanding Officer of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion from July 1942 to August 1943. He was later made Commanding Officer of the Canadian Parachute Training Centre at Camp Shilo Manitoba. During his tour of of SWPA and SEAC he visited parachute training facilities in Australia and India. He was also present at the invasion of Noemfoor Island and was later wounded in Burma. During the Noemfoor Invasion Major Routh's advice that the incoming troop carriers approach the Kamiri runway in single file formation was not heeded resulting in many parachutists landing wide amongst equipment and on rough ground. Also a number of planes released their men at low altitude as can be seen at the 1:28 mark of this YouTube video resulting in a high casualty rate on the July 3rd drop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9oLTXjrPSE The July 4th drop went smoother for next battalion of the 503rd PRCT, however, casualty rates were still high as a result of landing on the hard coral runway which had been hurriedly rolled, graded and compacted to prepare for aircraft use. To avoid further injury the last battalion's jump was cancelled and they were brought to Noemfoor by sea. Regards ...
Hello, To complete the story I contacted author Ken Joyce who specializes in the history of the Canadian Airborne Forces. Ken searched the Canadian Archives and was able to discover Major Randolph F. Routh's report of his wartime liaison tour of SWPA and SEAC areas of operations. He assembled a PDF of the report which can be downloaded from here: https://nebula.wsimg.com/2f8804063faef013b38f88bf58c22acf?AccessKeyId=BC21553F553BBD27F066&disposition=0&alloworigin=1 Many thanks to Ken Joyce for bringing it all together! Regards ...
