Just a point of clarification in the map I posted as part of Message #3: The map does show West Island and its airstrip in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, but it also shows a separate insert of Burgh Castle and Belton, just a couple of miles SW of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK. Possibly the RAF Liberator veteran who drew the map came from that part of Norfolk. That's all...just wanted to make this clear, as it threw me when I finally took a good look at the map. Both the West Island and the Burgh Castle/Belton sketchmaps are easily matched to Google maps and imagery. Cheers, Matt
Just a point of clarification in the map I posted as part of Message #3: The map does show West Island and its airstrip in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, but it also shows a separate insert of Burgh Castle and Belton, just a couple of miles SW of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK. Possibly the RAF Liberator veteran who drew the map came from that part of Norfolk. That's all...just wanted to make this clear, as it threw me when I finally took a good look at the map. Both the West Island and the Burgh Castle/Belton sketchmaps are easily matched to Google maps and imagery. Cheers, Matt Seems in post #3 you knew it was the Cocos (Keeling) Islands all the time!
Thanks for the information Guys. Wondering how the marine telephone cable signal was amplified on the Island, did it involve generators? Still at a loss why the ASM was there for Four years.
i typed cocos keeling into google as im trying to locate any pictures of servicemen from the keeling islands who were involved with operation pharos in the hope of perhaps finding one with my grandad on it. his name is daniel conway and he served on the islands as an engineer. he tells me that him and his colleagues were there 2 build airstrips from interlocking steel plates and maintane them throughout the operation. the targets were, according to him, mainly java and sumatra. he was there for over a year.
Hi All, Just seen this on Ebay, it's RAF but it mentions the Cocos Islands and may have something for someone within the info or photos? Steve. ORIGINAL WW2 RAF PHOTO ALBUM & RAF PILOTS LOG BOOK on eBay (end time 03-Feb-11 23:13:03 GMT)
My father was with the 1603rd Ordnance in India. He was sent to the Cocos in July 1945 to assist the British with their ordnance. The US Air Corps had a bomb dump on West island. He was there when the bombing of Japan occured. He wrote much about the appearance of the islands and of his life while there.
He wrote much about the appearance of the islands and of his life while there. Post away if possible.