Can you help please ? My dad was an RAF Photographer in Burma with 273 Squadron 1944 /1945. He had his own Caravan to process film from the Spitfires . 273 moved from Chittagong south as the war progressed. Does anyone know what everyday life have been for him and the other servicemen on the airfields. He was injured I know when the Japanese staged a raid. Many Thanks.
There isn't to much on the net about this squadron Finally, in July 1944 the squadron was relived of its defensive role and moved to the Burma front to begin ground attacks and escort missions. In February 1945 bombs began to be carried in attacks on Japanese communications targets until the end of the war, when the squadron moved to Bangkok and two weeks later to French Indo-China, where it disbanded at Saigon on 31 January 1946. RAF - 273 Squadron I shall quote from a moving letter that I received from John Taylor MC, from Dorset, who had read of the efforts of 273 Squadron to obtain recognition. He wrote a letter to the editor of The Times and spoke about the involvement of the squadron in his activities when he was attached to the 5th Indian division near Rangoon. He talked about the Gurkhas being cut off on the banks of the Sittang river and about 273 Squadron coming on to the scene. He stated: First, they bombed a machine gun post occupied by the Japs, which fired straight down the railway line for the Jap railway. Armed with 5001b bombs they dived in sequence, in spite of Jap efforts to discourage them. Finally, a lucky strike got a bomb to enter the post via an opening. Watching, I saw the roof lift about a foot. After that, the machine gun was silent"— adding, in a masterpiece of understatement— and crossing the line from one side of our perimeter to the other became much easier. Secondly, two nights later, the Japs had succeeded in getting 150 men and 75mm guns into caves on the cliff of the Sittang River … I counted 142 shells which landed in our area within half an hour. I took bearings of the gun flashes". The information was then passed on to 273 Squadron. He continued: it was later reported that three or more of the guns had been knocked out by bombs. He concluded: For these two actions 273 Squadron have surely earned the right to be treated in exactly the same way as all other Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, who were so helpful to us on the ground. With respect, Mr. Taylor is in a far better position to judge the true contribution of 273 Squadron than any civil servant in Whitehall. The men of 273 Squadron risked their lives flying Spitfires in the heat of battle, alongside the forgotten army. Many paid the supreme sacrifice, and now—50 years later—there are only 90 survivors. They seek the recognition that they and their fallen comrades so richly deserve. 273 Squadron (Badge) (Hansard, 12 June 1996) The best-known fight was that of Miss Jane Pelling and the 273 Squadron Association, whose members tried for nearly 30 years to have a badge awarded to the Squadron. There was no doubt over 273 Sqn's record in battle. It played a leading role in the RAF effort to help turn the Japanese out of Burma, later described by Earl Mountbatten as one of "the greatest achievements I know of in any theatre of War". Flying from airstrips hacked out of the jungle, the Mk8 Spitfires of 273 Sqn strafed and bombed Japanese positions with the loss of 14 pilots. Miss Pelling's brother Ian was invalided out of the Service with spinal meningitis and sandfly fever. RAF Heraldry Trust, An update to the Trust Activities, August 1998 As it mostly operated over Arakan you can try with this book Spitfires Over the Arakan: Amazon.co.uk: Norman L.R. Franks: Books
Little from Spitfire Aces of Burma and the Pacific The JAAF's sleek 'Dinahs' were also active over Bengal too, and during the early afternoon of 2 October Flt Lt L S Laughton and Flg Off E P Bruce of No 273 Sqn were scrambled after a bogey to the west of Chittagong. Within minutes of taking off Bruce sighted the Ki-46 above him and to starboard. As the Spitfires approached the intruder, it turned away and dived to low level. The chasing pilots gradually closed the range and identified it as 'Dinah'. Closing from the right, they saw their combined fire hit its starboard wing. The Ki-46 then pulled up to about 200 ft, and as it climbed Laughton came in from astern and opened fire once again. As he broke away, large pieces fell off the Japanese aircraft, which then blew up. 'Needless to say, there were terrific parties in all the squadron messes in the evening to celebrate the squadron's first kill', recalled unit record. .............. The same day further south, 273 Sqn's Spitfires were scrambled from Cox Bazaar when JAAF sweep was detected approaching the Japanese stronghold of Akyab. In the subsequent 'bounce' WO I H S Pelling and Plt Off F W Collard each damaged an 'Oscar', although WO G R Bullion was shot down during the course of battle. The Ki-43s had been trying to attack elements of XV Corps, which, spearheaded by 25th Indian and 81st West African Divisions, began to advance down the pestilential Kaladan and Kalapazin valleys the very next day.
Maybe you can try to find more in TNA AIR 27/1582 - No 273 Squadron: Operations Record Book - 1944 Jan.- Dec. AIR 27/1583 - No 273 Squadron: Operations Record Book - 1945 Jan.- Dec.
The Allied Air Commander in Chief, Air Command South East Asia, Air Marshal Sir Guy Garrod, chats with Squadron Leader Robert Hayes, Commanding Officer of No. 273 Squadron RAF by a Supermarine Spitfire Mark VIII at Cox's Bazaar, India. And if you ever find yourself in the IWM this film cold be interesting for you RAMREE ISLAND AIRSTRIP (25/1/1945) | colonialfilm
Thanks Sol, some things to follow up on here . Its a shame they are still not allowed to have their own badge after what they endured.
Sol, It is the same way for the US Army Air Corp/Forces in the Pacific. There wasn't even an Eighth Air Corp on December 7, 1941 when all the US Air Corp units were attacked in the Pacific. However 99.9 % of the US Air Corp/Force Internet sites are for the Eighth Air Force and next to nothing is known or mentioned concerning the Units that fought in the Pacific Theater.
Little from Spitfire Aces of Burma and the Pacific L. S. Laughton is my godfather and happily still with us.
Hi everyone, This might be of interest to some of you. My brother Philip in the UK (an ex-Lt Col with the Army Air Corps) and myself, a humanitarian/development practitioner currently living in Australia (see www.torqaid.com ) are in the process of writing a story of 273 Squadron RAF, which flew spitfire Mk VIIIs in India/Burma during the latter part of WWII. Our dad (Geoffrey ‘Pip’ Piper) was a pilot with this squadron, and we have his log-book which covers this period (May 1944-July 1945). I have summarised this in the following link: ‘Pip’ Piper in Burma, 273 Sqn RAF, 1944-45 http://www.torqaid.com/images/stories/spitfiresoverburma.pdf As we progress on this initiative, I’m happy to share this with you on this site. Interestingly this squadron (which was later moved to Siam and French indo-China) was converted on to Spitfire Mk XIVs in Nov 1945. It was then disbanded at the end of Jan 1946. Obviously if any of you come across information relating to 273 squadron (and we are researching various avenues) please feel free to share this with Phil or myself (Phil’s email details are included at the end of the linked article). If that could include ' johnsonsyard',the person who's dad was the RAF photographer, that would be terrific.. Cheers and best wishes Chris Piper
I have my Dad's log book and several albums of photos of the squadron in Burma and in Saigon where he met my mother. He was F/O GS Gellatly I would be happy to share this info with with other relatives of 273 crew. I attended the Squadron reunion with my mother in 2000 at Winchester. She has just had her 90th birthday
Hi (F/O GS Gellatly) son/daughter, I'm currently writing a book (together with my brother Philip), based in the UK. on 273 squadron. We're using (1), My dad's logbook (he flew with the squadron in India/Burma from May '44 - end July '45 (2) The Operations records Books (ORBs) from throughout this period (3) and, most amazingly of all, an 89-page 'unofficial diary' written by squadron members over the period 1 Nov 1944 thru' to 20 Aug 1945. Your dad had an epic escape where he ditched in the River Sittang on the 28 May 1945, and then was picked up in his dingy 15 miles away, having being swept downstream, by members of the squadron. It was my dad who actually first saw dad in the water...!! Please feel free to contact me on pipercm@iprimus.com.au...i actually now live near Melbourne, Australia, but am on a 6 months government contract in Tonga... cheers Chris Piper
Regarding the post from Sol above. My father was Flt/Lt Frank McWatt and he flew Spitfire VIII's in 273 Squadron. Among other entries for July 1945, his log book for shows that they bombed Sittang village on 8 July. On 12 July on Sittang River they got a direct hit on a Jap machine gun position. On 27 July they bombed and straffed gun positions on the Sittang river.
My father was a pilot in 273 Squadron. This is a picture of them taken in Mingaladon Rangoon Burma in 1945. Your father may have taken the photo! My father is in the front row beside the left arm of the man in the white shirt. I do have the names of the others in the picture of anyone is interested.
My father was a pilot in 273 squadron. I do not have any pictures of him and would dearly love to see a picture of his squadron. His surname is Oliver. Thank you
Hi Susan, Do you have an Oliver in the names on back go your photo?I am printing the plane photo and have enlarged it... fairly sure have spotted my dear dad but would like to check that it is him?
