Hi CF, I only recently emerged from the other side of such joy, just got to get the last one through University now.
My rather poor contribution to this thread in terms of images: Not sure where the first image came from now?? Second one is from 2008 when I visited the area, please ignore the fellows in the foreground.
A healthy disposable income is a thing of the past but you have to buy these things when they turn up as you are unlikely to see them offered for sale again.
A superb piece of footage. I particularly liked the opening of the gate to let road traffic through, we should think about reintroducing a similar system on the Dartford Bridge.
I think the rifles in the film are probably P14 Enfields. They must have had some in Burma; I have seen reports of their use by BTA forces, or possibly ADF.
My father ( Alex Naismith) was with 261 Sqd, his log book entry for Dec 17 1944 reads, " Thunderbolt - F. Bomb strafe Sagaing, Very accurate heavy flak but pressed on regardless! Hits on bridge pier.
It has been a year since I uploaded that image and I have quite forgotten where on the Internet I found it. Apologies if I misappropriated it from a site of yours or anything like that.
No not at all I have just joined this site and from my research my father was not the first or the last to undertake an alteration to this bridge. This is a magic site. Wish I had found it b4
I have finally got around to downloading the Squadron Operations Record Book for the series of photographs in this thread. From AIR 27/2202. 681 (P.R.) Squadron 24/1/1945. Aircraft type and No.:Spitfire "Y" P.L.907. Crew: F/Lt. Merrow. J.D. Aus.411634. R.A.A.F. Duty: Photo Recce. Time up: Alipore 07.40 Time down: Kalemyo 09.06. Time up: Kalemyo 10.50 Time down: Kalemyo 13.20. Time up: Kalemyo 14.50 Time down: Alipore 16.20. Remarks: Operations: P.R. of Special Areas near MEIKTILA and SAGAING: Town ANISAKAN. After refuelling at Kalemyo set course for Meiktila at 10.50 hours. Arrived over Special Area and commenced photography at 11.35 hours from 30,000' covering Special Area with 2 runs on 236 degrees, 056 degrees and 236 degrees. At 12.10 hours reduced height on nearing ANISAKAN to cover the town with one run on 210 degrees from 23,500'. Set course for SAGAING climbing to 30,000' and covered Special Area with six runs, running out of film on the last run. At 12.40 set course for Kalemyo. No opposition Visual. Large fire with smoke rising to 2000' about one mile North of Myotha.
If they are part of a story that's important to you, price doesn't come in to it (within reason). And if you share them and someone else sees or knows something you didn't and tells you, that's priceless.
I don't know how long you've been interested in this current obsession of yours, although I do note that you have been a member of this forum for nearly a whole month already. I've been doing this for well over thirty years - and that includes buying 'priceless' items on ebay. I had thought that might have given me some insight on what is overpriced and what isn't. Clearly I was wrong. Spraying money around on these items just raises the price for everyone. My ebay experience - for what it is worth - is that if no one bids on an overpriced item it is usually re-listed at a more reasonable price. If I had taken your priceless advice, above, I would surely be homeless by now.
Spraying money around? Overpriced? Re-listed at a more reasonable price? Twenty 9" x 7.5" aerial photographs and an original 1:25,000 map of Sadaung Road at a cost of £3.33 pence each excluding postage. How much more reasonably priced do you want it? The I.W.M. or the R.A.F. Museum don't have these photographs but would charge a lot more for a same sized copy if they had. Sadly, there isn't a price for everyone, this was a one off set of photographs that had been together for 75 years, and which was almost certainly kept as a souvenir by a member of 681 Squadron. As it is, they have been kept together as a collection and shared with fellow enthusiasts. You have access to them and it hasn't cost you a penny. If that ruffles your feathers to the point that you have to make an unwarranted attack on someone who posts a casual comment about them, I can always remove them. Please do not discourage new members from posting on my threads.
I wasn't making an unwarranted attack on you. If I remember correctly - it was several years ago - I was trying to explain why you were the only bidder on the ebay lot in question. It is your money; do what you want with it, but be aware that it does have a knock-on effect. I may have discouraged a new member from making thoughtless - sorry, casual - comments on a resurrected thread post from some years ago. Sorry. I am guilty of having expressed an opinion in YOUR thread. Sorry.
