What is this photo? Africa or Italy??

Discussion in 'General' started by Optymystic, Mar 16, 2011.

  1. Optymystic

    Optymystic Optymystic

    I assume its in North Africa. I found it in my father's stuff. Would that be coptic church with the cross on the roof?

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/%3Ctable%20style=%22width:auto;%22%3E%3Ctr%3E%3Ctd%3E%3Ca%20href=%22https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DETHFN5Z2EWWijpRdD33whv26e2GzflPsfUgR8gUy5I?feat=embedwebsite%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_vylQVqmm2l4/SKctSS5WvxI/AAAAAAAAAnY/Ed6VRjfzAm4/s144/Bailey%20Bridge%20and%20.jpg%22%20height=%22104%22%20width=%22144%22%20/%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/td%3E%3C/tr%3E%3Ctr%3E%3Ctd%20style=%22font-family:arial,sans-serif;%20font-size:11px;%20text-align:right%22%3EFrom%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://picasaweb.google.com/horsfield.steve/AlanHorsfieldSenior?authkey=Gv1sRgCJSq74Dw4ue5pgE&feat=embedwebsite%22%3EAlan%20Horsfield%20Senior%3C/a%3E%3C/td%3E%3C/tr%3E%3C/table%3E

    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sbC5IoAn28sIwHomPdakPxv26e2GzflPsfUgR8gUy5I?feat=directlink
     
  2. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    I see... a group of vehicles and mountains in background, but no cross? mind you my eyes ain't what they were
    Could be Tunisia? Any Idea what unit your Father was with?
     
  3. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    The church is so well camouflaged that I too cannot see it.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  4. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    Hi :) the picture I see has Venafro under it...isn't that in Italy?
     
  5. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Hi :) the picture I see has Venafro under it...isn't that in Italy?


    Correct.
    Venafro is due east of Cassino according to my atlas.

    Possible incorrect photograph posted.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  6. Optymystic

    Optymystic Optymystic

  7. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

  8. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Now I can see the chuch.

    Looking at the cross, it is Christian and more than likely, given the location, Coptic.

    Egypt is also a possibility.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  9. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Was not the first Bailey Bridge built in Tunisia? it is more likely to be there than Egypt
    unless the photo was taken latter in the war
     
  10. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The scene looks Italian to me and the church a little Byzantine. Southern Italy did have an orthodox period.

    The houses don't look North African either.
     
  11. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    The houses don't look North African either.

    I agree, very Italian rustic methinks.
     
  12. Richard Harrison

    Richard Harrison Senior Member

    i was thinking Bizzerta ? my eyes are crap but is that the sea beyond the church, and the river being some sort of estuary?

    if it is Italy, could this be Garigliano / volturno crossing :) ?
     
  13. Optymystic

    Optymystic Optymystic

    Italy is also a candidate, the photographer certainly spent a long time there
     
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Any Idea what unit your Father was with?
    I second that question.
    What unit ?
    I'd help us search.
     
  15. Optymystic

    Optymystic Optymystic

    The photographer went out to Egypt with 601 sqdn April to June 1942, they flew, he sailed round the cape. His recorded dates match up with the dates for the sqdn. Thereafter 59 RSU, NWAAF and mid 44 to autumn 45 in 285 wing, thence CMF, 135 MU, HE, 10 S of TT, this latter immediate post war period was spent at Peta Teqvah in Palestine which is also consistent with the movements of 285 wing.
     
  16. Optymystic

    Optymystic Optymystic

  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    No point starting a duplicate thread on same subject.
    It confuses things.
     
  18. GANDALF

    GANDALF Member

    Hi Guys,

    I think that the picture was taken in Italy. The church architecture was almost common in northern Italy so I searched for a baroque church north of Po river and this is, undoubtedly, the result:

    File:Santa Maria della neve church, Boara Pisani (Padua).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

    The place is Boara Pisani, near Padua

    in this web page the same bridge but from the opposite side
    2008:n02:copertina [Athesis.News.it]

    in the attached picture from Google earth in the red circle Santa Maria della Neve church, in the yellow rectangle the aprrox site of bridge and, in the yellow circle the church from Athesis website picture

    regards
     

    Attached Files:

    Owen and Smudger Jnr like this.
  19. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Gandalf,

    Well found. Deserved of a rep.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  20. Tab

    Tab Senior Member

    It could be even on the plains in Cyprus, Israel or any of a hundred other places
     

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