"Gert and Daisy" - the Sunderlands in Burma

ABY12-2

Second set of 6 images of unloading troops to the shore... I believe the Sunderland to be DP180/Gert...

 

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DP180/Gert collecting more sick and wounded from Lake Indawgyi... here we see one of the "Dreadnoughts", constructed from whatever was available...

 

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Second group of images from the same sequence...

 

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First image is an aerial shot looking south from the north of Indawgyi...
Next shows some images taken from the wing of DP180/Gert...
Flight Sergeant Wright (co-pilot) is seen carrying a sten-gun... the other crewman leaning on a prop-blade I'm not sure of but is wearing the same sunglasses as Jack Rand is seen wearing in other images...
There are also other images of the "Dreadnought"...

I believe these images to be out of sequence to the preceding and following set as some of the people on-board I believe are in both shots...

 

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More images of troops being loaded onto DP180/Gert...
I believe I have seen stills from this sequence before...

 

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I am aware of only one mention of a Japanese prisoner being flown out and that was on the very last flight, July 3rd 1944... he is seen in several of the following images...

 

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Second of this sequence...

 

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Last of this sequence of 20 images...

 

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The last sequence of images from this film shows what may be a hospital or treatment station, and the prisoner is escorted away...

All images are copyright IWM

 

The last of the sequence is ABY12-3

First up are some riverside images...

 

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Next up are some images from the medical centre...
The 3rd and last images were only a couple of frames and very dark...

 

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Last sequence is some aerial shots of DP180/Gert around the Dibrugarh area, filmed from a Blenheim...

There is also a single frame from DP146 of JM659/Daisy's prop blade only just showing up above the surface of the river...

All images are copyright IWM

 

Not had much opportunity to place new info here as I've had my nose stuck in the writing portion of my life but just returned from the 230 Reunion in the Midlands with a 5 page piece of text written by one of the crew of Daisy, who was on board at the time she was lost... full description of events... confirmed as a "whirlwind" that tipped her over...

 

What are you writing now.?..you have so many diverse interests!

 

Sounds like a valuable addition to the overall story of the two Sunderlands HC.

 

... and a sighting for you, my ol' Bamboo... This 1 Column REME Gent on your list, by any chance...? Details to follow... :biggrin:

 

Intrigued of Hounslow!! 1 Column British participants are very rare sightings. :Nessie:

 

His name's Tom Gilzean... I spotted the Burma Star on his medal bar and asked the obvious question... 95 years of age and a regular sight around Edinburgh ... google away me-hearty...

Hi Za... still working on completing Lord Gainford's memoirs for the Sqn and his family... made sense to complete this as it was a fairly simple assembly work and a source-the-pics-to-go-with but like the best laid plans, as you know only too well...
The work on the Sunderlands is nearly there though... just getting ourselves sorted in the rental... distractions occur though, like being stopped in my tracks when coming out of the house to walk the furry creature last night to look north and there's the aurora putting on a great display... first time I've seen them in over 40 years... B) B) B)

 

Thanks Ken,

What a character. I've been invited up to Edinburgh to view some Chindit related files in the City Library, I will see if I can find Tom outside Jenners store. Just to clarify, did he say he was with the first Chindits, Column 1? That would be amazing!

Cheers

Steve

 

Confirm that he said REME, Column One, but nothing more as to what he was involved in... commented that my dad was with the Cameronians and his reply was "Oh aye, they were there..."
My time was limited for anything more at that point...

He's not getting any younger...

Edinburgh files on Chindits... pray tell...?