Folks – I am trying to find out anything about this base, which my (sadly long-deceased) father-in-law served out in WW2. I have been able to learn the basics from internet research but can’t seem to get much beyond that. He would have been an AC1 or AC2 at the time but his service records don’t go into any detail so it’s really difficult to understand what he might have been doing there.
Any help at all would be very welcome…..
By: andrewclark - 4th November 2018 at 10:52
Thanks again or everyone’s help in this. I will try contacting the No.31 Squadron Association and to get a copy of the book. Cheers again to all.
By: DADE - 31st October 2018 at 14:53
By: DADE - 31st October 2018 at 14:50
By: Lion Rock - 30th October 2018 at 19:29
31 Squadron Association Secretary: Charlie Charlesworth, 9 The Grove, Market Deeping, Peterborough PE6 8AW: tel 01778 349580: charlie9232ATbtopenworld.com
http://www.31association.co.uk/
By: DADE - 29th October 2018 at 04:01
I have taken some photos out of this book and will try and download into this forum tonight (Australian time). There is a 31 Squadron R.A.F. Association so they maybe able to help.
By: DADE - 29th October 2018 at 03:21
The only information I have found is from the book called FIRST IN THE INDIAN SKIES by author Norman L.R. Franks. Its a Life publications Ltd book that was published in Lincoln, Britain, with a published year of 1981. The ISBN number is 0 95063141 8. The airfield seems to have been a Glider and Parachute training base. The Squadron involved is 31 Squadron R.A.F. which served in India and Burma, flying Douglas C47 Dakota transport aircraft.
By: andrewclark - 26th October 2018 at 22:57
I should have added that RAF Chaklala was in Rawalpindi, which was then in India but is now in Pakistan and is a Pakistani Air Force Base called Nur Khan. I have also now been told by family members that he was awarded three or four medals, including the Burma Star. Although I can’t find any evidence of him actually serving in Burma, I understand that some (paratroop?) operations carried out from Chaklala were against the Japanese occupation of Burma, so I’m wondering if this explains why. Again, I’d be very grateful for any help offered….
By: andrewclark - 26th October 2018 at 14:33
Many thanks mmitch. I’ve given that a try and am keeping my fingers crossed. The difficulty is that I’m working to a late December deadline, as we want the information for my brother-in-law’s birthday. Thanks again, Andrew
By: mmitch - 25th October 2018 at 09:59
Suggest you try on Pprune Military Aviation. There is a classic thread on ‘Gaining an RAF brevet in WW2’. Where somebody may be able to help.
mmitch.
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October 24, 2018 at 8:07 pm