The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
India. C. 1944-08. Front line forces must make long detours to find their way through the mountain passes, through the jungle and over high natural barriers in the way of the drive from India into Burma. They have to be fed. They need arms and ammunition. Their wounded must be brought out as quickly as possible and reinforcements sent in. The answer to these supply problems is RAF Transport Command. Troops no longer have to rely on land lines of communication as they move forward. They are now able to continue the fight when they are surrounded by Japanese and cut off from their bases. Whenever possible the aircraft have landed and unloaded their cargo, but when units have been in places inaccessable to aircraft their supplies are dropped by parachute. Although they have no record of brilliant combats or heavy destructive attacks on enemy positions RAF Transport Command have hit as hard at the Japanese as any other force in the air. Included in supplies for front line troops in jungle areas are cigarettes which are packed in containers for transport by aircraft.
India. C. 1944-08. An aerial view of the mountains over which the pilots of the transports with RAF Transport Command fly every day on their way to the front in Burma carrying much needed supplies for
India. C. 1944-08. Indians pack parachutes in the compound at the supply base. Coloured parachutes are used by RAF Transport Command for dropping supplies to isolated jungle units in Burma.
Karachi, India. c. 1945. In a short space of time, reinforcements are in a 'Gharry' on their way to the reception centre at RAF Station Poona. The first of many reinforcements for South East Asia Comm
India. C. 1944-08. Gurkhas ready to go on board an aircraft of RAF Transport Command for transport to the front-line in Burma. The traditional "kukri" (knife) can be seen hanging from the belt of thei
India. C. 1944-08. Indian women sometimes assist in the loading. These two are helping to put tyres on board an aircraft of RAF Transport Command for transport to front-line units on the Burma front.
India. C. 1944-08. A turbaned Sikh deftly folds the harness of a parachute in the packing yard at base for subsequent use by RAF Transport Command in dropping supplies to isolated jungle units in Burm
