Life at Salbani by Tony Donell

Written by Mike Jones
Thursday, 04 February 2010 12:32

Tony Donell

Tony (second pilot to the Harrison crew) kept a diary whilst at Salbani. The text of the diary is unique in that it gives an almost day to day account of what it was like to be at Salbani. Except for the words in brackets, the text set down is a true and accurate copy of the contents of Tony’s diary.

Wednesday September 13th (1944): Up at 4 a.m. and to breakfast - fried bread, bacon and egg and not too bad. Usual rush to the ghari with kit and rations - but we didn’t fly. This is getting a bit boring - aircraft ‘D’. Went to village later in morning with Bob Postle (Australian with 356 Squadron) - interesting, and my first visit. ‘Evening in Paris’, 3.4 in one shop, 1.4 in another ten yards away - so Bob didn’t buy either. Looked round market - also a bloke with a skull liberally splashed with red paint and also a piece of white cloth splashed with red - he drew a crowd but what mysterious tricks he was up to I have no idea. Paddy fields are well under water and growing quickly. We took a gun out after lunch and walked across fields - what fools in the midday heat. I felt pretty sick so we lay beneath a tree after penetrating some bush; after we came back - a shower cools things down temporarily. Op’ was Moulmein South railway station - first combined 355 and 356, and a success. More »

Tug Wilson

Written by Mike Jones
Sunday, 23 August 2009 11:28

I was born on the 7th November 1923. Though my birth certificate reads Alfred I was always called Tug. It is something to do with all Wilson's being called Tug, my dad was called old Tug and I was called young Tug. At school I only answered to the name Tug.
As a lad I always wanted to join the RAF. I tried to join in 1940 but was told I was too young. I was already a member of the ATC (with the rank of corporal) at Kelly College in Tavistock, which was where I lived. In 1941 I applied again, was given my RAF number (1314681), tested and then sent home to await my orders. The RAF paid for me to attend classes four days a week at Kelly College so that I could improve my education in order to be considered as a pilot. I got fed up waiting and applied to the Fleet Air Arm. They were happy for me to join, I reported to the recruitment centre at Plymouth. I went to the Royal Navy section of the centre and started filling in the relevant forms. The Flight Lieutenant, who enlisted me originally in the RAF, came out of the RAF section, recognised me and asked what was going on. The Royal Navy could not take me as I already belonged to the RAF. Nine months later I got called up by the RAF but unfortunately my education standard was not sufficient to be considered for pilot training and I was allocated to wireless operator/air gunner training. More »

356 Squadron RAF

No. 356 Squadron RAF was a short-lived long range bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force between 1944 and 1945. History: The squadron was formed on 15 January 1944 at Salbani, Bengal, British India, as a long range bomber unit equipped with the Consolidated Liberator. The squadron attacked Japanese bases in South East Asia and planted mines outside enemy harbours. In July 1945 the squadron moved to the Cocos Islands to prepare for the invasion of Malaya. The end of the war came before the invasion was carried out and the squadron performed supply-dropping and transport duties until it was disbanded on 15 November 1945.

160 Squadron RAF

No. 160 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force unit during World War II, when it flew for four years in a number of roles including heavy bomber, minelaying, reconnaissance, special operations and transport unit in the Middle East and South-East Asian theatre of World War II. Brief History: Disbanded Merged with No.178 squadron on 15/1/43. Reformed 22/11/1942 (yes, this is correct. The second existence of the squadron was formed before the first was absorbed by No.178 Squadron) and Disbanded 1/10/1946 when renumbered as No.120 Squadron. Reformed 3/2/43 and disbanded 30/9/45

RAF 159 Squadron

Motto: Quo non, quando non (Whether not, when not)

Badge: In front of logs enflamed a peacock's head holds a woodman's axe. 159 Squadron was the first four-engined heavy bomber unit in India. The peacock's head commemorates its association with Burma, the axe its pathfinder activities in blazing the trail.

History of 159 Squadron: No.159 Squadron was formed on 1 June 1918 as a nucleus but was disbanded again on 4 July 1918after formation had been suspended to provide reinforcements for France.

On 2 January 1942, No.159 reformed at Molesworth and its groung echelon left for the Middle East in Febuary.

After being employed on servicing duties, it was posted to India in May. The first group of No.159's Liberators were flown out to Palestine in July 1942 and carried out bombing raids on enemy bases in North Africa, Italy and Greece before flying on to India, the first arriving at Salbani on 30 September. Operations against the Japenese began on 17 November and the long range bombing and reconnaissance missions were undertaken for the rest of the war over targets in Burma, Siam, Malaya, Indo-China and the Dutch East Indies. After Japan surrendered, No.159 was engaged in transport and survey duties before disbanding on 1 June 1946.