Indian Pattern HUP (was: Chevy Indian Backbody)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Over on the aviation forum, Mr. Matt Poole of Maryland, USA, posted the following information:

A Chevrolet is seen in the attached photo, taken in either West Bengal or neighboring Orissa, India in the summer of 1945. This is an RAF vehicle, manned by RAF men on their way to recover remains of fourteen airmen killed on 26 July 1945 when two RAF Liberators (EW225 & EW247) of the Air Firing Training Unit (AFTU) at Amarda Road airfield collided in poor weather during low-level formation flight training.

Note the two crosses, one atop the other, strapped to the roof. The names, ranks, and service numbers of the fourteen casualties were inscribed on the crosses, one crew to each cross.

The photo was taken by Kenneth King of No. 138 Repair & Salvage Unit. King was one of the five RAF men who, accompanied by several Indians, recovered and buried remains of the airmen. Attached, also, is a graveside photo of the RAF men, led by RAF S/Ldr Stanley G. Bennett (left, with prayer book), the padre at Amarda Road. King is furthest away on the right. Padre Bennett is also seen in the lorry photo, at left.

Graves, #3.jpg Graves, #12a.jpg

[Nigel Watson]

Silly question maybe but are those angle straps on the curved part of the roof edge tensioner straps for a canvas sheet roof on this body? So perhaps there is no solid roof which would make sense.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Nigel Watson

Silly question maybe but are those angle straps on the curved part of the roof edge tensioner straps for a canvas sheet roof on this body? So perhaps there is no solid roof which would make sense.

Nigel, good question, actually!

Having had a closer look I think you are right. The curved roof edges seem to be made of curved sheet metal (see survivor), the top must have been open covered by canvas.

H.

[Alan McGuinness]

IWM pictures A30972 and A31173:

A30972.jpg A31173.jpg

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Alan

Wonder what the story is behind the lady and the leopard? This week the was quite a lot of coverage on TV of a leopard climbing on the roof of a safari vehicle in a game preserve in Africa. Wonder if leopards just want/enjoy riding?

Cheers Phil

[David Dunlop]

Maybe it’s a Jaguar Wannabe, Phil.

David

[Alan McGuinness]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Wonder what the story is behind the lady and the leopard?

The caption say: "WAFFLES" THE LEAPORD JOINS THE NAVY. 2 NOVEMBER 1945, ROYAL NAVAL WIRELESS STATION, NEDIMALA, COLOMBO. WAFFLES, BELONGS TO LIEUT CDR JACOMB, RN AND WAS DISCOVERED ON A FARM AT HANRANA, NEAR TRINCOMALEE AFTER HE AND HIS SISTER HAD BEEN CAPTURED IN THE JUNGLE."

The lady is Temporary Woman Assistant Daphne Noyle.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

One more picture, courtesy of Philip Winterburn.

I think the marking on the bumper reads "RAF POLICE".

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[Hanno Spoelstra]

Two more pics, these are in use with Dutch troops in Indonesia. They took over vehicles and other equipment from British and Indian Army troops which first occupied Indonesia in 1945 after the Japanese surrender. The Dutch first had to muster troops to take occupation duties over from them, which they did from 1946 onwards.

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