Post by mclaring on Jan 27, 2024 15:58:22 GMT 12
Gentlemen,
I think we need to revisit this photo of the lad and others with the B-17E. I lived in Fiji 1995-97 and know Nadi well. The Pith helmet tells me that photo is Fiji, not the US, and I think the azimuth is looking seawards across Nadi airfield. However I also agree that civilian looks like V.T. Hamlin. If you look carefully in the background the truck looks like a Blitz. Fiji was full of them in early WW2. I don't think kids were allowed onto WW2 military training bases in the US, but I can accept the informality of a child on a Fiji airfield. Was Hamlin visiting Fiji at the time? My guess is this is the other side of B-17E 41-9216 Alley Oop of 42nd BS in early July 1942, en route to Efate/ Espiritu Santo. Of course I could be wrong,
MC
I think we need to revisit this photo of the lad and others with the B-17E. I lived in Fiji 1995-97 and know Nadi well. The Pith helmet tells me that photo is Fiji, not the US, and I think the azimuth is looking seawards across Nadi airfield. However I also agree that civilian looks like V.T. Hamlin. If you look carefully in the background the truck looks like a Blitz. Fiji was full of them in early WW2. I don't think kids were allowed onto WW2 military training bases in the US, but I can accept the informality of a child on a Fiji airfield. Was Hamlin visiting Fiji at the time? My guess is this is the other side of B-17E 41-9216 Alley Oop of 42nd BS in early July 1942, en route to Efate/ Espiritu Santo. Of course I could be wrong,
MC
