DETAILS
Subject	55 Company RASC (AD) and the RAF Delivering Supplies to Friendly Forces – Part 1
Publisher/Author
Location	Malaya
Estimated Date	1958
Media Type	Photograph
Source	Norman Doctor / Ken Thomas, UK
Remarks	This series of photographs were kindly provided by Norman and Ken who served in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency. Some background on them maybe found under the other series they provided related to air dropping psywar leaflets to the CTs.(see link below). From left to right the photographs show: As is usual in the military there is the inevitable Morning Parade. Here the crews would be informed as to what patrols or jungle forts they would be packing the supplies for. They then would go into the packing shed which is on the right to begin their day’s work. In the inside of the shed most supplies are packed into small wooden boxes the crews then nailed the lids on. The wooden boxes were then strapped into individual packs, each pack was weighed and the patrol for which the supplies were destined had their identity chalked on the straps. It was very important to know the weight in order to maintain the aircraft’s centre of gravity. Packing continues as the temperature rises in the non-air-conditioned shed. With the loaves of bread sticking out of the box like soldiers on parade, a hammer and nails were used to seal the lid and that sorted the problem. Too bad for the soldiers on the ground who had to make do with compressed bread. To go to Part 2, click here. To read about dropping psywars leaflets to the CTs, click here.
File Name	20090913-001