THE CBI IN PICTURES
The following pages contain pictures taken by CBI personnel during their tours in India and China. They depict life as it was then and in some cases reflect the living conditions experienced by both air crews and ground support personnel.
An aerial view of Mohanbari Air Field in 1945
Chabua from the air
The main street of living quarters at Mohanbari. The huts were known as Basha's.
While better than living in a tent, they still weren't much.
One of the tents. It looks a lot better than it was. Imagine living in this for a year or more.
A typical bunk. Note the mosquito netting gathered at the top.
Mildew was always a problem. When it wasn't raining, items were hung outside to dry and air out.
The front of a Basha
The Officer's Club at Mohanbari
The above scenes present a picture of living conditions that might not seem too bad for war-time.....certainly better than a mud hole or an earth bunker. However, you must remember the location and climate. During the monsoon season, there was torential rain daily. The temperature was in the 90's and 100's, and the humidity was always at or near 100%. With no air conditioning.
Miscellaneous Scenes
Barber Shop
Laundry
Volleyball was a major entertainment activity.
Check out the guy in the middle...that should give an indication of climatic conditions.
(No, he's not really naked.)
Dobywallas
Bearers
Locals were eager to help out, and many of the pilots and officers had domestic helpers....of course it was always for baksheesh (pay). The Dobywallas were the local laundry men. The Bearers were like butlers and errand boys. They could get just about anything that was needed, as well as provide good advice in many cases. My father relates a story concerning the killing of mice in the living quarters area. A particularly wise bearer told then "no no...no kill mice". Seems that as long as they found mice, they could rest assured that there were no snakes in the immediate area.
The runways in China were comprised mostly of packed earth covered with crushed rock. In the first picture above, chinese workers are crushing the rock by hand. The second picture shows an American officer supervising the chinese as they pack the rock using a hand pulled roller. A C-46 sits in the background preparing for takeoff.
Local personnel and equipment was sometimes employed to help load the airplanes.
Along the "Aluminum Trail"
TYPICAL STREET SCENES ON BASE AND IN LOCAL TOWNS
HOLY COW ! ! ! Literally. Cattle had the run of the streets
A Holy Man with a GI
Rickshaw...common mode of transportation
Tibetans