Major
General Orde Wingate DSO, the leader of both Chindit
Expeditions, was killed in the early stages of "Operation
Thursday" when the aeroplane he was travelling
in crashed into the hills near Bishenpur, Burma on
24th March 1944.
Alan Blandamer
of Rockville, MD USA, lives just across the Potomac
River from Arlington Cemetery, where Wingate and the
others killed in the plane clash are buried. Alan, whose
uncle was a Chindit, has kindly provided some photographs
of the Wingate burial site.
The first photo is the
communal gravesite with Wingate's remains along with
the others who died in the plane crash.
The
view from the gravesite towards the Potomac River.
In winter, when the trees are bare you can see the
Jefferson Memorial and the top of the US Capitol
George Henry Brown, Capt. MC British Army
Stewart Emeny, Civilian British
James Walton Hickey, T. Sgt Air Corps
Brian Hodges, S. Sgt Air Corps
Vernon Floyd McIninch, S. Sgt Air Corps
Frank Sadoski, T. Sgt Air Corps
Steven A. Wandera, 2nd. Lt. Air Corps
Stanley Wills, Civilian British
Orde Charles Wingate, Maj Gen DSO British Army
Died in airplane crash
World War II March 24, 1944
Alan
writes "the little bumps on the top are small
stones and colored pebbles. I thought of sweeping
them off but figured they must be of significance
to someone"
Alan is trying to find service details of
his uncle, Kenneth Blandamer, currently residing in
East Knighton, nr. Dorchester, Dorset, U.K. Kenneth Blandamer
served with the Chindits.
