AS VJ 80 nears, a Global Watch Party for “Dakota – Air Drops – Kohima”

Five days before this important anniversary, on Sunday August 10th, there will be a free You Tube Premiere of “Dakota – Air Drops – Kohima”, a scholarly explanation by a Lincoln man of the role of the RAF in the South East Asia (Burma) campaign of World War Two.

Terry O’Halloran

Before the documentary, viewers will see recorded tributes to 31 Squadron veteran Terry O’Halloran, Presenter of the programme, who died on May 3rd aged 80.

Terry, a well known Insuranceman and Financial Adviser in Lincoln after his RAF days, wrote and presented the 52-minute programme in his capacity as voluntary and long-serving Museum Curator and Historian of the 31 Squadron RAF Association.

Andrew Blow, his Camerman-Editor, said:” Terry believed the vital roles of the air crews and support teams operating in Burma were never fully explained to the British public. We are carrying out his wishes in offering this programme at the time of the 80th anniversary of VJ Day (August 15th).

“As a young member of the Association, he met some of the men who were involved in the Burma campaign. He told me that late at night – or rather early in the morning – at Squadron re-unions, their stories would come out.”

Andrew invites everyone interested – not least those serving in 31 Squadron at RAF Waddington today – to use this link to subscribe at You Tube for the free Watch Party/Premiere:

After the Watch Party, the programme will remain available at this You Tube channel:
C47 Skytrain / Dakota – Angel of the Skies – YouTube

The main feature will be preceded by tributes to Terry from Andrew from Blow by Blow Productions, who worked with Terry for more than 20 years on various video projects, and from Lincoln-based Phil Betts, Secretary of the 31 Squadron RAF Association.

Terry was also well known as a member of the Rotary Club of Bailgate Lincoln and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce of which he was President at one time.

Members of the UK-based Kohima Educational Trust, which Terry supported, have been told of the Premiere. The trust was formed at the wish of the remaining British Army veterans of the “forgotten war” to help young Naga people today. The indigenous Nagas were of great help to Allied soldiers and airmen in the gruelling and bitter conflict.

A DVD of “Dakota-Air Drops-Kohima” can be ordered from www.blowbyblow.co.uk/shop price £15.