These photographs originate from the private albums of ww2 SAAF Beaufighter pilot Arthur Geater. It was kindly made available to me by Julie Geater, Arthur's grand daughter. I scanned and placed the photographs on this web site in order to share these gems to enthusiasts and the wider public as a gesture of homage to these brave men of past glory. Please respect the copy rights of these photographs and contact me to obtain the necessary permission if you want to duplicate some of this material in other web sites or printed matter.
thanks
Tinus le Roux
Jan 2015
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3) 24 October 1944: Barracks at Bjelovar ops no. 4
4) 31/10/1944 Shipping sweep in Planinski – Poggorski Channels ops no 5 (notice the people running!)
5) 8/11/1944 Photo recce of bridges, ops no 7
6) 22/11/1944 Marshalling yards at Kutina, ops no 11
8) 17/12/1944 Lussino Island, ops no 16
9) 22/12/1944 Lissino Island torpedo dump, ops no 18
10) 4/01/1945 Naval guns at Lussino, ops no 19
11) 11/1/1945 Lussino guns, ops no 20
12) 15/1/1945 Lussino Island, ops no 21
13) 24/01/1945 Lussino Island, ops no 23
14) 2/2/1945 Zuzemberk, ops no 25
15) 3/2/1945 Rolling stock Novska, ops no 26
16) 7/2/1945 Rolling stock at Karlovac, ops no 27
17) 10/2/1945 Village Sadinta Vas, ops no 28
18) 14/2/1945, Trains at Slovenj Gradec, ops no 29
19) 15/2/1945 Ammo dump at Novo Mesto ops no 30
20) 21/2/1945 Enemy HQ at Zolla, ops no 31
Email received November 2016:
Dear Tinus!
I have to thank you for those incredible photographs! I have to tell you that we don't really have photos of Zolla during the war, so we are very happy that younger and older can see those photos. In the name of my family and other villagers I really have to thank you.
During this bombing my father was hidden on the right side of the church (in a canal).
The circled house is the one where my relatives lived and are now again living.
Please send me photographs of Geater if you can.
I'm sorry if I am too curious, but I want to know where are you from.
Best regards
Damijan
Thank you again for your respond! Bombed houses were definitely targeted by Marshall Tito. My relatives have lived in this house. My father was in Zolla during the attack.He hided in a canal. The house which I was talking about was burned, so my relatives had to move in the village near by. In 3 years they repaired the house so they are again living in this house. I have to tell you, that Zolla was bombed eleven times. In all of the attacks only 5 people were killed. My father told me that Zolla was hard to bombed because of the terrain. People who lived in those houses were somehow connected with Germans. Can you please send me those pictures?
Damijan
Modern Zolla (Col), photo sent by Damijan (thanks!)
Modern Zolla
Modern Zolla, photo sent by Damijan
21) 24/2/1945 Attack "Kuck-Kuck" in Fiume, ops no 32
22) 27/2/1945 Attack buildings in Domzale, ops no 33
23) 6/3/1945 Attack on Zolla, ops no 34
24) 11/3/45 Novo Mesto, ops no 35
27) 12/3/1945 Skofjaloka, ops no 36
28) 15/3/1945 Gargaro, ops no 37
29) 17/3/1945 Attack Naval guns at RAB, ops no 38
30) 22/3/1945 Attack on Zolla, ops no 40
31) 3/4/1945 Zuzemberk, ops no 42
32) Attack Busovaga, ops no 43
33) 16/4/1045 Attack on Zolla, ops no 45
34) 18/4/1945 Attack on Jastrebarsko, ops no. 46
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44) Soccer team, Arthur 2nd from right, Tilley 3d from left.
45) Winter '44/'45, snow ball fight.
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48)
49) PSP clearing.
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51)
52) Pilots and navigators.
53) Kuck Kuck attack group.
54) Biferno
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56)
57) Training Kittyhawks, Durban?
58) A training Kittyhawk.
59) Arthur and ?
60) Arthur as pupil pilot.
61)
62) Kittyhawk
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70) Getting wings.
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72) Rhoda
73) Wedding on 20 June 1945 in Kimberley
74) Looks like partisans meeting with Air Force staff.
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76) Advanced flying course class.
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78) Miles Master trainer.
79) Walrus sea rescue aircraft.
80) SAAF Ju. 86 bomber.
81) Hawker Hart trainer.
82) Martin Maryland bomber.
83) a SAAF Curtiss Mohawk fighter.
84) Avro Anson used for training.
85) Crashed Fairy Battle.
86) Fairy Battle.
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88)
89) Lockheed Lodestar transport.