Taj Mahal Disguised Against Enemy Attack In WWII, 2 Photos 1942
Two rare photographs from 1942 reveal how the iconic Taj Mahal was cleverly camouflaged to protect it from potential enemy air strikes during World War II. At the time, Japan, aligned with the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) that posed a serious threat to India. Since Britain, which ruled India, was part of the Allied Powers alongside the USA and Russia, India became a strategic target during the war.
During World War II, warplanes were still in their early stages of development and lacked the sophisticated electronic targeting systems seen today. Pilots relied heavily on the naked eye to identify their objectives. Enemy forces often targeted major cities and historic monuments, and the Taj Mahal, India’s most iconic heritage landmark, was no exception. As one of the most recognizable structures in the world, it was considered a prime target for potential airstrikes.
The British Indian government took precautionary steps to safeguard this famous monument. James Fletcher Watson, an engineer in the British Military, was assigned the task of protecting the Taj. It was his idea to conceal the dome with bamboo scaffolding. This was to mislead the pilots into realizing it was a stockpile of bamboo. Louis Johnson, the personal envoy of US President Roosevelt, is seen standing before the Taj Mahal in one of the photos.
Also read Taj Mahal Gardens & Lord Curzon.
Did you know – that the Taj Mahal is 45 feet taller than the Qutub Minar.
From the collection – Raja Ravi Varma’s Wife Bhageerathi, Rare 1870 Photo., Broadway Road Bangalore – Old Postcard 1915., King George V Emperor Of India, Old Print 1910
