Taj Mahal Disguised Against Enemy Air Attack In WWII – 2 Photos 1942
Two photos from 1942 show the Taj Mahal disguised against enemy air attack during WWII. Japan was allied with the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, & Japan). So naturally, India became their prime target. Since Britain aligned with the Allied Powers (Britain, USA, and Russia).
In WWII warplanes were generally in a nascent state. Unlike today they were not equipped with sophisticated electronic gadgetry. Pilots relied more on the naked eye to perceive their targets. Cities and heritage monuments were the prime targets of the enemies. It was no different for the Taj Mahal it was probably one of the most noted prime targets in India.
Necessary steps were taken by the British Indian government 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 of concealing 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
