The Taj Mahal Disguised In WWII – 2 Photos 1942
Two photos from 1942 show the Taj Mahal disguised in WWII against any Japanese bombings. Since Japan was allied with the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, & Japan) in WWII. So naturally India was one of their targetted countries. Since Britain was 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. Since cities and heritage monuments were the prime targets of enemies. It was no different for the Taj Mahal one of the most famous monuments in the world. All necessary steps were taken by the British Indian government to safeguard it.
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. To mislead the pilots into thinking it was a stockpile of bamboo. Louis Johnson, the personal envoy of US President Roosevelt, is seen standing before the Taj Mahal.
Read also 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
