A PAGE FROM HISTORY

THE AMERICANS AT KARACHI DURING

THE SECOND WORLD WAR
By Maj Gen Syed Ali Hamid
syedali4955@yahoo.com
During the Second World War, Karachi (and its surrounding
military facilities like Malir) became a major staging post not just for
troops of the British Indian Army being shipped to the Middle East and
North Africa but also for the American support for the China-Burma-India
(CBI) Theatre. To support the CBI Theatre after the fall of Burma in
1942, the Americans had no alternative but to urgently build the facilities
at Karachi since British shipping overtaxed the port at Bombay, and
Calcutta was too exposed to Japanese air attacks.

Crest of the US China-Burma-India
Theatre during World War II

Karachi was the first link in a 2000 miles supply chain stretching all the
way to Assam and beyond that the Americans established to support the
British and Chinese operations against the Japanese. It was one of the
two Main Base Stations established (the other at Calcutta) and looked
after the programs of the CBI Theatre for the whole of the west half of
India. Apart from developing the jettties, wharves and warehouses at the
port, the hotels were remodelled to provide billets in the city. Two
additional airfields were constructed at Malir and Landhi and parking
aprons and an operations building at Karachi Airport.


B-24 Liberator Bombers and C-47 Transport Aircrafts parked at the apron of Karachi
Airport.
. Alongside, a cantonment for 20,000 men was constructed at Malir with
38 mess halls Malir then became a training base for the American
Teams and a staging centre when they arrived after a 60 days sea
voyage from the United States.

The US Base Hospital at New Malir Cantonment

The swimming pool at Malir Cant constructed by the American. Subsequently a club
was also constructed here.
The Malir Club was the focus of entertainment shared by both British
and Americans.


An American Recreation Room at Malir Cantt
It was at Karachi that the (American) soldiers got their first look at the
"enchanting" Far East and after re-outfitting and orientation to the Orient
was accomplished at the Malir Cantonment, they departed by rail across
India to Chabua in Eastern Assam.

Extracts from a guide to Karachi issued to American personnel arriving in Karachi.
The landing of the first contingent coincided with the heightening of
domestic tensions in India, where nationalists were urging the population
to violence against British rule. As usual the Americans over reacted and
issued ammunition to the nearly 2,000 American engineers, who were
loaded on trucks and sped to Malir Cantonment through Karachi, amidst
unfriendly signs: "Americans Quit India." However they soon settled
down to work and also see the sights of Karachi. The picture below were
taken by some of the Americans at Karachi during these years.

Tram at Karachi

Main Railway Terminal at Karachi

The US Base Office at Karachi flying the Stars and Stripes

A cinema at Karach with only standing room.

US soldiers at Clifton Beach

The Entrance to Gandhi Gardens

Visiting the graveyard at Thatta