Delicious Kukri

[Raymond1000]

I just discovered 1st Air Commando Group that served in China and Burma during WWII. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Air_Commando_Group More specifically, I found their insignia patch. It appears to be a mule, with winged ears. The other odd thing about him is that he’s eating a kukri.

This may be old news around here, but I was entertained.

 

[Steve Tall]

 

[Raymond1000]

Thanks, Steve. That's the very one.

Raymond

 

[Berkley]

Mules and kukris were a natural subject for the 1st ACG's patch, as Gurkhas and mules both figured heavily in their passenger lists. In addition to Gurkhas, the kukri was popular among the Chindits for cutting through the Burmese jungle, as well as among glider crews who found them useful in hacking their way out after their frequent crash landings.

Mules were transported by glider. Wingate's men relied heavily upon the beasts to move their supplies and equipment through the jungles. To prevent the animals' braying from betraying their position to the Japanese, the Chindits performed a "brayectomy" on the mules by cutting their vocal cords. To prevent the mules from damaging the gliders, their legs were hobbled and the glider floors reinforced. Their heads were tied down to keep their long ears out of the control cables. They were placed in a sling-like device to further restrain them... Surprisingly, the mules adapted easily to flying, even banking with the aircraft in turns.
Cochran's Commandos: The 1st Air commando Group, TSgt Dale K. Robinson, USAF (ret)

Probably the mule is carrying the kukri, not eating it.

 

[Raymond1000]

Mules and kukris were a natural subject for the 1st ACG's patch, as Gurkhas and mules both figured heavily in their passenger lists. In addition to Gurkhas, the kukri was popular among the Chindits for cutting through the Burmese jungle, as well as among glider crews who found them useful in hacking their way out after their frequent crash landings.

Probably the mule is carrying the kukri, not eating it.

Thanks, Berkley. I figured somebody here would have good stuff on the ACG.

Carrying the kukri did occur to me. But I went with the assumption that gave me a better lead. "Pet mule fetches kukri" doesn't have the same ring.

OTOH, Mules are smart. What they do carry is a grudge. I'd expect mules treated that way to chew on or trample all the equipment they could. So chomping on the knife didn't seem out of the question.

 

[Berkley]

Mules are smart. What they do carry is a grudge. I'd expect mules treated that way to chew on or trample all the equipment they could. So chomping on the knife didn't seem out of the question.

Good point!:thumbup: