Royal Indian Air Force

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This article is about the air force of the British ruled India (1932–1947) and the air force of the Dominion of India (1947–1950). For the current air force of the Republic of India, see Indian Air Force. For the current air force of Pakistan, see Pakistan Air Force.

Royal Indian Air Force
Badge
Active1932–1950
CountryIndia
 British India
 Dominion of India
TypeAir Force
Size25,000 personnel by VJ Day (1945)[1]
CommandRAF India
Nickname(s)RIAF
Motto(s)"Per Ardua ad Astra" (Latin)
(Through Adversity to the Stars)
Engagements
Notable operations
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Ensign

The Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) was the aerial force of British India and later the Dominion of India. Along with the Indian Army, and Royal Indian Navy, it was one of the Armed Forces of British Indian Empire.

The Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932. Its first flight came into being on 1 April 1933 with six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers). The aircraft inventory consisted of four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes at Drigh Road, Karachi as the "A" Flight nucleus of the planned No.1 (Army Co-operation) Squadron.

History[edit]

See also: RAF India

During the First World War, four Indian volunteers – Lieutenants Shri Krishna Chandra Welinkar, Hardit Singh Malik, Errol Suvo Chunder Sen and Indra Lal Roy – served as fighter pilots with the Royal Flying Corps. In September 1917, Sen was shot down and became a prisoner-of-war; and over the next 10 months, Malik was wounded and Welinkar and Roy were killed. ‘Laddie’ Roy destroyed 10 enemy aircraft before he fell, and on 21 September 1918, he was posthumously awarded the RAF’s new Distinguished Flying Cross.

In the inter-war years, the idea of self-determination gained widespread support in British India. In keeping with this, a committee chaired by General Sir Andrew Skeen met at Simla, in August 1925, to investigate the ‘Indianisation’ of the Indian Army’s officer corps. The creation of a military academy equivalent to Sandhurst was also examined. The Skeen Committee reported in April 1927, and one of its recommendations was that Indian cadets be accepted for officer training at RAF Cranwell. The bravery of the RFC’s South Asian pilots was referenced in support of this, and veteran Hardit Singh Malik’s impressive appearance before the committee lent added weight. Discussions between the British and Indian governments continued until Lord Birkenhead, Secretary of State for India, approved the creation of an Indian Air Force on 5 April 1928. The new service would be open to men of all faiths and castes drawn from every part of the subcontinent.

Formation and early pilots[edit]

Main article: History of the Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force was established in British India as an auxiliary air force[2] of the Royal Air Force with the enactment of the Indian Air Force Act 1932 on 8 October that year[3][4] and adopted the Royal Air Force uniforms, badges, brevets and insignia.[5] On 1 April 1933, the IAF commissioned its first squadron, No.1 Squadron, with four Westland Wapiti biplanes and five Indian pilots. The Indian pilots were led by RAF Commanding officer Flight Lieutenant (later Air Vice Marshal) Cecil Bouchier.[6]

The first five pilots commissioned into the IAF were Harish Chandra Sircar, Subroto Mukerjee, Bhupendra Singh, Aizad Baksh Awan and Amarjeet Singh. A sixth officer, J N Tandon had to revert to logistics duties as he was too short. All of them were commissioned as Pilot Officers in 1932 from RAF Cranwell. Subroto Mukerjee later went on to become the IAF's first Chief of the Air Staff. Subsequent batches inducted before World War II included Aspy Engineer, K K Majumdar, Narendra, Daljit Singh, Henry Runganadhan, R H D Singh, Baba Mehar Singh, S N Goyal, Prithpal Singh and Arjan Singh.

A Westland Wapiti, one of the first aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

World War II (1939–1945)[edit]

Main article: India in World War II
Pilots of No. 263 Squadron pose in front of their Typhoon. Pilot Officer Thyagarajan, an Indian pilot is seated on the engine cowling
Karun Krishna "Jumbo" Majumdar was the first Indian officer to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
83 Squadron aircrew in front of their Lancaster R5868, Squadron Leader Shailendra Eknath Sukthankar, an Indian Navigator stands in the middle.
Personnel of the RAF, Indian Air Force and Women's Auxiliary Corps (India) at work in the Operations Room at a Group Headquarters in North-eastern India.
Indian Airforce Pilots after a mission in Burma during WW2

During World War II, the IAF played an instrumental role in halting the advance of the Japanese army in Burma, where the first IAF air strike was executed. The target for this first mission was the Japanese military base in Arakan, after which IAF strike missions continued against the Japanese airbases at Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in northern Thailand.

The IAF was mainly involved in strike, close air support, aerial reconnaissance, bomber escort and pathfinding missions for RAF and USAAF heavy bombers. RAF and IAF pilots would train by flying with their non-native air wings to gain combat experience and communication proficiency. Besides operations in the Burma Theatre IAF pilots participated in air operations in North Africa and Europe.[1][7]

In addition to the IAF, many native Indians and some 200 Indians resident in Britain volunteered to join the RAF and Women's Auxiliary Air Force. One such volunteer was Sergeant Shailendra Eknath Sukthankar, who served as a navigator with No. 83 Squadron. Sukthankar was commissioned as an officer, and on 14 September 1943, received the DFC. Squadron Leader Sukthankar eventually completed 45 operations, 14 of them on board the RAF Museum’s Avro Lancaster R5868. Another volunteer was Assistant Section Officer Noor Inayat Khan a Muslim pacifist and Indian nationalist who joined the WAAF, in November 1940, to fight against Nazism. Noor Khan served bravely as a secret agent with the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in France, but was eventually betrayed and captured.[1] Many of these Indian airmen were seconded or transferred to the expanding IAF such as Squadron Leader Mohinder Singh Pujji DFC who led No. 4 Squadron IAF in Burma.

During the war, the IAF experienced a phase of steady expansion. New aircraft added to the fleet included the US-built Vultee Vengeance, Douglas Dakota, the British Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, Bristol Blenheim, and Westland Lysander.

Subhas Chandra Bose sent Indian National Army youth cadets to Japan to train as pilots. They went on to attend the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Academy in 1944.[8]

In recognition of the valiant service by the IAF, King George VI conferred the prefix "Royal" on 12 March 1945. Thereafter the IAF was referred to as the Royal Indian Air Force. In 1950, when India became a republic, the prefix was dropped and it reverted to being the Indian Air Force.[9]

Post war, No. 4 Squadron IAF was sent to Japan as part of the Allied Occupation forces.[10]

Partition of India (1947)[edit]

With the partition of the Indian sub-continent into two separate nations—India and Pakistan—the military forces were also partitioned. This gave a reduced Royal Indian Air Force and a new Royal Pakistan Air Force in 1947.

Dominion of India (1947–1950)[edit]

See also: Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948
Refugees awaiting evacuation by IAF Dakota on Poonch airstrip, December 1947

After it became independent from the British Empire in 1947, British India was partitioned into the new states of the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Along the lines of the geographical partition, the assets of the air force were divided between the new countries. India's air force retained the name of the Royal Indian Air Force, but three of the ten operational squadrons and facilities, located within the borders of Pakistan, were transferred to the Royal Pakistan Air Force.[11] The RIAF Roundel was changed to an interim 'Chakra' roundel derived from the Ashoka Chakra.[5]

Around the same time, conflict broke out between them over the control of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. With Pakistani forces moving into the state, its Maharaja decided to accede to India in order to receive military help.[12] The day after, the Instrument of Accession was signed, the RIAF was called upon to transport troops into the war zone. And this was when a good management of logistics came into help.[12] This led to the eruption of full-scale war between India and Pakistan, though there was no formal declaration of war.[13] During the war, the RIAF did not engage the Pakistan Air Force in air-to-air combat; however, it did provide effective transport and close air support to the Indian troops.[14]

An IAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber over the Deccan plateau in the early 1950s

When India became a republic in 1950, the prefix 'Royal' was dropped from the Indian Air Force.[15] At the same time, the current IAF roundel was adopted.[5]

Aircraft[edit]

See also: List of historical aircraft of the Indian Air Force
Name Origin Primary
role(s)		 Service
period		 #
used		 Notes
Airspeed Oxford UK transport 1946–1949 5
Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta UK transport 1941–1944 5
Auster AOP.6 UK army co-operation 1946–1970 20 ca.
Avro Anson I UK trainer 1942–1945 7 [16]
Boulton Paul Defiant TT.III UK target tug 1944–1945 small #
Bristol Blenheim I UK bomber 1941–1942 5
Consolidated B-24J Liberator US bomber 1948–1967 45 [note 1][17]
de Havilland Devon UK transport 1947–1991 22
de Havilland D.H.86B UK transport 1940–1942 2
de Havilland Dragon Rapide UK transport 1941–1945 4
de Havilland Tiger Moth UK trainer 1939–1957 192
de Havilland Vampire F.3 UK day fighter 1948–1955 3
Douglas Dakota US transport 1946–1987 206
Fairchild PT-19 US trainer 1943–1946 40 [18][19]
Harlow PC-5A US transport 1941–1942 4
Hawker Audax UK army co-operation 1939–1945 7
Hawker Hart (India) UK bomber 1939–1942 7
Hawker Hind UK bomber 1939–1941 6
Hawker Hurricane UK fighter-bomber 1942–1945 ?
Hawker Tempest II UK fighter 1945–1955 235 [20]
North American Harvard Mk.II and 4 Canada trainer 1942–1973 ?
Percival Prentice T.3 UK trainer 1947–1963 62 [note 2]
Supermarine Spitfire Vc & VIIIc UK fighter/reconnaissance 1943–1948 19 [21]
Supermarine Spitfire FR.XIVE & FR.XVIII UK fighter reconnaissance 1945–1957 120 [21]
Supermarine Spitfire PR.XI & XIX UK photo reconnaissance 1947–1959 15 [21]
Supermarine Spitfire T.IX UK trainer 1947–1955 10
Westland Lysander II UK army co-operation 1941–1943 25 ca. [22]
Westland Lysander III.T UK target tug 1941–1942 48 ca. [22]
Westland Wapiti UK army co-operation 1933–1942 28 [23]

Symbols, flags and emblems[edit]

Roundel[edit]

Roundels[5]
  • 1933–1942
    1933–1942
  • 1943–1945
    1943–1945
  • 1947–1950
    1947–1950
  • 1950
    1950
  • 1933–1942: The RAF roundel was used from 1933 to 1942 as the IAF was first established as an auxiliary air force of the Royal Air Force.
  • 1943–1945: This roundel was used from 1943–1945 in the Burma Sector during World War II. The central red disc was removed to eliminate confusion with the Japanese Rising Sun Emblem.
  • 1947–1950: The Ashoka Chakra was an interim roundel used from Indian independence in 1947 till India became a republic in 1950.
  • 1950: This roundel was adapted by the IAF in 1950 and kept it after India became a republic and is used to this day.

Fin flash[edit]

Fin flash[24]
  • 1933–1942
    1933–1942
  • 1943–1945
    1943–1945
  • 1947–1948
    1947–1948
  • 1948–1950
    1948–1950

Ensign[edit]

The ensign had a field of air force blue with the Union Jack in the canton and the roundel of Royal Air Force superimposed in centre of inside of Star of India in the fly.

Badge[edit]

  • post-1945
    post-1945
  • pre-1945
    pre-1945

The badge had Tudor crown on top of ring with an eagle augmented in center. A ribbon in fly below with the force motto PER ARDUA AD ASTRA.

Commanders[edit]

See also: RAF India § Commanders, and Chief of the Air Staff (India)

At Independence, the head of the Air Force designated as the "Air Marshal Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force". On 1 March 1948, the title of "Chief of the Air Staff" was added,[25] with a further re-designation to "Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Air Force" on 21 June to maintain uniformity across the three armed services.[26]

The "Royal" designation was dropped when India became a republic on 26 January 1950. Thus re-designating the head of IAF to "Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Air Force".

Air Officer Commanding RAF, India (1932–1938)[edit]

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir John Miles Steel KCB, KBE, CMG
Steel, John MilesAir Marshal
Sir John Miles Steel KCB, KBE, CMG
(1877–1965)		8 October 19322 March 19354 years, 24 days
2
Sir Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt KCB, CMG, DSO, MC
Ludlow-Hewitt, EdgarAir Chief Marshal
Sir Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt KCB, CMG, DSO, MC
(1886–1973)		2 March 193529 September 19372 years, 211 days
3
Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferté KCB, CMG, DSO
Ferte, Philip JoubertAir Marshal
Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferté KCB, CMG, DSO
(1886–1973)		29 September 193727 December 19381 year, 89 days

Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Forces in India (1938–1947)[edit]

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1
Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferté KCB, CMG, DSO
de la Ferté, PhilipAir Marshal
Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferté KCB, CMG, DSO
(1886–1973)		27 December 19386 October 1939283 days[27]
2
Sir John Higgins KCB, KBE, DSO, AFC
Higgins, JohnAir Marshal
Sir John Higgins KCB, KBE, DSO, AFC
(1875–1948)		6 October 193926 September 1940356 days—
3
Sir Patrick Playfair KCB, CB, CVO, MC
Playfair, PatrickAir Marshal
Sir Patrick Playfair KCB, CB, CVO, MC
(1889–1974)		26 September 19406 March 19421 year, 161 days—
4
Sir Richard Peirse KCB, DSO, AFC
Peirse, RichardAir Chief Marshal
Sir Richard Peirse KCB, DSO, AFC
(1892–1970)		6 March 194227 April 19431 year, 52 days—
5
Sir Guy Garrod KCB, OBE, MC, DFC
Garrod, GuyAir Marshal
Sir Guy Garrod KCB, OBE, MC, DFC
(1891–1965)		27 April 19438 March 1944316 days—
6
Meredith Thomas CSI, CBE, DFC, AFC
Thomas, MeredithAir Vice Marshal
Meredith Thomas CSI, CBE, DFC, AFC
(1892–1984)		8 March 19441 April 19462 years, 24 days—
7
Sir Roderick Carr KBE, CB, DFC, AFC
Carr, RoderickAir Marshal
Sir Roderick Carr KBE, CB, DFC, AFC
(1891–1971)		1 April 194622 November 1946235 days—
8
Sir Hugh Walmsley KCIE, CB, CBE, MC, DFC
Walmsley, HughAir Marshal
Sir Hugh Walmsley KCIE, CB, CBE, MC, DFC
(1898–1985)		22 November 194615 August 1947252 days—

(On 15 August 1947, the unified RIAF was separated into the Royal Indian Air Force and the Royal Pakistan Air Force)

(**Seconded from the Royal Air Force)

Air Marshal Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force (1947–1948)[edit]

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir Thomas Elmhirst CB, KBE, AFC
Elmhirst, ThomasAir Marshal
Sir Thomas Elmhirst CB, KBE, AFC
(1895–1982)
[a]		15 August 194720 June 1948310 days

Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Air Force (1948–1950)[edit]

No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir Thomas Elmhirst CB, KBE, AFC
Elmhirst, ThomasAir Marshal
Sir Thomas Elmhirst CB, KBE, AFC
(1895–1982)
[a]		21 June 194825 January 19501 year, 218 days

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ ex-RAF World War Two lend-lease bombers refurbished by HAL.
  2. ^ includes 42 built by HAL.
  1. ^ a b Seconded from the Royal Air Force

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Royal Indian Air Force". RAF Museum. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. ^ "CLAUSE 4.—(Relations between Royal Air Force and Indian Air Force, and attachment of personnel.)". HC Deb vol 276 cc1473-501. 3 April 1933. Retrieved 8 April 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "History of the IAF". Official Website. Webmaster IAF – Air Headquarters. Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  4. ^ Bedi, Sanjeev (Summer 2008). "Strategic Role of Air Power" (PDF). Air Power Journal. 3 (2). Center for Air Power Studies: 27–45. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d "INDIAN AIR FORCE MUSEUM – Heraldry (Badges and Insignia)". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010.
  6. ^ Goyal, S.N. (October 1993). "1939–45 Second World War: Air Force Reminiscences". Sainik Samachar. Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  7. ^ "Second World War – Europe". www.mgtrust.org.
  8. ^ BURMA to JAPAN with Azad Hind: A War Memoir (1941–1945) Archived 13 July 2022 at the Wayback Machine Air Cmde R S Benegal MVC AVSM
  9. ^ Ahluwalia, A. (2012). Airborne to Chairborne: Memoirs of a War Veteran Aviator-Lawyer of the Indian Air Force. Xlibris Corporation. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4691-9657-2.
  10. ^ "No 4 Squadron (OOrials)". Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  11. ^ Engineer, Aspy M. (February 1993). "Air Marshal Aspy Engineer's Recollections". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 30 December 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  12. ^ a b Lyon, Peter (2008). Conflict Between India and Pakistan: An Encyclopedia (illustrated ed.). ABC-CLIO. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-57607-712-2.
  13. ^ Massey, Reginald (2005). Azaadi!. Abhinav Publications. p. 97. ISBN 978-81-7017-469-1.
  14. ^ Barua, Pradeep (2005). The State at War in South Asia. University of Nebraska Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-8032-1344-9.{
  15. ^ Bedi, Sanjeev (Summer 2008). "Strategic Role of Air Power" (PDF). Air Power Journal. 3 (2). Center for Air Power Studies: 27–45. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2019.
  16. ^ "No.1 Service Flying Training School (India)". Archived from the original on 3 August 2012.
  17. ^ Consolidated B-24 Liberator [www.bharat-rakshak.com] Archived 2012-01-12 at the Wayback Machine. Bharat-rakshak.com (2007-01-18). Retrieved on 2010-09-08.
  18. ^ Andrade 1979, p. 239
  19. ^ "Indian Air Force Gallery :: Training in the IAF".
  20. ^ "IAF-Tempest". Archived from the original on 24 August 2014.
  21. ^ a b c "IAF-Spitfire". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007.
  22. ^ a b "Westland Lysander in Indian Air Force Service". Archived from the original on 15 January 2008.
  23. ^ "The Westland Wapiti in Indian Air Force". Archived from the original on 28 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Indian Air Force Flags". www.crwflags.com. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Press Communique" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India – Archive. 28 February 1948. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Press Communique" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India – Archive. 21 June 1948. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Chiefs of the Indian Air Force 1931 to 1947". Archived from the original on 2 February 2007.

External links[edit]

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