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An Indian Central Flying School was established at [[Sitapur]] in December, 1913, commanded by an officer of the 29th Punjab Regiment. <ref name =fly>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070805/spectrum/book1.htm "Flying high at 75"] by B. G. Verghese August 5, 2007 ''Spectrum: The Tribune''</ref>. Prior to establishment it was stated that "we propose... to confine the work in the first instance to experiments and not to include the tuition of beginners.
An Indian Central Flying School was established at [[Sitapur]] in December, 1913, commanded by an officer of the 29th Punjab Regiment. <ref name =fly>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070805/spectrum/book1.htm "Flying high at 75"] by B. G. Verghese August 5, 2007 ''Spectrum: The Tribune''</ref>. Prior to establishment it was stated that "we propose... to confine the work in the first instance to experiments and not to include the tuition of beginners.
It is intended to begin with four officers, all of whom are in possession of pilot certificates. They will be provided with six aeroplanes for experimental purposes".<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/rthonmresmontagu00mont#page/216/mode/2up "The Indian Budget 1913"] page 216 ''The Rt. Hon. Mr. E. S. Montagu on Indian Affairs'', published 1917. Archive.org.</ref>  The School was part of the Royal Flying Corps, Military Wing, part of the British Army, although details appear in the Navy Lists.<ref> [https://archive.org/stream/navylistaug1914grea#page/512/mode/2up Page 431f ''Monthly Navy List August 1914'']</ref>. The School was closed on mobilisation.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/navylistjan1915grea#page/725/mode/1up  Page 431k ''The Navy List January 1915'']</ref>
It is intended to begin with four officers, all of whom are in possession of pilot certificates. They will be provided with six aeroplanes for experimental purposes".<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/rthonmresmontagu00mont#page/216/mode/2up "The Indian Budget 1913"] page 216 ''The Rt. Hon. Mr. E. S. Montagu on Indian Affairs'', published 1917. Archive.org.</ref>  The School was part of the Royal Flying Corps, Military Wing, part of the British Army, although details appear in the Navy Lists.<ref> [https://archive.org/stream/navylistaug1914grea#page/512/mode/2up Page 431f ''Monthly Navy List August 1914'']</ref>. The School was closed on mobilisation.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/navylistjan1915grea#page/725/mode/1up  Page 431k ''The Navy List January 1915'']</ref>
==First World War==
The outbreak of World War I saw a small Indian Flying Corps assigned for defence of the Suez Canal against a Turkish attack.<ref name=fly/> 


The outbreak of World War I saw a small Indian Flying Corps assigned for defence of the Suez Canal against a Turkish attack.<ref name=fly/>  In January 1915, Captain P W L Broke-Smith, Assistant
In January 1915, Captain P W L Broke-Smith, Assistant Director of the Indian Flying Corps, set to work to establish an airfield at Basra, in Mesopotamia.<ref>"Only A Sideshow? The RFC And RAF In Mesopotamia 1914-1918" by Guy Warner. Refer [[Royal Air Force#External links|External links]]</ref> A small group of pilots from the Indian Army operated in Mesopotamia, described both as the Indian Flying Corps,<ref>Old Man. [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=210583 Seeking Info On R.N.A.S. Unit In Mesopotamia, Sept. 1915;June 1916] ''Great War Forum'' thread 27 April 2014, quoting "The Indian Flying Corps and the Australian Half-Flight", by Dr. Brian P. Flanagan. ''Cross and Cockade Journal'' (Summer, 1976, vol 17 no 2) , the US journal, now renamed ''Over the Front'' </ref> or the Mesopotamia Flight, Royal Flying Corps<ref>Page 142, ''Cavalry Of The Clouds Aspects of the Air War in the Eastern Theatre,1914-1918'', by  CH. Whitley 1997 . Refer [[Royal Air Force#External links|External links]]</ref>, to which was attached an Australian contingent, known as the Mesopotamia Half Flight, or Australian Half Flight.
Director of the Indian Flying Corps, set to work to establish an airfield as Basra.<ref>"Only A Sideshow? The RFC And RAF In Mesopotamia 1914-1918" by Guy Warner. Refer [[Royal Air Force#External links|External links]]</ref>


==31 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force==
==31 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force==
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*[http://www.raf.mod.uk/links/contacts.cfm Royal Air Force: Contacts]
*[http://www.raf.mod.uk/links/contacts.cfm Royal Air Force: Contacts]
*[http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk Royal Air Force Museum] London . The website includes a ‘Research' category,  which includes details of a  Library collection, which contains a "substantial collection of periodicals produced by RAF stations and units, which provide a fascinating insight into service life" and Archives collection, including [http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/default/archive-collection/first-world-war-casualty-cards.aspx  First World War Casualty cards] (which extend to 1928, and cover all theatres of operation). Some records, including Casualty Cards, are now  available online for free at a companion website  [http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/page/26565-home Royal Air Force Museum Story Vault]. The Search facility is accessed through the 'Archive' tab. Currently (August 2014) the Search results appear erratic, and it may be preferable to search on surname only.
*[http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk Royal Air Force Museum] London . The website includes a ‘Research' category,  which includes details of a  Library collection, which contains a "substantial collection of periodicals produced by RAF stations and units, which provide a fascinating insight into service life" and Archives collection, including [http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/default/archive-collection/first-world-war-casualty-cards.aspx  First World War Casualty cards] (which extend to 1928, and cover all theatres of operation). Some records, including Casualty Cards, are now  available online for free at a companion website  [http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/page/26565-home Royal Air Force Museum Story Vault]. The Search facility is accessed through the 'Archive' tab. Currently (August 2014) the Search results appear erratic, and it may be preferable to search on surname only.
*Mesopotamia
**[http://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/10092/2085/1/Thesis_fulltext.pdf ''Cavalry Of The Clouds: Aspects of the Air War in the Eastern Theatre,1914-1918''] by  C H Whitley 1997. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in History in the University of Canterbury. A  pdf download, which depending on your browser, you may need  to locate in your downloads folder.
**[http://mhhv.org.au/wp-content/uploads/The-AFC-in-Hotter-Climes-The-Air-War-Over-the-Desert-Dr-Mark-Lax-OAM-Air-Commodore-RAAF-Rtd-Former-Director-General-of-Strategic-Policy.pdf‪  "The AFC  In Hotter Climes: The Air War Over The Mesopotamian Desert"]  by Air Commodore Mark Lax. Part of the conference ''By The Seat Of Their Pants'' the Proceedings of the Conference held at the RAAF Museum, Point Cook by Military History And Heritage Victoria 12 November 2012.
**[http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=ODT19160404.2.38 "In Mesopotamia"] ''Otago Daily Times'' , Issue 16660, 4 April 1916, Page 6. Flight Lieutenant J W H Scotland first entered the service of the Indian Government as an aviator, and subsequently served in Mesopotamia.
*[http://www.rafweb.org/Menu.htm  Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation]. The Site Map & Main Menu includes details, including units based there, of various RAF Stations worldwide, listed alphabetically. Not all RAF Stations in India are included, but of those available for India, the following is a selection: [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-A.htm#Agra Agra] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-A.htm#Ambala  Ambala] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-A.htm#Asansol Asanol] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-B.htm#Baigachi Baigachi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-B.htm#Bhopal  Bhopal] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-C.htm#Chaklala Chaklala, Rawalpindi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-D.htm#Delhi  Delhi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-D.htm#Dum%20Dum  Dum Dum, Calcutta] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-K.htm#Kohat  Kohat] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-K.htm#Kolar  Kolar] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-K.htm#Karachi  Karachi (including Drigh Road)] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-L.htm#Lahore  Lahore] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-M.htm#Mauripur  Mauripur, in the vicinity of Karachi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-P.htm#Peshawar  Peshawar] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-P.htm#Poona  Poona] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-R.htm#Ranchi  Ranchi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-R.htm#Risalpur  Risalpur] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-S.htm#St%20Thomas%20Mount  St Thomas Mount] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-S.htm#Secunderabad Secunderabad] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-T.htm#Trichinopoly  Trichinopoly] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-V.htm#Vizagapatam  Vizagapatam] (retrieved 27 June 2014)
*[http://www.rafweb.org/Menu.htm  Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation]. The Site Map & Main Menu includes details, including units based there, of various RAF Stations worldwide, listed alphabetically. Not all RAF Stations in India are included, but of those available for India, the following is a selection: [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-A.htm#Agra Agra] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-A.htm#Ambala  Ambala] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-A.htm#Asansol Asanol] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-B.htm#Baigachi Baigachi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-B.htm#Bhopal  Bhopal] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-C.htm#Chaklala Chaklala, Rawalpindi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-D.htm#Delhi  Delhi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-D.htm#Dum%20Dum  Dum Dum, Calcutta] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-K.htm#Kohat  Kohat] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-K.htm#Kolar  Kolar] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-K.htm#Karachi  Karachi (including Drigh Road)] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-L.htm#Lahore  Lahore] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-M.htm#Mauripur  Mauripur, in the vicinity of Karachi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-P.htm#Peshawar  Peshawar] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-P.htm#Poona  Poona] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-R.htm#Ranchi  Ranchi] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-R.htm#Risalpur  Risalpur] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-S.htm#St%20Thomas%20Mount  St Thomas Mount] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-S.htm#Secunderabad Secunderabad] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-T.htm#Trichinopoly  Trichinopoly] [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-V.htm#Vizagapatam  Vizagapatam] (retrieved 27 June 2014)
*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/index.html Flightgobal Archive],  the original pages of ''Flight Magazine'' from 1909-2005 which are fully searchable.  Contains pages relating to “Service Aviation”. (retrieved 18 April 2014)
*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/index.html Flightgobal Archive],  the original pages of ''Flight Magazine'' from 1909-2005 which are fully searchable.  Contains pages relating to “Service Aviation”. (retrieved 18 April 2014)

Revision as of 08:33, 14 November 2015

Records

The Lists were initially published on a monthly basis. Currently available (at April 2012) are
February 1919, Contents March 1919, Contents April 1919, Contents
May 1919 , Contents June 1919, Contents July 1919, Contents August 1919, Contents
September 1919 Contents October 1919, Contents November 1919, Contents December 1919, Contents
  • 1938 January-September, November, December
  • 1939 January-August, October-December
  • 1940 February-June, August, October, December
  • 1941-1943 January, March, May, July, September, November
  • 1944 January, March, May, July, October
  • 1945 January, April, July.
  • Royal Air Force Muster Roll 1918 held on subscription website findmypast (See external links section).
  • RAF Records Office for personnel enquiries can be contacted at:
RAF Disclosures
Room 221b
Trenchard Hall
RAF Cranwell
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 8HB
Telephone 01400 261201
a. Extension: 8161/8159 for Officers
b. Extension: 8163/8168 for Other Ranks
See the web page Requests for personal data and Service records (gov.uk) for forms to download. Veterans:UK
Also refer to the equivalent section on the Fibiwiki page British Army for some hints which possibly also apply to Royal Air Force records such as requesting FULL records.
  • The Royal Air Force Museum, London, refer External links below, holds some records including First World War Casualty Cards, which extend to 1928 and cover all theatres of operations. Some records including Casualty Cards have now been digitised, and are freely available.

Also see

Indian Central Flying School (Sitapur)

An Indian Central Flying School was established at Sitapur in December, 1913, commanded by an officer of the 29th Punjab Regiment. [1]. Prior to establishment it was stated that "we propose... to confine the work in the first instance to experiments and not to include the tuition of beginners. It is intended to begin with four officers, all of whom are in possession of pilot certificates. They will be provided with six aeroplanes for experimental purposes".[2] The School was part of the Royal Flying Corps, Military Wing, part of the British Army, although details appear in the Navy Lists.[3]. The School was closed on mobilisation.[4]

First World War

The outbreak of World War I saw a small Indian Flying Corps assigned for defence of the Suez Canal against a Turkish attack.[1]

In January 1915, Captain P W L Broke-Smith, Assistant Director of the Indian Flying Corps, set to work to establish an airfield at Basra, in Mesopotamia.[5] A small group of pilots from the Indian Army operated in Mesopotamia, described both as the Indian Flying Corps,[6] or the Mesopotamia Flight, Royal Flying Corps[7], to which was attached an Australian contingent, known as the Mesopotamia Half Flight, or Australian Half Flight.

31 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force

31 Squadron, formed in 1915, was the first operational military unit in Indian skies. During the First World War it was operational in the North West Frontier region of India . During the Second World War it saw action in Iraq and Burma. [8]

North West Frontier

India’s North-West Frontier (now modern-day Pakistan) was divided into three areas for the RAF. The northern area comprised the region to the north of the Khyber Pass up to the foothills of the Himalayas – referred to as the ‘Roof of the World.’ The second or central area lay south west of the Khyber Pass roughly between the rivers Kabul and Kurram. This was universally mountainous, criss-crossed by deep valleys and dried up water courses. The third region was the southern area which lay to the south west of Kohat, from the Kurram River down towards Fort Sandeman and Baluchistan. This was dominated by Waziristan, the storm centre of the frontier and stronghold of tribal resistance.[9]

Also see North West Frontier Campaigns

RAF Chaklala

RAF Chaklala was located in part of Rawalpindi. During World War 2, from 1942 RAF Chaklala was the location of a Paratroopers Training School[10]

World War 2

  • RAF bases at Fazilpur and Feni were forward bases for the invasion of Burma, located in the area of Bengal which is now Bangladesh.[11]
  • There were many airfields in Bengal and the Calcutta area, such as Digri, Salbani, Jessore, Dum Dum, Piardoba, Kharagpur, Alipore, Dhubalia, Pandaveswar, and Barrackpore.[12]

External links

This collision is the subject of this article by DN Singh July 25, 2011, which appears to use details from the report by Matthew J Poole. The article briefly mentions the Air Fighting Training Unit - 228 Group and the Tactical & Weapons Development Unit based at Amarda Road, Orissa and the names of surrounding airfields- Dalbhumgarh, Dudhkundi, Salua, Digri, Salbani and Chakulia
  • With The Royal Air Force In India, [1919] Everyday life for members of 99 (Madras Presidency) Squadron RAF at Ambala, India, June-September 1919. A silent film from Imperial War Museums (retrieved 27 June 2014)
  • Medal Roll for India General Service Medal with clasps 1919-1935: RAF personnel. Surnames A-Brymer only. Includes the Squadrons present. html version pdf version naval-military-press.com. Retrieved 9 August 2014

Individuals

  • Sgt Reginald White, 48 Squadron RAF in the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Retrieved 30 August 2014. 48 Squadron arrived in India by sea and by June 1919 were based in Quetta.
  • Charles Frederick Langley (born 1889). He was in India 1920-23 with the Royal Air Force. His final posting was the RAF base at Risalpur, the new home for 27 Squadron. He was in charge of the base’s three pigeon lofts containing several hundred birds and one of his jobs was to teach the pilots how to handle and release the homing pigeons from the aircraft.[13]
  • John G Walser MC was in India from 1922 to the end of 1925 with the Royal Air Force, including a posting to No. 31 Squadron which was stationed at Dardoni, in Waziristan. He wrote letters to his family detailing his experiences[14]
  • Listen to the 1975 Interview with John William Easton, British NCO who served with 1 Wing, RAF at Miranshah Fort, 1928-1930 including contact with T E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). Imperial War Museums
  • Memoirs: Malcolm Macdougall. He was posted in January 1938 to 20 A.C. Squadron, Northwest Frontier, where he spent two years at Peshawar and one year at Kohat, with occasional detachments to Miramshah (Miranshah?). In 1941 he was posted to 27 Squadron Risalpur which later went to Singapore and Malaysia, then Ceylon. Website of RAF Cranwell Apprentices Association, 29th Entry.
  • Listen to the 1977 interview with Wilfred Randall Page British aircraftman and photographer served with RAF in GB 1933-1935; served with Photographic Section, 28 Sqdn, RAF at Ambala and in Waziristan, India, 1935-1939 Imperial War Museums
  • Listen to the 2008 interview with Gawain Thomas Alexander 'Gavin’ Douglas , born 1914. British officer served in India, with British and Indian Army, 1935-1940; trained as pilot with RAF in India, 1941-1942; served as flying instructor with RAF in India, 1943-1944, served with 28 and 60 Sqdns, RAF in Burma, 1/1945-5/1945; commanded 34 Sqdn in Burma, 5/1945-10/1945; commanded 28 Sqdn, RAF in Burma and Malaya, 1945- 1946; commanded 152 Sqdn, RAF on North West Frontier of India, 1946-1947 Imperial War Museums.
  • A Story of War Colin Diarmid Campbell Dunford Wood, kept war diaries continuously from early 1939. Initially with the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in Waziristan, he later joined the Royal Air Force, flying in Iraq, India and Burma (where he flew the last Hurricane out, before the advancing Japanese) and Europe.
  • Squadron Leader Jack Storey - obituary [1915-2015] 08 February 2015 The Telegraph. He was with No 135 Squadron and fought in the Burma Campaign January 1942 - August 1943, where he accounted for eight Japanese aircraft and was then a gunnery instructor in India for a period.
  • The Mumblings of Edward Sparkes Contents page Flt Lt Edward D S N Sparkes was in the RAF and arrived in India in the latter part of 1943 in the chapter Ashore in Bombay. He subsequently joined X Squadron Royal Indian Air Force and served in Burma until he was invalided back to England in 1945.
  • Listen to the 2003 interview with Jack Gabbutt, British NCO photographer served with 681 and 81 Sqdns, RAF in India, Burma, Malaya and Java, 1944-1947 Imperial War Museums
  • W/O Roy Woodcock was called up in July 1942. Later he was sent to India. Scroll down approximately half way for his account. war-experience.org (retrieved 27 June 2014)
  • Recollections of Sgt Mike Hall, India, 1944-46 paradata.org.uk (retrieved 27 June 2014)
  • "Last stop Karachi 1946!" by John ‘Dusty’ Miller Part 1, Part 2. He was a driver in the RAF and was in India 1945-1947, his last posting in Karachi. www.qissa-khwani.com.

Historical books online

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Flying high at 75" by B. G. Verghese August 5, 2007 Spectrum: The Tribune
  2. ↑ "The Indian Budget 1913" page 216 The Rt. Hon. Mr. E. S. Montagu on Indian Affairs, published 1917. Archive.org.
  3. ↑ Page 431f Monthly Navy List August 1914
  4. ↑ Page 431k The Navy List January 1915
  5. ↑ "Only A Sideshow? The RFC And RAF In Mesopotamia 1914-1918" by Guy Warner. Refer External links
  6. ↑ Old Man. Seeking Info On R.N.A.S. Unit In Mesopotamia, Sept. 1915;June 1916 Great War Forum thread 27 April 2014, quoting "The Indian Flying Corps and the Australian Half-Flight", by Dr. Brian P. Flanagan. Cross and Cockade Journal (Summer, 1976, vol 17 no 2) , the US journal, now renamed Over the Front
  7. ↑ Page 142, Cavalry Of The Clouds Aspects of the Air War in the Eastern Theatre,1914-1918, by CH. Whitley 1997 . Refer External links
  8. ↑ Naval and Military Press publication History Of No.31 Squadron Royal Flying Corps And Royal Air Force in the East from its formation in 1915 to 1950
  9. ↑ "“Good God, Sir, Are You Hurt?” The Realities and Perils of Operating over India’s Troublesome North-West Frontier" by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Roe Air Power Review Volume 14 Number 3 Autumn/Winter 2011 Centre for Air Power Studies, Royal Air Force, page 78 (computer page 89)
  10. ↑ Paratroopers Training School indianairforce.nic.in
  11. ↑ High Wood RAF Fazilpur under construction 1943 WW2Talk Forum 24 December 2014. To view the photographs, you must be logged into WW2Talk Forum. Retrieved 26 December 2014
  12. ↑ Poole, Matt, airlana et al RAF Airfields in Bengal and Arakan WW2Talk Forum 11 December 2009 et al. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  13. ↑ Charles F Langley D C M and Photographs (retrieved 18 April 2014)
  14. ↑ My Father: John G Walser Scroll down for his account of this period. Family website, now archived, (retrieved on 18 April 2014)

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