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The Indian Air Force in World War Two - A Pictorial History
IAF Pilots in the RAF
IAF Pilots in the RAF
Many good photos at the link.Few people realise that a number of Indian pilots took part in operations from England. At the height of the Battle of Britain, 24 Indian pilots were sent to the UK to under go conversion training and participate in Ops. Even though they could take part only after the Battle of Britain, many of them distinguished themselves flying operations with the various commands.
Of the 24, eight were destined never to return. The remaining sixteen officers came back and bought with them the experiences of flying in the European theatre. One of those who returned, 'Chacha' Manmohan Singh, died in a Japanese air raid on Broome.
A number of Indians who were domiciled in England directly joined the Royal Air Force or the RAFVR. As did many Anglo Indians. Indians flew rhubarbs with Fighter command, night raids with bomber command, coastal patrols and a few even made it to North Africa and Malta!
The aircraft that they operated varied from obsolete types like the Magister, Whitley, Wellington to the more modern types like the Stirling, Lancaster, Mitchell Bombers and Whirlwind, Tempest Mustang and even the latest Meteor III jet fighters.