| World
War 2 Aircraft |
| Wapiti |
K 813 |
| Lysander |
1589 |
| Hurricane II |
AB 832 |
| Spitfire XVIII |
HS 986 |
| Tempest II |
HA 623 |
| Prentice |
IV 336 |
| MXY-7 Okha |
None |
The Indian Air Force fielded ten
squadrons during World War 2. Flying in the China-Burma-India theatre, these squadrons
flew a variety of aircraft. The initial years of the war, the squadrons were equipped with
obsolete aircraft like the Wapiti, Hart, Audax and the Lysander. As the war progressed,
relatively modern aircraft like the Hawker Hurricane, the Vultee Vengeance, and the
Supermarine Spitfire found their place in the IAF squadrons at the front.
The end of the Second World War and
the subsequent partition of the IAF saw more modern aircraft coming in. The Hawker Tempest
was acquired in good numbers.
The IAF Museum has examples of all
the major aircraft with the exception of the Vultee Vengeance. The Lysander was
obtained on exchange for a Liberator. Even though we do not have information, the Wapiti
and Hurricane too might have been obtained similarly, but information on these particular
aircraft is not available and is much appreciated if someone can throw light on them.
A few other examples can be found in
the Vintage Aircraft Flight, mainly the Tigermoth, Harvard and the Spitfire. The former
two being in airworthy condition solely because they were retained in the training role
for quite a period after Independence. The Harvard flew till the early 70s.
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| Westland Wapiti - K 813 The Wapiti was the first aircraft to equip the Indian
Air Force, serving for nearly ten years from 1933 to 1942. The Wapiti K 813 on display in
the IAF Museum is believed to be one of the only two such examples in existance today.
Presently the Wapiti is carrying inaccurate markings in such it has a green inner roundel
instead of red. |
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| Westland Lysander -
"1589" Affectionately
called the "Lizzie" , The Lysander was an excellent aircraft for air observation
and support. Capable of flying as slow as 55mph! This Lysander was obtained from the
National War Museum , Ontario Canada in exchange for a B-24 Liberator in 1969. The
Lizzie equipped No.1 and No.2 Squadrons during the Second World War. The Lysander still
retains its Original RCAF serial 1589. |
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Hawker Hurricane - Mk II - AB 832 Hurricane AB 832 without its undercarraige covers. The
covers went missing sometime between 1992 and 1997. The Hurricane was the most used
aircraft in combat during World War 2, equipping no less than eight squadrons at one point
of time. |
| Supermarine Spitfire XVIII - HS
986 The Sleek lines of
the Spitfire's silhoutte's are highlighted by the open hangar door. This version of the
Spitfire was equipped by the Rolls Royce Griffon engine, as opposed to the earlier Merlin
engined versions. HS 986 was earlier in plain metal finish,now adorns the familiar
grey-green camo scheme. Only two squadrons saw action with Spitfires. Nos 8 and 4 Sqns. |
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Hawker Tempest II - HA 623 Strictly speaking the Tempest was not flown by the IAF
in WW2, but equipped the IAF immediately after WW2. HA 623 is one of the dozen Tempest
aircraft surviving in the world today. About seven airframes were auctioned off in the
late seventies, when they were picked up by western warbird collectors. |
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| Percival Prentice - IV 336 The Prentice was the mainstay of basic flying training
in the late forties and early fifites along with the Fairchild Cornell. |
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| Yokosuka MXY-7 Okha
(Cherry Blossom) - Allied Code Name : Baka A surprise exhibit at the Indian Air Force Museum, is
this Japanese Sucide Rocket airplane. Dropped from another aircraft like the
Mitsubishi Betty bomber, the Okha (Japanese for Cherry Blossom) was flown by a kamikaze
pilot who would target allied warships in a sucide dive. These rocket aircraft were almost
impossible to intercept by the Seafires or the Corsairs patrolling the allied convoys.
This particular example was reported to have been found in Japan and bought back by pilots
of No.4 Squadron who formed part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan
after its surrender to the allies. |
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