Sure, except that (a) I was in the RAF, so parti pris (b) in almost all theatres of war there is organisationally only one Air Force (in British practice one RAF Command or Tactical Air Force) - so the Indian Air Force contributed units and personnel to Burma while remaining nominally in Delhi or wherever (c) my underlying theme is that, while so many people fought and died so bravely, there was almost a collective paranoeia about not being appreciated - RAF 224 Group against 221 Group, Arakan against Main Force, Hussain's Auxiliary Pioneers against any infantry unit, any unit that was visited by the bigwigs against any that was not, it goes on and on (d) in inverse proportion to the army situation (and indeed that of the Royal Indian Navy), the flying squadrons were very largely manned by white airmen of all ranks from UK and the dominions, trained far away from India, often flying their aircraft all the way from UK. Typical might be 177 Squadron RAF, a Beaufighter squadron in Burma for almost all of its 2 years of life. I have two private histories on my shelf. Of the 160-odd aircrew and 220-odd groundcrew, the only IAF representative seems to have been a Flt Lt Z A Aziz, the squadron signals officer for the last year. I believe the Indian Air Force was markedly undeveloped before the war, so was unable to play a leading role in the War. Some individuals like Flt Lt Aziz would have used ability, education and perhaps wealth to make their mark in spite of that. Members of the IAF who survived the war experience of course became distinguished figures in their redoubtable national air forces afterwards. Rupert Butler -----Original Message----- From: india-british-raj-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:india-british-raj-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of John Feltham Sent: 30 April 2008 13:20 To: india-british-raj@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] REMEMBERING THE FORGOTTEN ARMY G'day Rupert, On 30/04/2008, at 9:46 PM, Butler - business and family wrote: << The Royal Air Force played a most important part in the victory, both firstly by cutting the supply lines to the Japanese who might otherwise have overwhelmed the defenders of Imphal and Kohima and then by supplying our advancing forces. These airmen often felt that, in theatre at the time and even in the published official histories, they were the Forgotten Air Force. Can I suggest that the Forgotten Air Force in Burma might be the Indian Air Force? ooroo If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. Anon. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.6/1404 - Release Date: 29/04/2008 18:27 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.6/1404 - Release Date: 29/04/2008 18:27

G'day Rupert, On 30/04/2008, at 11:28 PM, Butler - business and family wrote: << Sure, except that (a) I was in the RAF, so parti pris (b) in almost all theatres of war there is organisationally only one Air Force (in British practice one RAF Command or Tactical Air Force) - so the Indian Air Force contributed units and personnel to Burma while remaining nominally in Delhi or wherever (c) my underlying theme is that, while so many people fought and died so bravely, there was almost a collective paranoeia about not being appreciated - RAF 224 Group against 221 Group, Arakan against Main Force, Hussain's Auxiliary Pioneers against any infantry unit, any unit that was visited by the bigwigs against any that was not >> large snip 8<....... Thanks for that informative precis. You might not have heard of an old boy of my school, Group Captain MPO Blake. IAF., VrC., who flew Hurricanes with the RAF and IAF in Burma. Some of his stories can be found at www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Sites/Blake.html ooroo If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. Anon.

Yes, Micky is also featured on the AIHC website. :))) Cheers, Lynne. :)) ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Feltham" <wulguru.wantok@gmail.com> To: <india-british-raj@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 10:01 AM Subject: Re: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] REMEMBERING THE FORGOTTEN ARMY > G'day Rupert, > > On 30/04/2008, at 11:28 PM, Butler - business and family wrote: > > << Sure, except that (a) I was in the RAF, so parti pris (b) in almost > all > theatres of war there is organisationally only one Air Force (in British > practice one RAF Command or Tactical Air Force) - so the Indian Air > Force > contributed units and personnel to Burma while remaining nominally in > Delhi > or wherever (c) my underlying theme is that, while so many people > fought and > died so bravely, there was almost a collective paranoeia about not being > appreciated - RAF 224 Group against 221 Group, Arakan against Main > Force, > Hussain's Auxiliary Pioneers against any infantry unit, any unit that > was > visited by the bigwigs against any that was not >> > > large snip 8<....... > > Thanks for that informative precis. > > You might not have heard of an old boy of my school, Group Captain MPO > Blake. IAF., VrC., who flew Hurricanes with the RAF and IAF in Burma. > > Some of his stories can be found at > > www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Sites/Blake.html > > > > ooroo > > If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. > > Anon. > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.6/1407 - Release Date: 4/30/2008 > 11:35 AM > >