RAF Third Tactical Air Force
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The RAF Third Tactical Air Force (Third TAF), which was formed in south Asia in December 1943, was one of three tactical air forces formed by the Royal Air Force during World War II. Third TAF was formed shortly after the establishment of South East Asia Command to provide close air support to the Fourteenth Army.
As the Air Force was formed, it was felt that at last British forces could go over to the offensive against the Japanese in Burma. A start was made towards establishing a general offensive in Arakan in early 1943, but this was forestalled by a Japanese offensive. The Japanese were decisively beaten, but the shifted the focus of their attack to central Burma. Third TAF gave sterling service to Fourteenth Army during the Battle of Kohima and the Battle of Imphal, strafing and bombing the besieging Japanese troops, often at very low level.
After the defeat of the Japanese by IV and XXXIII Corps in Assam, the monsoon intervened before many counterattacks could take place. After the enforced period of reduced operations, Third TAF supported the advance of Fourteenth Army against the Japanese forces. However, command arrangement changes at the end of 1944 cut short the life of 3rd TAF. It was redesignated HQ RAF Bengal and Burma in December 1944.
Third TAF had two commanders, Air Vice Marshal John Baldwin up until August 15 1944, and then Air Marshal Sir Alec Coryton.
Third TAF had two Groups:
- No. 221 Group RAF supporting Indian IV Corps.
- During the battle of Imphal there were seldom more than seven squadrons engaged at one time but over the three months' of the siege altogether 21 squadrons took part: including three from the Indian Air Force (Nos. 1, 7 and 9). The R.A.F. squadrons were Nos. 5, 11, 20, 28, 34, 42, 60, 81, 82, 84, 110, 113, 123, 136, 152, 176, 607 and 615.
- No. 224 Group RAF ( commanding officer Air Commodore Alexander Gray) supporting Indian XV Corps. In the 1943–44 campaigning season, this Group comprised:
- Three RAF fighter squadrons equipped with Spitfires (this campaign marked the first time Spitfires were being used in South-East Asia)
- Six fighter-bomber squadrons with Hurricanes (mainly IIc variants)
- A single tactical reconnaissance squadron No. 6 Squadron IAF equipped with the Hurricane IIb
- Two light bomber squadrons (one of which was No. 8 Squadron IAF commanded by Squadron-Leader Niranjan Prasad ), equipped with Vultee Vengeances.
Squadrons
| Squadron | 'Group | Date Joined | Date Left | Details |
| No. 1 Squadron IAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 6 Squadron IAF | 224 | |||
| No. 7 Squadron IAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 8 Squadron IAF | 224 | |||
| No. 9 Squadron IAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 5 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 11 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 20 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 22 Squadron RAF | 224 | 1942 | Duration | Equipping with Beaufighters, undertook anti-shipping rocket attacks. A month after the Japanese surrender, No. 22 Squadron disbanded. |
| No. 28 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 34 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 42 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 60 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 81 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 82 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 84 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 110 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 113 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 123 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 136 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 152 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 176 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 177 Squadron RAF | 224 | Twin-engined, long range, ground attack fighters, Canadians formed a significant percentage of the pilots. During its two year of operations in Burma, it destroyed or damaged 266 locomotives and trains, 673 vehicles, a score of river and ocean-going vessels and nine aircraft on the ground. | ||
| No. 211 Squadron RAF | January 8 1944 | Duration | ||
| No. 152 Squadron RAF | 221 | December 19 1943 | Duration | Fought in the battle of Imphal, operated from front-line strips and supported the Fourteenth Army during its final conquest of Burma. |
| No. 607 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal | ||
| No. 615 Squadron RAF | 221 | Fought in the battle of Imphal |
Also 22 Squadron
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External links
- No. 211 Squadron RAF (http://members.aardvark.net.au/clardo/india_and_burma.html)
- Indian Airforce Offical site: 6 Sqdn (http://indianairforce.nic.in/afsqnn6.htm) No. 6 Squadron, Indian Air Force - The First Five Years (http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/6Sqn-History.html)
- No. 177 Squadron RAF (http://members.shaw.ca/hufilleul/acafinal/atholl.html) No. 177 Squadron RAF (http://www.burmabeaufighters.com/pages/articles/burmarevisited.php)
- RAF at the Battle of Imphal (http://www.chindit.net/marchondelhi.html)