No. 4 Squadron, Indian Air Force
Encyclopedia
No. 4 Squadron, Indian Air Force (Oorials), formed at Peshawar
on 1 February 1942 under the command of Squadron Leader HU 'Bulbul' Khan, was the third Indian Air Force
Squadron to be equipped with the Westland Lysander
Army Co-operation aircraft. Within days of its formation, it moved to its first mission against the tribal fighters on the Northwest Frontier
.
In March 1944, the Squadron moved to Feni to provide close air support to the Fourteenth Army for operations against the Japanese Imperial Army. By the end of June it moved to Cox's Bazar
to relieve No. 6 Squadron. Its missions included attacking the Bashas in Mayu Valley, strafing of sampan
s on the Kaladan River
, bombing of gunpits in Seinnyinbya and offensive reconnaissance missions over most of Arakan
. For the Third Arakan campaign, it received a Spitfire LF Mk VIIIc, the first Spitfire to be operated by the IAF, which operated from Cox's Bazaar path finding for Allied P-47s and P-51s.
In February 1945 the Squadron moved to Akyab.
In 1946, No. 4 Squadron went to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
. Return started in September and was complete by October 1947.
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
on 1 February 1942 under the command of Squadron Leader HU 'Bulbul' Khan, was the third Indian Air Force
IAF
IAF may refer to the following air forces:* Indian Air Force* Indonesian Air Force* Iraqi Air Force* Israeli Air Force* Italian Air ForceIAF may also refer to:* International of Anarchist Federations* Indian Armed Forces...
Squadron to be equipped with the Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
Army Co-operation aircraft. Within days of its formation, it moved to its first mission against the tribal fighters on the Northwest Frontier
Northwest Frontier
North West Frontier is a 1959 British adventure film starring Kenneth More and Lauren Bacall. The film was directed by J. Lee Thompson from a screenplay by Robin Estridge and also features Wilfrid Hyde-White, Herbert Lom and I. S...
.
In March 1944, the Squadron moved to Feni to provide close air support to the Fourteenth Army for operations against the Japanese Imperial Army. By the end of June it moved to Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar is a town, a fishing port and district headquarters in Bangladesh. It is known for its wide sandy beach which is the world's longest natural sandy sea beach. It is an unbroken 125 km sandy sea beach with a gentle slope. It is located 150 km south of Chittagong. Cox’s Bazar...
to relieve No. 6 Squadron. Its missions included attacking the Bashas in Mayu Valley, strafing of sampan
Sampan
A sampan is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat from long. Some sampans include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampans are generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers, and are often used as traditional fishing boats...
s on the Kaladan River
Kaladan River
The Kaladan River is a river in eastern Mizoram State of India, and in Chin State and Rakhine State of western Myanmar. It forms the international border between India and Burma between 22° 47′ 10" N and 22° 11′ 06" N.-Geography:The river arises in central Chin State as the Timit, 22° 49′ 28″ N ...
, bombing of gunpits in Seinnyinbya and offensive reconnaissance missions over most of Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
. For the Third Arakan campaign, it received a Spitfire LF Mk VIIIc, the first Spitfire to be operated by the IAF, which operated from Cox's Bazaar path finding for Allied P-47s and P-51s.
In February 1945 the Squadron moved to Akyab.
In 1946, No. 4 Squadron went to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
. Return started in September and was complete by October 1947.
Sources
- No. 4 Squadron from Bharat-Rakshak