Allied Aircraft in the CBI

ALLIED AIRCRAFT IN THE CBI

(Artwork supplied courtesy of Mr. Nick King)

Brewster Buffalo: Brewster Buffalo Mk. I (B-339E) W8243 of 67 Sqn,. RAF at Mingaladon late 1941-early 1942 defending Rangoon with the AVG. Due to heavy losses the squadron was re-established at Alipore in June 1942 with Hurricanes. The undersides are a sky blue and black divided down the centreline.

Bristol Beaufighter: Late production Beaufighter TFX from No. 22 Sqn RAF with rocket rails and radar in a "thimble" nose. As many missions were overwater the finish is a faded Temperate Sea Scheme of Dark Slate Grey-Extra Dark Sea Grey - Sky. Stations were Bengal-Assam-Ceylon.

See also: 177 Squadron in Burma 1943-1945

Bristol Blenheim V: A Bristol Blenheim V (known as the "Bisley" for a short time) a not-too-successful medium bomber used by 3 squadrons in the Far East from 1942-43. Fortunately they were able to re-equip with Hurricanes from mid-1943. BA952 was from 113 Sqn. RAF whose stations included Asansol, Feni and Chandina. Standard Temperate day bomber finish but the red was not removed from the insigniae.

Consolidated B-24: Liberator B.VI (B-24J) serial KL629 of No. 99 Sq. RAF ("Madras Presidency") with Emerson nose turret based at Dhubalia 1944-45. Originally olive drab-neutral grey, the undersides were later painted black for night missions. The white disc on the tail is the squadron marking.

Consolidated B-24: Liberator B.VI / B.VIII squadrons of 231 Group, Eastern Air Command

Consolidated B-24:

Consolidated Catalina IVB (Canadian-built PBY-5): Catalina IVB of 205 Sqn. RAF stationed at Koggala (Ceylon) in 1944-45. (Under an agreement reached between the Canadian and US governments, production lines were laid down in Canada, by Boeing Aircraft of Canada (as the PB2B-1) in Vancouver, and by Canadian Vickers (PBV-1) at the Canadair plant in Cartierville. Canadian aircraft were known as the "Canso".) They flew over the Indian Ocean and coastlines. Finish is Extra Dark Sea Grey over white, the standard colour at this time.

Curtiss Mohawk: No. 155 Sq. had Mohawks (variation of the Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also know as Curtiss Hawk Model 75) from Aug 1942-Jan 1944 when they received Spitfire VIIIs. The yellow markings were to avoid confusion with radial-engined Japanese fighters especially Oscars which had a similar wing-plan.

The national insignia had the red painted out with white. Later that year the white was replaced with pale blue (the white was TOO visible ). Undersides were medium sea grey.

Curtiss Hawk: Hawk 81A-2, rather than a P-40B or C. It's from the 3rd Pursuit Sq (AVG) (ex-2nd Pursuit Sq) serial P-8123. The original numbers below the cockpit and above the eye have been overpainted. The wing insignia is in 4 positions; the decorated wheels are typical of the 3rd. At the time the 3rd PS was probably at Kunming.

Curtiss Warhawk: One of the first P-40Es assigned to the AVG about March-April 1942 (probably at Kunming). The fuselage stars were painted out, and CAF stars put in 4 wing positions. Standard OD-NG finish with "US ARMY" under wings. The Disney Tiger decal faced forward both sides. They did not have Chinese serials on the tail. The bomb is possibly Russian.

Curtiss Warhawk: P-40K formerly of the 51st FG in Assam, retired to an Indian base (probably Malir) to train CACW pilots. It still carries 2 Japanese flags from it's service with the 26th FS; several others from this squadron had this "long" sharkmouth. Finish is a well-worn brown-green-grey with "US ARMY" underwing. The rudder is either repainted or a replacement.

DeHavilland Mosquito: Mosquito PR Mk. XVI of 684 Sq. at Alipore in 1945. It may have served with 681 Sdn. also as 684 Sq. was formed from 681 Sq. at Dum Dum in Sept. 1943.

Douglas Dakota: Dakota Mk. I from 353 Sqn. RAF in 1944. Their duties included flying the Hump, the usual route was Dum Dum (Calcutta)-Dinjan-Kunming. Standard USAAF finish with original RAF insigniae overpainted.

Douglas DC-2: One of several DC-2s flown by 31 Sqn. RAF between April 1941-April 1943 when they received DC-3s and Dakotas. The detachments operated from many stations including Dum Dum, Palam and Akyab. It still has a civil registration with RAF serial DG478 added. As the letters are still on the undersides they are probably still aluminium. 31 Sqn. spent half it's existence (1915-47) in the Far East.

Grumman Hellcat: Hellcat II (F6F-5) from 804 Sqn. Fleet Air Arm (FAA) on the escort carrier HMS Ameer in the Indian Ocean in 1945, operating over Burma and Malaya. The nose band is non-standard and the codes are sky; the large upper wing roundels have white outlines.

Hawker Hart: Hawker Hart (India) from 27 Sqn. RAF which acted as a Flying Training School at Risalpur 1939-40; still carrying pre-war colours and being so far from the front had no real need for camouflage. The squadron was re-formed in India in 1942 with Beaufighters.

Hawker Hurricane: Hurricane IIc ( Trop ) serial KZ371 of No. 1 Sqn. Indian Air Force based in Bengal-Assam-Burma 1943-45. Standard RAF Temperate scheme, green-brown-sky, light grey codes.

Hurricanes equipped 8 squadrons of the IAF from 1942-45. Their light bombers were Vengeances. In Feb. 1944 a Hurricane of No. 6 Sqn. IAF shot down an Oscar, the only air victory for the IAF in WW2.

Hawker Hurricane: Hurricane IIA in temporary white ferry markings. It was seen in India before assignment to a squadron. Markings are top fuselage, tops of tailplanes (minus elevators), and white panel on top of sliding canopy, plus ferry no. "6".

The usual ferry route was W. Africa (Takoradi in Ghana), Lagos, Kano, Khartoum, Cairo, Bahrein, Karachi, Delhi, Calcutta (then Rangoon and Singapore before their capture) - hence the faded colours. Note wing tanks.

North American Harvard: Harvard IIb of No. 1 (India) Communications Flight at Peshawa (now in Pakistan) in 1945.

North American B-25 Mitchell: Mitchell II (B-25C), one of 5 ex-Dutch Mitchells employed by No.5 PRU in India in 1942-43; re-numbered as 3 PRU in April 1942 and expanded as 681 Sqn. in Jan. 1943 at Dum Dum. The Dutch serial was N5-148 (N=North American, 5= bomber type). All armament removed, top turret opening faired over; extra fuel tanks and 3 cameras fitted. Finish was a locally-applied mixed dark blue with sky or possibly grey letter; the only other markings were cocardes above wings.

Republic P-43 Lancer: Republic P-43A-1 Lancer of the CAF attached to the 23d FG at Kunming in 1942. It has a 23d side number and a Chinese tail serial P-1237. It may have had CAF stars below the wings only.

Republic Thunderbolt: Late model Thunderbolt II (P-47D-30-RA) (earlier ones were camouflaged) from 30 Sqn. RAF in 1945. Stations included Akyab, Chakulia and Vizagapatam. The palm tree is part of the squadron badge and relates to their lomg service in the Middle East from WWI (1915) to 1942, including Iraq.

Stinson (Vultee) L-1F: The sole Stinson (Vultee) L-1F amphibian converted from an L-1A for air ambulance-rescue duties in Burma 1944; possibly attached to the 1st Liason Group (P) or 1st ACG. Colour scheme is the AAF "sea search" of Olive Drab over white.

Supermarine Spitfire: Spitfire Vc Trop. delivered to India Aug. 1943 to 615 Sqn. RAF, veteran of the Battle of Britain. Squadron stations included Dohazari, Silchar and Palel. Originally in the "overseas" scheme of Dark Earth / Mid-Stone, the latter repainted Dark Green. The light undersides were probably in the original Light Blue or possibly Sky. The pilot was F/O Weggery from New Zealand, hence the fern leaf. The name under the cockpit in very small white letters was "VERNA JUNE II ".

Supermarine Spitfire: Spitfire PR.XI of No. 681 Sqn RAF, at various bases in India and Burma 1944-45. RAF PRU blue overall, sky grey codes and serials.

Vultee Vengeance: Vultee Vengeance I / II (A.31) of No. 45 Sqn RAF in 1943, stations included Cholavaram (Madras) and Digri. 4 RAF and 2 IAF squadrons flew them operationally plus several target-tow units. The red in the insignia has been overpainted light blue hence the non-standard proportions. Converted to Mosquitos in Feb. 1944.