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11-09-2007, 10:07 AM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Άρης  Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Terra something or other
Posts: 4,413
You're Top Poster: #1   | Allied Air Forces Just how much do we know about the forces involved in the airwar during WW2? Here's a (incomplete) list of the Air Forces involved in the fight against the Axis powers. Feel free to contribute information of a force(s) that you have: British Empire/Dominion Air Forces: Royal Air Force/Fleet Air Arm Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Australian Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force South African Air Force (I don't think they ever had the prefix Royal) Indian Air Force (the prefix Royal was only given in 1945 - hence a lot of documents use IAF) Rhodesian Air Force European Exiled Air Forces Polish Air Force Royal Norwegian Air Force Royal Danish Army Air Corps Armée de l'Air/Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres/ Hellenic Royal Air Force Royal Netherlands Air Force Czechoslovak Air Force Allied Air Forces: Republic of China Air Force Royal Egyptian Air Force Força Aérea Brasileira And of course, the United States, with their various aviation branches.
__________________ _________________  Beaufighter TF Mark Xs (NV427 'EO-L' nearest) of No. 404 Squadron RCAF based at Dallachy, Morayshire, breaking formation during a flight along the Scottish coast. February 1945. |
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11-09-2007, 10:44 AM
| #2 (permalink) |
| Super Moderator   Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 3,062
You're Top Poster: #2  | The Brazilian Air Force – FAB ( Força Aérea Brasileira)  The FAB had a group of pilots and land personel trainned in the United States, the 1º GAvCA (1st Fighter Group), sent to Italy and alocated in the 350th U.S. Army Air Force Fighter Group. The Brazilian pilots actually formed one of the 20 squadrons of the XXII Air Tactic Command, flying the updated P-47D. Their role was very important to the actions of all Allied forces in Italy and the Brazilian pilots were also very praised for their important air-to-ground operations. Many pilots were victims of heavy flack, some were downed , captured by Germans and taken to prisioner camps in Germany... 
__________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm |
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12-09-2007, 09:36 AM
| #3 (permalink) | ||
| Άρης Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Terra something or other
Posts: 4,413
You're Top Poster: #1 | Indian Air Force The best site on the (R)IAF during the war (if the information isn't here then you'll probably won't find it anywhere else on the web): http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Hi...40s/index.html Just a couple of the hundreds of pictures on the site - so well worth a visit (and Jagan, the site owner is very knowledgeable and helpful):  Quote:
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__________________ _________________ Beaufighter TF Mark Xs (NV427 'EO-L' nearest) of No. 404 Squadron RCAF based at Dallachy, Morayshire, breaking formation during a flight along the Scottish coast. February 1945. | ||
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12-09-2007, 09:39 AM
| #4 (permalink) |
| Άρης Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Terra something or other
Posts: 4,413
You're Top Poster: #1 | RNZAF Fighter Pilot Museum This is another excellent site which covers the NZ fighter-pilot contribution to the war, both in the RNZAF and in the RAF: http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/
__________________ _________________ Beaufighter TF Mark Xs (NV427 'EO-L' nearest) of No. 404 Squadron RCAF based at Dallachy, Morayshire, breaking formation during a flight along the Scottish coast. February 1945. |
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12-09-2007, 09:46 AM
| #5 (permalink) |
| Άρης Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Terra something or other
Posts: 4,413
You're Top Poster: #1 | Royal Canadian Air Force A nice summary of all the RCAF Commands and their contributions: http://www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-air-e.htm
__________________ _________________ Beaufighter TF Mark Xs (NV427 'EO-L' nearest) of No. 404 Squadron RCAF based at Dallachy, Morayshire, breaking formation during a flight along the Scottish coast. February 1945. |
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12-09-2007, 01:48 PM
| #6 (permalink) |
| Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 3,062
You're Top Poster: #2 | Royal Australian Air Force http://www.defence.gov.au/Raaf/histo...tory/WW2_2.htm The duration of World War II saw 15,746 RAAF pilots, navigators, wireless operators, gunners and engineers sent to British squadrons and 11,641 to Australian squadrons. These men exemplified themselves in every major campaign front from the Battle of France, Battle of Britain, Normandy invasion, Egypt, the Middle East, Germany, Battle of the Atlantic, the defence of Malta, liberation of Italy, the Battles of the Coral and Bismarck Seas, Defence of Australia, to fighting in India, Burma, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Pacific. When the armistice with Japan was signed on 15 August 1945, the RAAF in the Pacific had a total strength of 131,662 personnel and 3,187 front line aircraft. First Tactical Air Force, the major operational formation, had grown to 18,894 men in April 1945 and operated 20 operational squadrons. In addition to its execution of numerous air operations, the RAAF had also pioneered the development and operation of radar and operated its own shipping in the South West Pacific Area. The RAAF legacy of the Second World War is a proud one, with it now the world's 4th largest Air Force.
__________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm |
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12-09-2007, 02:05 PM
| #7 (permalink) |
| Άρης Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Terra something or other
Posts: 4,413
You're Top Poster: #1 | RAAF Official Histories Volume I – Royal Australian Air Force, 1939–1942 http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=26 Volume II – Air War Against Japan, 1943–1945 http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=27 Volume III – Air War Against Germany and Italy, 1939–1943 http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=28 Volume IV – Air Power Over Europe, 1944–1945 http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=29
__________________ _________________ Beaufighter TF Mark Xs (NV427 'EO-L' nearest) of No. 404 Squadron RCAF based at Dallachy, Morayshire, breaking formation during a flight along the Scottish coast. February 1945. |
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12-09-2007, 02:09 PM
| #8 (permalink) |
| Άρης Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Terra something or other
Posts: 4,413
You're Top Poster: #1 | Royal New Zealand Air Force Official History
__________________ _________________ Beaufighter TF Mark Xs (NV427 'EO-L' nearest) of No. 404 Squadron RCAF based at Dallachy, Morayshire, breaking formation during a flight along the Scottish coast. February 1945. |
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12-09-2007, 02:09 PM
| #9 (permalink) |
| Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 3,062
You're Top Poster: #2 | Royal Rhodesian Air Force WW2
__________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm |
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12-09-2007, 02:16 PM
| #10 (permalink) |
| Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 3,062
You're Top Poster: #2 | Distinguished Pilot of the (RhAF) Service Profile: Archie Wilson For the full story. http://www.defence.gov.au/Raaf/raafm...6-a-wilson.htm Archibald O.G. Wilson ICD OBE DFC (USA) was a volunteer member of the Southern Rhodesian Territorial Army (part-time) when war was declared in 1939. Within a day he offered his services to, and was accepted for pilot training in, the Southern Rhodesian Air Force (SRAF). He was commissioned as a General Duties (GD) Pilot Officer, subsequently flying on two tours of operations. He flew Mk I Hurricanes with No. 274 Squadron, P-40 Tomahawks with No. 250 Squadron, Mks I and IIC Hurricanes with No. 237 Squadron. Joining No. 238 Squadron, he flew Hurricane IICs, Spitfire Vs, VIIIs, and IXs in Fighter Command, Desert Air Force in the Middle East, North Africa, Italy and over the south of France. As a Squadron Leader, Archie took command of No. 238 Squadron in August 1943, and remained in that post until August 1944 when, having completed two tours of operations, he was returned to Southern Rhodesia on posting to RAF Central Flying School (CFS) Norton, for training as a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and was elevated to 'B' category on Cornells and Harvards. He remained on instructional duties at RAF Mt. Hampden, RAF Guinea Fowl and RAF Thornhill until demobilised and transferred to the SRAF Reserve of Officers in November 1945. Additional to the list of aircraft flown on active service, Archie also piloted Tiger Moths, Hawkers: Hart, Audax, Hardy,and Hind, Gloster: Gauntlets and a Gladiator, Vampires, Hunters, Canberras, Miles Magisters, Valencias, Blenheims, Proctors, Beech Barons, Avro Ansons Mks I and IXX, DH Rapides, Otters, Dakotas, Pembrokes, Trojans (AL60s), Chipmunks, Kittyhawk, Navion 262, Cessna 206, Mustang, Meteor and Airspeed Oxford.
__________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm |
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