No. 4 Squadron (IAF) during the Second World War

No.4 Squadron, IAF, served as a fighter-bomber squadron over Burma between April 1944 and April 1945, before taking part in the Allied occupation of Japan.

No.4 Squadron was the first Indian Air Force squadron formed after the Japanese entry into the war. It was formed on 1 February 1942 as a tactical reconnaissance squadron equipped with the Westland Lysander, receiving some aircraft from No.1 Squadron, IAF, and some new aircraft from Britain. These were used on the North West Frontier before being replaced with Hawker Hurricanes in August 1943.

At the start of 1944 the squadron received operational training in the use of the Hurricane as a fighter-bomber, before in March moving to the Burma front. Fighter-bomber missions began in April, and continued until April 1945. During this period the squadron operated in support of the Allied armies in Burma.

In April 1945 the squadron was withdrawn to convert to the Spitfire. The new aircraft arrived in June 1945, too late for the squadron to return to the front. In March 1946 No.5 Squadron, IAF, moved to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. The squadron, along with Nos.11 and 17 Squadrons RAF, traveled to Japan on the carrier HMS Vengeance, and operations began on 30 April 1946.

The squadron remained in Japan for just over a year. In July 1947 the squadron's personnel departed for India, leaving the Spitfires in Japan. Once back in India the squadron became part of the newly independent Royal Indian Air Force, flying the Hawker Tempest.

Location
February 1942: Peshawar
February 1942-June 1943: Kohat
April-September 1942: Detachment to Miranshah
September 1942-February 1943: Detachment to Hyderabad
June-August 1943: Risalpur
August-September 1943: Phaphamau
September-November 1943: Bairagarh
November-December 1943: Sulur
December 1943-February 1944: Yelahanka
February 1944-March 1945: Ranchi
March-July 1944: Feni
July 1944-January 1945: Cox's Bazaar
January-March 1945: Madhaibun (Madarboniya, NW Burmese coast)
March-April 1945: Kyaukpyu
April 1945-March 1946: Yelahanka
March-May 1946: Iwakuni (Japan)
May 1946-July 1947: Miho (Japan)
July 1947: Return to India

Duty
July 1944: No.167 Wing, No.224 Group, Third Tactical Air Force, Eastern Air Command

Bookmark this page: Delicious Facebook StumbleUpon

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (9 November 2009), No. 4 Squadron (IAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/IAF/4_wwII.html