INDIA’S AIR FORCE

Evening Star, Issue 23829, 8 March 1941, Page 6

INDIA’S AIR FORCE

PROGRESS IK FLYING CONSIDERABLY INCREASED MANUFACTURE OF MACHINES • I well remember an occasion sopn after the Great AVar, how greatly tlip narrative of my Edinburgh experienceduring a Zeppelin raid; had bewildered my Indian peasant audience. They could not credit the fact that “ human beings sitting in metal structures could float in vacant spaces,” as they put itMy assurance only served to deepen the mystery. But, as is usual in regions of the 11 back of beyond,” an elder of the village had an explanation to offer. 11 It must be a new kind of Jinn,” ho said, “ or maybe some sort of magio carpet which the mighty Sultans used to have. Allah only knows!” EL» stroked his beard. A Brahmin, not desiring to lag behind his Mohammedan compatriot, gave a reason according to his Hindu knowledge : “ Or it may be similar to the Fly Carriage employed by Rama in rescuing, his bride from Ceylon. . • . .” Thera were as many conjectures about the sorcery of the air as there were tongues;, nobody would agree that it was aught other than witchery. And I left it atthat. / ' ' Yet, a few years later, when F metsome of those doubting ones, they were very different men, for they had not only seen “ bird men and bird women ” fly over their villages, but that a number of youths from their own provinca l had actually been receiving training in. various Indian aviation centres. And although the Indians may be slow to credit the presence of a new invention, yet they are extremely quick in adopt-, mg it once it is “there.” RAPID DEVELOPMENT IN AVIATION. This accounts, therefore, for the extraordinarily rapid . development ia Indian civil aviation within the last 10 or 12 years. The war, however, has so considerably increased the progress m flying that India is now one of the most important imperial reservoirs not only for recruitment of personnel, hue active steps are now under consideration regarding the manufacture of aircrafts there, on a large scale. The urgent need of all aircraft, and material for constructing them, as well as for trained pilots, which we have at the moment, draws our attention to the fact that all help in that regard itf forthcoming from India, and a number, of Indian pilots have already arrived in this country for service with the R.A.F. Nevertheless, the value of India’s Help in this connection cannot be fully appreciated without having some further details of the cheery story of the development of the Indian Air Force, which will have bo play a deciding role in the Middle Eastern sectors of war. It was about eight years ago when the Indian Air Force was started, when the first Indian cadets were trained at Cranwell. Before this war the fores consisted only of headquarters and two flights, with a complement of 16 offi-, cers and 152 air ratings. The outbreak of the war, of course, immediately, saw a considerable increase not only in its activity, but in its number of personnel. The result was that_ the first squadron—an- army co-operation squadron as it is-r-is now fully equipped, and with the exception of certain members of technical staff the entire personnel is Indian. . LARGE TRAINING SCHEME. More men are being enrolled and are being trained for the formation of .a second squadron. A number of trained pilots and mechanics are to bo kept in reserve for the purpose of being drawn, on for further expansion. Authorities have taken the decision that various service schools are immediately to be started, and it is hoped to get.aircraft for training purposes from Great Britain; those qualifying from these schools will at once enter service, whilst civilian flying clubs are being used for the preliminary training of candidates. The first step in the creation of this new reserve entails the training of 500 additional pilots and 2,000 mechanics. In order to manifest India’s _ desire to help to her utmost capacity in war effort, the Government of India has now appointed its representative-to be attached to the British Supply Board in the United States, the purpose of his mission being to buy plant, machinery, machine tools, aircraft, and other essentials which might be available after British requirements have been satisfied. It has been shown-that potentialpilots and observers, are available id large numbers in India; and experts have already been convinced that the material is excellent, for the quality of service has proved them to be so, as evinced by the work of the Volunteer Air Force Reserve, which has been formed for defence duties mainly on tbs Indian coastal area. INDIANS’ KEENNESS. The keenness and aptitude shown by the Indians is admitted, and the number of volunteers is so overwhelmihg that the authorities find it sometimes difficult to fit them into units as quickly as the young men of India want “to be in the air.” And although the response is so very great, and loyalty to the cause beyond reproach, every Indian "wants to see the speedy fall of Nazism! It must be remembered that this loyalty to the Empire is by no means a new-born thing, the romance of the recent development in Indian aviation notwithstanding, for even during the last Great War Indians had served with 1 distinction with the Royal Air Force; and I vnvself have £ecn how many young Indians in London on the outbreak of the war heseiged the Indian High Commissioner’s office desiring opportunities to serve in any capacity towards the prosecution of the British struggle against those who will_ deny the world the human right to live as free men. India’s help in aviation will be a worthy help; and it will soon, very soon, make itself felt. More glory to it!—llchal Ali Shah, in the ‘ Weekly Scotsman.’