Commonwealth / British Empire - Aircraft of World War II

amrit · 05-01-2007, 10:11 AM

I wanted to find as much information as possible about the contributions of the British Empire / Commonwealth / Dominian states / Mandates, in the air war. I'll start with all he countries that fall within one of the above categories. Some of these states / provinces contributed seperate air forces, as well as joining the RAF. Others provided logistical support. Some may not have made any direct contribution.

1. Aden
2. Anglo Egyptian Sudan
3. Ascension Island
4. Australia
5. Bahamas
6. Barbados
7. Bechuanaland
8. Bermuda
9. Borneo
10. British Guiana
11. British Honduras
12. British Somaliland
13. Burma
14. Cameroon
15. Canada
16. Ceylon
17. Chagos
18. Crozet Island
19. Cyprus
20. Diego Garcia
21. Egypt
22. Ellice Islands
23. Falkland Islands
24. Fiji
25. Gambia
26. Gilbert Islands
27. Gibraltar
28. Gold Coast
29. Gough Island
30. Graham Land
31. Kaiser Wilhelm’s Land
32. Hong Kong
33. India
34. Iraq
35. Jamaica
36. Kenya
37. Malaya
38. Malta
39. Mauritius
40. Naura
41. Newfoundland
42. New Zealand
43. Nigeria
44. Northern Rhodesia
45. Nyasaland
46. Palestine
47. Papua
48. Prince Edward Island
49. Sandwich Islands
50. Seychelles
51. Sierra Leone
52. Socotra
53. South Georgia
54. South Orkneys
55. South Rhodesia
56. South Shetlands
57. South West Africa
58. St Helena
59. Tanganyika
60. Tasmania
61. Transjordan
62. Trinidad
63. Tristan Da Cunha
64. The United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland
65. Uganda
66. Union of South Africa
67. We Hei Wei
68. West Indies

amrit · 05-01-2007, 10:16 AM

Firstly, a list of Air Forces:

Royal Air Force
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)

I'm sure I've missed sombody out - who? (I have not included the USAAF for obvious reasons - but would be interested in information on US personnel in the RAF and RCAF, and any in the other air forces)

amrit · 05-01-2007, 10:25 AM

World War Two

Quote:

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.

* 3 Squadron RAAF
* 10 Squadron RAAF
* 450 Squadron RAAF
* 451 Squadron RAAF
* 452 Squadron RAAF
* 453 Squadron RAAF
* 454 Squadron RAAF
* 455 Squadron RAAF
* 456 Squadron RAAF
* 457 Squadron RAAF
* 458 Squadron RAAF
* 459 Squadron RAAF
* 460 Squadron RAAF
* 461 Squadron RAAF
* 462 Squadron RAAF
* 463 Squadron RAAF
* 464 Squadron RAAF
* 466 Squadron RAAF
* 467 Squadron RAAF

From: Australian Military Units - Second World War (gives summaries of each squadron)

Gnomey · 05-01-2007, 01:03 PM

If I am not mistaken you have missed Rhodesia of the list. I know they had a few pilots in the RAF (and there own Airforce at one point). They were also a base for training pilots if I am not mistaken as well.

amrit · 05-01-2007, 01:39 PM

Thanks Gnomey

Northern Rhodesia is on the first list. I'll see what info I can find on their air force. In the meantime:

Rhodesian aces of WW2

pbfoot · 05-01-2007, 02:31 PM

The RCAF overseas had the 400-450 block of squadrons plus another 26 based in Canada

amrit · 05-01-2007, 02:44 PM

PB, can you provide details please. I'd like people 'in the know' to contribute as much as they can - and you seem to know a lot about the RCAF contribution.

pbfoot · 05-01-2007, 02:59 PM

I suggest this sight and some of the affiliate links like 6 gp and the BCATP
RCAF.com
The summary of the work preformed by the squadrons at home and overseas is but one part of the story. The other part of the story concerns the 249,662 men and women who wore the uniform of the RCAF. Of this total, 93,844 personnel served overseas, the majority with the British rather than Canadian units. Nearly 60 percent of RCAF personnel were with RAF squadrons. The RCAF contribution to the Royal Air Force was significant . At least one in four fighter pilots in the Battle of Malta was from Canada as did one-fifth of Coastal Command's Aircrew. At the end of the war, almost a quarter of Bomber Command's aircrew were from the RCAF.

The RCAF's Roll of Honour contains the names of 17,100 personnel who gave their lives in the service of Canada. Of these fatalities 14,544 occurred overseas - among them 12,266 on operations and 1906 in training accidents. The majority of overseas casualties were with Bomber Command.

Wildcat · 05-01-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amrit

* 3 Squadron RAAF
* 10 Squadron RAAF
* 450 Squadron RAAF
* 451 Squadron RAAF
* 452 Squadron RAAF
* 453 Squadron RAAF
* 454 Squadron RAAF
* 455 Squadron RAAF
* 456 Squadron RAAF
* 457 Squadron RAAF
* 458 Squadron RAAF
* 459 Squadron RAAF
* 460 Squadron RAAF
* 461 Squadron RAAF
* 462 Squadron RAAF
* 463 Squadron RAAF
* 464 Squadron RAAF
* 466 Squadron RAAF
* 467 Squadron RAAF

These are only the RAAF squadrons that served in the ETO/MTO. To add to the list is about 50 squadrons that served in Australia and the Pacific. The RAAF's 1TAF alone had around 20 squadrons in its formation.

All up 189 700 men and 27 000 women served in the RAAF in WWII. Of these 10 754 were Killed. Here is a breakdown of losses in different threatres.

Europe

5504

S and SW Pacific

3527

Middle East

1132

India,Burma

247

Canada

145

Far East

138

Other Areas

61

One interesting fact is that RAAF aircrew serving in Bomber Command made up 2% of all RAAF personell but made up 23% of all Australians killed in WWII.

Doodard · 06-13-2007, 06:03 PM

Royal New Zealand Navy seconded to the Fleet Air Arm of Great Britain

05-01-2007, 10:11 AM	#1
amrit Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 194	Commonwealth / British Empire I wanted to find as much information as possible about the contributions of the British Empire / Commonwealth / Dominian states / Mandates, in the air war. I'll start with all he countries that fall within one of the above categories. Some of these states / provinces contributed seperate air forces, as well as joining the RAF. Others provided logistical support. Some may not have made any *direct* contribution. 1. Aden 2. Anglo Egyptian Sudan 3. Ascension Island 4. Australia 5. Bahamas 6. Barbados 7. Bechuanaland 8. Bermuda 9. Borneo 10. British Guiana 11. British Honduras 12. British Somaliland 13. Burma 14. Cameroon 15. Canada 16. Ceylon 17. Chagos 18. Crozet Island 19. Cyprus 20. Diego Garcia 21. Egypt 22. Ellice Islands 23. Falkland Islands 24. Fiji 25. Gambia 26. Gilbert Islands 27. Gibraltar 28. Gold Coast 29. Gough Island 30. Graham Land 31. Kaiser Wilhelm’s Land 32. Hong Kong 33. India 34. Iraq 35. Jamaica 36. Kenya 37. Malaya 38. Malta 39. Mauritius 40. Naura 41. Newfoundland 42. New Zealand 43. Nigeria 44. Northern Rhodesia 45. Nyasaland 46. Palestine 47. Papua 48. Prince Edward Island 49. Sandwich Islands 50. Seychelles 51. Sierra Leone 52. Socotra 53. South Georgia 54. South Orkneys 55. South Rhodesia 56. South Shetlands 57. South West Africa 58. St Helena 59. Tanganyika 60. Tasmania 61. Transjordan 62. Trinidad 63. Tristan Da Cunha 64. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 65. Uganda 66. Union of South Africa 67. We Hei Wei 68. West Indies

05-01-2007, 01:03 PM	#4
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,224	If I am not mistaken you have missed Rhodesia of the list. I know they had a few pilots in the RAF (and there own Airforce at one point). They were also a base for training pilots if I am not mistaken as well. __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

05-01-2007, 01:39 PM	#5
amrit Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 194	Rhodesia Thanks Gnomey Northern Rhodesia is on the first list. I'll see what info I can find on their air force. In the meantime: Rhodesian aces of WW2

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-01-2007, 10:16 AM	#2
amrit Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 194	Firstly, a list of Air Forces: Royal Air Force 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) I'm sure I've missed sombody out - who? (I have not included the USAAF for obvious reasons - but would be interested in information on US personnel in the RAF and RCAF, and any in the other air forces)

05-01-2007, 02:31 PM	#6
pbfoot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls Posts: 5,588	The RCAF overseas had the 400-450 block of squadrons plus another 26 based in Canada

05-01-2007, 02:44 PM	#7
amrit Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 194	PB, can you provide details please. I'd like people 'in the know' to contribute as much as they can - and you seem to know a lot about the RCAF contribution.

05-01-2007, 02:59 PM	#8
pbfoot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls Posts: 5,588	I suggest this sight and some of the affiliate links like 6 gp and the BCATP RCAF.com The summary of the work preformed by the squadrons at home and overseas is but one part of the story. The other part of the story concerns the 249,662 men and women who wore the uniform of the RCAF. Of this total, 93,844 personnel served overseas, the majority with the British rather than Canadian units. Nearly 60 percent of RCAF personnel were with RAF squadrons. The RCAF contribution to the Royal Air Force was significant . At least one in four fighter pilots in the Battle of Malta was from Canada as did one-fifth of Coastal Command's Aircrew. At the end of the war, almost a quarter of Bomber Command's aircrew were from the RCAF. The RCAF's Roll of Honour contains the names of 17,100 personnel who gave their lives in the service of Canada. Of these fatalities 14,544 occurred overseas - among them 12,266 on operations and 1906 in training accidents. The majority of overseas casualties were with Bomber Command.

06-13-2007, 06:03 PM	#10
Doodard Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 4	Royal New Zealand Navy seconded to the Fleet Air Arm of Great Britain