The Sqns raised prior to independence were setup as IAF sqns, with the exception of ONE unique sqn which was a Royal Air Force Sqn & was “indianised” on 1 November 1947. Consequently, this is the IAF Sqn with the oldest pedigree, going back to 1928. Guesses? (1/5)
Air headquarter Communication Flight was set up on 16 October 1928 at Lahore (Then called Aircraft park) as the Communication unit supporting the AirHQ of the Air Forces in India and operated the Valentia Aircraft. 2/
In April 1942 RAF Station, New Delhi was formed at the Wellington Camp (Safdarjung airport) and the communication flight (Now upgraded to a Unit) started operating out of this base till June 1946 using a considerably large number of RAF aircraft types. 3/
In April 1946, the unit was renamed as Air HQ Comm Squadron, just as Air HQ was reformed at Delhi after the end of WWII. In June 1946, the unit moved to RAF Palam under the command of Wg Cdr Leofric Trevor Bryant-Fenn and from June 47 under Wg Cdr Reginald Douglas Baughan. 4/
On 31 October 1947, the RAF crew and aircraft on AirHQ Comm Sqn left the unit, and on 1 November 1947, IAF officers with 2 Oxford and 2 Harvard aircraft took over the Sqn. The “RAF” was replaced with “RIAF” in the names of Air HQ, Palam Station, and Comm Sqn. 5/5
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