Upcoming Book on the Indian Air Force in WWII
 

The Forgotten Few: The Indian Air Force in World War II
(Harper Collins India - September? 2019)
by K.S. Nair

KS Nair wrote, "There are many fine books out there about the Indian Army in World War 2. There are books about the air war in the China-Burma-India theatre of World War 2, mostly from a British viewpoint. But there do not seem to be books specifically about India’s own participation in the air war during World War 2, about the young Indian Air Force, and the small band of almost-forgotten Indian aviators of the time, in the larger context of that globe-straddling war. So about a year ago, presumptuous as always, I thought I’d try to write one myself. Now, after a year of dusting off IAF WW2 anecdotes and poring over war diaries and logbooks, I am both proud and slightly nervous to say (drum roll!!) that HarperCollins India have agreed to publish my book."

The book will cover the battles of Imphal, Kohima as well as the Third Arakan campaign.

for a look at the cover art and numerous photos see K S Nair's facebook page.

Re: Upcoming Book on the Indian Air Force in WWII
 

Edward

Not quite true.

In 1961 S.C. Gupta wrote the "History of the Indian Air Force 1933-45"
In 2006 S/Ldr Rana Chhina (yes double h) wrote "The Eagle strikes, the RIAF 1932-1950"
Both books are dominated by WW 2
In 2007 Pushpindar Singh published a three volume set named "Himalayan Eagles" where vol 1 is very much dominated by the history from 1933-45.

I am also pretty certain there are more.

I don't have facebook so it would be nice if you could post a little more about it.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Upcoming Book on the Indian Air Force in WWII
 

A recent newspaper article about the upcoming book.

"Remembering the IAF in a distant war"
"“The Forgotten Few... follows Indian Air Force personnel over England and France and in the Middle East and North African the early years of World War II. They return to India to cover the massive training and airfield-construction effort in the country. These efforts bore fruit just in time for Indian airmen to participate in the war against Japan on the Burma Front, and were the critical turning-points of the Imphal and Kohima battles in North-East India,” says the author K. S. Nair, who has been writing on the Indian Air Force and on military issues in developing countries for over 20 years."

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sund...stant-war.html

Re: Upcoming Book on the Indian Air Force in WWII
 

The book is out and listed through U.S. and U.K. book sellers under the alternate title The Forgotten Few; The Indian Air Force's Contribution in the Second World War ($29.99 hardback - 336 pages) as well as digital download ($5.99)

Plenty of dealers & websites have this listed but be sure to use the alternate title in your searches.

Below is an excerpt from an article that was posted today.

"In Conversation: Author K. S. Nair on his book ‘The Forgotten Few: The Indian Air Force in WW-II’ "
by Sayan Chatterjee
Oct 14, 2019

"The Forgotten Few starts by recounting efforts to establish and build the IAF. When there was an official acceptance at high levels of the Raj-era government, of the need for an Indian Air Force. The book accounts the considerable resistance and skepticism at lower levels, which was there then.

The chapters also follow the struggles of the early years, including for credibility with the British. Growth was painfully slow; attrition among Indian personnel was high; and in even two years into World War-II the IAF had painfully was able to build itself up to just one squadron.

Overall there are total 10 chapters in the new book, to which two chapters were dedicatedly focused on 1944 that witnessed the IAF fully committed to large-scale fighting, as part of the massive offensive into Burma. Attacks into Burma are successful at first but are pushed back by fierce Japanese resistance and terrain challenges. Late during the Arakan campaign, the Japanese launch separate offensives themselves, on both the Northern and the Southern ends of the front. IAF squadrons are closely involved in the quick blunting of the Japanese offensive in the South; but the Northern one succeeds at first, and three crack Japanese divisions fight their way to within a stone’s throw of the plains of Assam. The IAF is then called to join the critical battles of Kohima and Imphal, which represent the final turn of the tide in Burma against the Japanese."

https://newsmeter.in/in-conversation...f-the-unsungs/

Re: Upcoming Book on the Indian Air Force in WWII
 

Hi Everyone! On the topic of the Indian Air force in WW2, if you are ever in India, you must check out the Indian Air Force museum at Palam, New Delhi, India. They have a bunch of British and American WW2 warbirds there on display. Among them, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIII and VIII, a Hawker Hurricane Mk II B, a Hawker Tempest Mk II, a Westland Lysander, a Douglas C47 Dakota and a Consolidated B-24 Liberator. Some of the other warbirds that caught my attention were a De Havilland Tiger Moth, a Percival Prentice IV and a North American Texan/Harvard. I wish the condition of these aircraft were better but it was just awesome seeing them there!
Cheers!
Saif

Re: Upcoming Book on the Indian Air Force in WWII
 

amazon.in


https://www.amazon.in/dp/9353570670

Re: Upcoming Book on the Indian Air Force in WWII
 

Amazon UK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-I...WY48DZMCQD2RCK