A.C.S.E.A
 

Hi,

Can anyone please let me know what the above stands for?

May have something to do with the Far-East?


TIA

Steve

Re: A.C.S.E.A
 

Air Command, South East Asia, Steve.

Re: A.C.S.E.A
 

Thank you.

Would I be right in saying this was also known as Tiger Force ?

TIA

Steve

Re: A.C.S.E.A
 

I don't think so. They seem to have been about a bit earlier.


https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documen...st-Air-War.pdf


HQ ACSEA file(s) at Kew:


http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...e+dates=Refine

Re: A.C.S.E.A
 

Thanks again.

I am confused, No.218 Squadron was informed in July 1945 that it was chosen to join A.C.S.E.A, not knowing mich about this theatre of operations, I presume this is Tiger Force.

Thanks again.

Steve

Re: A.C.S.E.A
 

Hi Steve

I am no more familiar with this than you, but from a quick look on the 'net (Wiki mainly, sorry) it would appear that ACSEA (Air Command SE Asia) was the 'air force arm' fighting in the Far East from 1943 onwards (India/Burma/Thailand etc) whereas Tiger Force was planned to be formed of the RAF and Commonwealth's heavy bombers (RAF/RCAF/RAAF/RNZAF) when they transferred out to the Far East following the ending of the European war in May '45. (Don't forget that the Japanese war carried on for another 3 months until the atomic bombs drew that one to a prompt close).

I haven't looked into how Tiger Force would have related to ACSEA - perhaps it would have been a sort of 'Bomber Command' (heavies) part of it?

I imagine 218 was planned to have been part of Tiger Force - maybe thus coming under the 'umbrella' of ACSEA?

Ian

Re: A.C.S.E.A
 

Hi Ian,

Thank you for your reply.

I spoke to an ex Lanc flight engineer who was on the squadron in July 1945, he seems to remember being told that the 'new' crews were to be posted with the squadron to the Far East for GH H2S marking - bombing operations.

But......... I have not seen this in writing anywhere.

Regards

Steve

Re: A.C.S.E.A
 

Hi Steve

That sort of sounds like it would make sense. Crews were still being sent to the squadrons at (and beyond) the end of the war in Europe so as, at that time (May/June/July '45), they were 'out of a job' (in bombing Europe at least) and the war -v- Japan was still ongoing, eyes must have been turning to their redeployment out there.

As I said, I don't know how far 'beyond paper' things had got with setting up and operating Tiger Force, but that may well have been 'the word' as to what would be happening next, and that fits in with what your man heard.

Must have been a lot to organise, the mass transfer of a chunk of Bomber Command with its heavy bombers, crews, personnel, supplies, admin and equipment, 9,000-or-so miles out to the FE!

But the atomic bombs suddenly called a halt to that idea too.

Ian

Re: A.C.S.E.A
 

Steve,

Might I suggest you take a look at the following article in the RAF Historical Society Journal:

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/researc...-journals.aspx

Open Journal No.44 - got to pp.68-98 (pdf).

Whilst the article focuses on aerial refuelling, there is other relevant information on "Tiger Force".

See also:

"Tiger Force" How Britain would have bombed Japan in 1945.
Bruce Robertson
Air Pictorial - Vol.36, No.10 (October 1974)
pp.388-91.

Should answer most of your remaining queries.

Usual problem - no scanner - hopefully, someone else can help.

Col.