Bf109E located in India

RE: Bf109E located in India + Connection to RAFM DH-9A

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-09-02 AT 07:35 AM (GMT)]The one piece of information I would add, to what’s already on at WIX, is that Jagan, a participant in the discussions at WIX and webmaster of the Warbirds of India site http://www.warbirdsofindia.com/ , has some information on why this aircraft was taken to India. It was actually forced down by an RAF squadron personally funded by the Nizam of Hyderabad during WW2. This was probably No 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron, http://www.152hyderabad.co.uk/ , which served in the BoB, North Africa and India during WW2. If I’m not mistaken, one of the BBMF Spitfires (PS 915) carried the markings of this squadron (UM codes), at least for a period.

The Nizam was one of the wealthiest of the 500-odd Indian princes of the time, was regarded as a strong supporter of the British, and provided a great deal of financial and material support to the war effort. The display of this aircraft in India, as a war trophy, was probably a reward for the Nizam’s contributions.

Incidentally the DH-9A currently on display at the RAF Museum is also a survivor of another squadron, No 110, funded by the Nizam of Hyderabad during WW1. That squadron was in fact officially known at the time as “No 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron”, and incorporated a version of the Nizam’s crest into its squadron badge.

Regards,

Snoopy