I know Hindustan Aircraft Limited (HAL today in Banglaore) built some “Vultee” aircraft that went to China. I forget the actual make and model but certainly not the Vengeance

MikeJ,

The Tiggie was flying at the Air Force Day Parade last week on October 8th. So Unless something happened since then..

Yes, there are Jupiters “out there” and other Wapitis too, looking to be “reborn”. Yes, I would love to see a Jupiter running again, hopefully attached to a Wapiti, despite what some the damp squibs say here.

I am with AMB .. I wouldnt want to touch the IAF Museum’s Wapiti. If they are really interested they should restore the other aircraft (Spitfire, Hurricane, Tempest, Gnat, Marut etc) first.

And they can really afford to build a Wapiti from scratch.. why touch an existing genuine example..(even though incomplete in many aspects)

Jagan,

Well met ! It is long, long ago (almost 70 years) and I’m afraid memories for names and faces grow dim as time goes by. But as regards 8 Sqdn, I think if you dig about in Bharat Rakshak you’ll find that some unknown hero on the Sqdn has done most of the work for you. There is a “List of Officers and Aircrew” there which is pretty comprehensive.

A tip, most of the RAF “infusion” of crews, which were needed for the two Flights with which were going into action, all came in in a bunch around Nov ’43, so it is easy to pick them out on the List.

I Post under this name on a site called PPRuNe > Military Aircrew > Gaining an RAF Pilots Brevet in WW2. I start on p.115 #2554 et seq. The whole of my Indian sojourn follows later on.

Cheers, Danny42C

Thanks Danny.

I had put together that list a couple of years ago by referring to the ORB. I am glad to know that it is accurate. I have been reading your memoirs on pprune since yesterday and very lovely to read all that! Thank you for sharing your experiences!

Danny42C

you flew with No.8 Squadron ? WOW.. WoW WoW..

I was in touch with one Indian veteran who flew with the squadron – C G I Philips (Shorty) .. did you know him? (sadly he passed away an year ago)

I had interviewed him and a friend had put the transcripts together into his story at this link http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Philip01.html There are a couple of photos of 8 Squadron RIAF photos – do check them out. I would love to have your inputs .

I also tried to put together a flight crew list for the squadron that includes RAF, RCAF and Indian crew.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/WW2/8%20Squadron

There are so many stories I would want to ask you….(maybe later?)

Any ideas of whats happening with the Indian Dak? It seems to have been sat at the same place at Kemble for a year or so?

The Dak was bought by a private party in India with the intent to ‘gift’ it to the Vintage Flight. The attempt to gift the aircraft was unfortunately thwarted by the Indian Ministry of Defence which suddenly started quoting the rule book saying that private parties cannot ‘gift’ aircraft to the Indian defence forces and thats that.

There seems to be a deeper malaise but I am not at liberty to quote anything other than the above..

Im travelling to Chennai India for business and will have a few weekends free and would really like to be able to see any airforce museums or monuments etc while im there.

Havent had much luck trying to find anything and was hoping someone here could recommend any sites to see and pics to snap 🙂

At the top of my mind – I can think of the periyar science center

other locations like colleges etc are there as well

http://www.warbirds.in/tamilnadu/chennai.html

PAKISTAN AIR FORCE ALSO OPERATE SUPERMARINE SPIETFIRE MK VIII

Sorry NDI, they never operated the Spitfire either. All the Spit pics you come across are from the RIAF days.

The color profile you posted seems to be someone’s fertile imagination.

(The only way I will believe that a Spit flew with the PAF is either a photograph or a logbook entry)