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36-824: RAF India , later called Air Forces in India (1938–47) was a command of the Royal Air Force (RAF) that was active from 1918 until Indian independence and partition in 1947. It was the air force counterpart of the British Army in India. The command had its origins in units of the Royal Flying Corps in India. In November 1915, the War Office despatched No. 31 Squadron to India, the squadron arriving at Nowshera in December. The squadron, including

72-621: A basic aircraft park, was subsequently transferred to Risalpur. A period of intensive training ensued, during which flights were periodically sent on patrols over the North-West Frontier regions. A second squadron ( No. 114 Squadron ) was added in 1917. When the RAF was formed in May 1918, the total strength of the air force in India was 80 officers and 600 men. During the 1920s and 1930s, RAF India suffered from under-funding and subordination to

108-736: A daughter of Frank Patterson, co-founder of the National Cash Register Company . They had a son and three daughters. On 10 August 1950, his wife died in a fall from a fifth-story window of the Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore after having suffered a stroke at the age of fifty-five. Their son Stuart Carleton Davidson later became a successful entrepreneur. After his retirement from active duty, Davidson lived in Washington, D.C. He served as

144-515: A form of mutiny . The protests arose in response to slow demobilization and return of British troops to Britain, and use of British shipping facilities for transporting United States Army troops. The "mutiny" began at either Maripur or nearby Karachi ( RAF Drigh Road ) and later spread to involve nearly 50,000 men over 60 RAF stations in India, Burma, Ceylon and as far away as Singapore, Egypt, North Africa, and Gibraltar. The peaceful protests lasted between three and eleven days. For their part,

180-705: A junior military aviator and joined the 1st Aero Squadron in New Mexico in September. While there, he flew air support for the Punitive Expedition into Mexico. Davidson then served with the 3rd Aero Squadron in Texas from March to May 1917. In May 1917, Davidson was promoted to captain and became commandant of the U.S. School of Military Aeronautics at Cornell University . In October 1917, he sailed for France. Davidson served as personnel officer for

216-454: A temporary promotion to brigadier general on 7 April 1941, Davidson became commanding general of the 14th Pursuit Wing at Wheeler Field , Hawaii. In July, his fighter aircraft forces were redesignated as Hawaiian Interceptor Command . As tensions with Japan continued to build, he established a radar-based air warning network on Oahu. Parked out in the open to more easily guard against sabotage, more than half of his aircraft were destroyed on

252-434: The 19th Bombardment Group at Rockwell Field , California until October 1935 and then at March Field , California until August 1936. From September 1936 to September 1939, he served as executive officer at Army Air Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. Davidson received a temporary promotion to colonel effective 1 August 1939. From July 1940 to April 1941, he was commanding officer of Hickam Field , Hawaii. Receiving

288-851: The Command and General Staff School in June 1935 and the Army War College in June 1940. After graduation from the Military Academy, Davidson served with the 22nd Infantry in Texas and Arizona until July 1915. He next briefly served with the 24th Infantry in the Philippines until September 1915. Davidson was then reassigned to the 27th Infantry but detailed to the Aviation Section, Signal Corps . Promoted to first lieutenant effective 1 July 1916, Davidson became

324-743: The Commander-in-Chief, India ; in July 1938, Thomas Inskip , the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, released a report highlighting the command's "deplorable obsolescence which rendered it un-employable against modern aircraft." At the time, RAF India only received from 4 to 7 per cent of the defence budget for British India, less than the allocation for the 16 horsed cavalry regiments in the British Indian Army . On 3 September 1939 under Air Marshal Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferte ,

360-817: The Distinguished Service Medal , the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal . The citation for his Distinguished Service Medal reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Howard Calhoun Davidson (ASN: 0-3596), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to

396-833: The North-West Frontier . The air component of the British-American South East Asia Command became Air Command, South East Asia (ACSEA) on 30 December 1943, under Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse , who had been appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief , Air Forces in India, in March 1942. It was based almost entirely in India and drew its administrative support from the RAF's Air Forces India. On 1 July 1944 ACSEA comprised No. 222 Group RAF , No. 225 Group RAF , No. 229 Group RAF , and Eastern Air Command , under U.S. Lieutenant General George E. Stratemeyer , itself being made up of

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432-688: The Royal Indian Air Force and later, the Royal Indian Navy in February 1946, in which mutinies on 78 ships broke out . Lord Wavell , Viceroy of India, commented at the time, "I am afraid that [the] example of the Royal Air Force, who got away with what was really a mutiny, has some responsibility for the present situation." The four major RAF formations under HQ Air Command South East Asia in India and Ceylon at

468-750: The United States Army , the acronym MACOM is used for Major Command. Within the United States Air Force , the acronym MAJCOM is used. There are several types of Major Commands in the United States Armed Forces : Howard C. Davidson Howard Calhoun Davidson (15 September 1890 – 7 November 1984) was a United States Army Air Forces major general . On 7 December 1941, he was commander of all Army Air Corps fighter aircraft in Hawaii . Davidson suffered

504-489: The United States Department of Defense is as follows: (DOD) 3. A unit or units, an organization, or an area under the command of one individual. Also called CMD. See also area command; combatant command ; combatant command (command authority). Major Command or Major Commands are large formations of the United States Armed Forces . Historically, a Major Command is the highest level of command. Within

540-790: The Air Service in Paris and later in Tours until February 1918. He then supervised flying at the Second Aviation Instruction Center in Tours until August 1918. After having received a temporary promotion to major in June 1918, Davidson was given command of the Corps Air Service, VII Army Corps from September 1918 to April 1919. Returning to the United States and reverting to the rank of captain, Davidson

576-559: The British Government argued that there was insufficient shipping available to immediately repatriate British personnel. However, later declassified reports have shown that British troops were deliberately retained in India to control possible unrest from the Indian independence movement . Some of the airmen involved faced courts-martial . However, the precedent set by this event was important in instigating subsequent actions by

612-606: The Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General of the TENTH Air Force in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations from June 1944 to March 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Davidson culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and

648-601: The Philippines. Davidson and his wife lived in Bethesda, Maryland . Davidson underwent hip surgery at the age of ninety-four and later died from the resulting complications at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. on 7 November 1984. At the time of his death, he had sixteen grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. On 13 November 1984, Davidson was buried next to his second wife at Arlington National Cemetery . Davidson

684-891: The Photographic Reconnaissance Force ( No. 171 Wing RAF and U.S. 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group ); and No. 293 Wing RAF . By January 1945 ACSEA's subsidiary Base Air Forces South East Asia, under Air Marshal Sir Roderick Carr , comprised No. 223 Group RAF on the North West Frontier at RAF Peshawar , No. 225 Group RAF (responsible for the "air defence of southern India and the whole coastline from Bengal to Karachi," by January 1943 controlling Nos 172 and 173 Wings ), No. 226 Group RAF , No. 227 Group RAF , and No. 230 Group RAF , carrying out maintenance, training, and administration. Thomas and Carr from March 1944 were Air Officers Commanding, Air Headquarters India. When Hugh Walmsley arrived at

720-657: The Strategic Air Force ( 7th Bombardment Group USAAF and No. 231 Group RAF , under Brigadier General Howard C. Davidson of the United States Army Air Force); the U.S. Tenth Air Force ( 80th Fighter Group , 311th Fighter Group , and 443rd Troop Carrier Group ); the RAF Third Tactical Air Force ( Nos 221 and 224 Groups , No. 177 Wing RAF , 3d Combat Cargo Group USAAF, and 12th Bombardment Group USAAF);

756-711: The United Kingdom, transferring his duties to his deputy, Air Commodore Richard Jordan , who closed the AHQ, Supreme Commander's Headquarters (India and Pakistan) on 17 November. On 15 December, the RIAF took command of Palam Air Station from the RAF. ( On 15 August 1947, the unified RIAF was separated into the Royal Indian Air Force and the Royal Pakistan Air Force ) Command (military formation) The relevant definition of "command" according to

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792-746: The United States Army Air Forces. He was made an honorary commander of the Order of the British Empire by the United Kingdom and awarded the Order of the Cloud and Banner by China. On 21 April 1946, Davidson was conferred an honorary LL.D. degree by Texas A&M. He retired from active duty as a major general on 30 June 1946. Davidson was the son of Dr. John Calhoun Davidson and his wife Lily (Carleton) Davidson. On 8 October 1921, Davidson married Mary Perrine Patterson,

828-575: The dissolution of AHQ India, two new air force headquarters for India and Pakistan were established, with two and 13 RAF officers, respectively, being assigned to each AHQ to assist with reconstituting the former RIAF into a new RIAF and Royal Pakistan Air Force. A fortnight after the partition of India, 125 RAF officers continued to serve in the subcontinent. On 10 November 1947, Walmsley formally relinquished his appointments as Deputy Supreme Commander (Air), India and Pakistan, and as Air Officer Commanding RAF Units in India and Pakistan. He then left India for

864-632: The end of the war were HQ Base Air Forces South East Asia (BAFSEA); Air Headquarters Burma ; HQ 222 Group at Columbo, controlling all operational squadrons in Ceylon, largely carrying out maritime duties; and 229 Group, a Transport Command group located in New Delhi. 222 Group disbanded by being renamed AHQ Ceylon on 15 October 1945; it inherited six Liberator squadrons (Nos 99, 356, 203, 8, 160, and 321 RNLAF); four Sunderland squadrons (205, 209, 230, and 240); and No. 136 Squadron with Spitfires. No. 223 Group

900-634: The first director of the Air Force Aid Society from 1947 to 1966. After the creation of the United States Air Force , his entry on the retired list was transferred from the Army to the Air Force. In 1958, Davidson married Mrs. Eva Cutts (Rucker) Finn (6 June 1894 – 24 August 1974). She was the widow of Army Air Corps officer 1st Lt. Matthew E. Finn (16 June 1897 – 21 November 1927), who had been killed in an accidental airplane crash in

936-752: The force comprised No. 1 Group (India) at Peshawar with 5, 20, 27, and 60 Squadrons; 28 and 32 Squadrons reported directly to de la Ferte's headquarters; the AHQ Communications Flight was at Lahore; a Target Towing Flight at Trincomalee; the India Aircraft Depot at RAF Drigh Road , Karachi; and No. 1 Squadron IAF split between Drigh Road and Ambala. On 1 July 1942 the force had four groups (221, 224, 225, 222, and 223) and two separate squadrons reporting directly to Air Headquarters. No. 221 Group RAF at Calcutta comprised Nos 60 and 113 Squadrons flying Bristol Blenheim Mk. IVs in

972-607: The ground on 7 December while Davidson and his men worked franticly to push the undamaged ones to safety. He received the Purple Heart with merit and, in 1960, the Bronze Star Medal . Rebuilding Pacific air forces after the Japanese attack, Davidson temporarily served as commander of the new Seventh Air Force . He then served as commanding general of VII Fighter Command until November 1942. His permanent rank

1008-459: The headquarters he was initially appointed as Air Officer Administration. But by the time Walmsley was appointed as AOC, the command's title had become RAF India once more. A series of demonstrations and strikes occurred at several dozen Royal Air Force stations in the Indian subcontinent beginning on 22 January 1946. As these incidents involved refusals to obey orders, they technically constituted

1044-775: The infantry. From January to September 1916, Davidson attended the Signal Corps Aviation School in San Diego , California. After World War I , he attended Sorbonne University from April to July 1919. Transferred to the Army Air Service in July 1920, Davidson graduated from the Air Service Engineering School in July 1922. He later graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School in July 1933,

1080-593: The light bomber role from Asansol; No. 215 Squadron RAF flying Vickers Wellington medium bombers from Pandaveswar ; Nos 62 and 353 Squadrons flying Lockheed Hudsons in the General Reconnaissance role from Dum Dum ; and two non-operational squadrons, Nos 20 and 28 flying Westland Lysanders in the Army Co-operation role from Jamshedpur and Ranchi , respectively. No. 223 Group RAF had two squadrons at Kohat for operations along

1116-712: The loss of more than half of his planes during the Japanese attack , but went on to command the Tenth Air Force in India, Burma and China from 1943 to 1945. Born and raised in Wharton, Texas , Davidson enrolled at the A&;M College of Texas in 1907 but left to enter the United States Military Academy in March 1909. He graduated in June 1913 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in

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1152-726: Was assigned to McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio from August 1919 to August 1922. He received a permanent promotion to major effective 1 July 1920. Davidson then served as the assistant military attaché for aviation in London , England from October 1922 to August 1926. From August 1926 to December 1927, he was operations officer at Mitchel Field , Long Island. Davidson briefly serving as base commander for several weeks until January 1928, when he became commanding officer of Bolling Field , District of Columbia until September 1932. Promoted to lieutenant colonel effective 1 August 1935, Davidson commanded

1188-766: Was disbanded at Peshawar by being redesignated No 1 (Indian) Group on 15 August 1945; No. 225 Group disbanded at Hindustan near Bangalore by being redesignated No 2 (Indian) Group on 1 May 1946; No. 226 Group disbanded at Palam on 31 July 1946, with its units being transferred to No.2 (Indian) Group; No. 227 Group disbanded at Agra on 1 May 1946 by becoming No. 4 (Indian) Group . In May 1945 No. 228 Group had moved to Barrackpore and absorbed No. 230 Group, and then on 1 May 1946 becoming No. 3 (Indian) Group . No. 229 Group disbanded on 31 March 1947 and its responsibilities were taken over by No. 1 (Indian) Group ; and No. 231 Group ceased operations on 1 August 1945, with by that time no units assigned, and disbanded on 30 September. AHQ India

1224-640: Was increased to colonel effective 1 July 1942. After a brief time back on the United States mainland, Davidson was sent to China in May 1943. He assumed command of the Tenth Air Force in India at the end of July. Davidson received a temporary promotion to major general on 13 January 1944 and moved his headquarters to Burma in February to better support Gen. Joseph Stilwell 's forces there. He relinquished command in China on 20 August 1945. For his service as Tenth Air Force commanding general, Davidson received

1260-646: Was placed under joint command of the Indian Government and the Air Ministry. On 15 August 1947, the unified RIAF was separated into the Royal Indian Air Force and the Royal Pakistan Air Force , and AHQ India was disbanded. Air Marshal Hugh Walmsley , the final commander of RAF India and the unified RIAF, then became Deputy Supreme Commander (Air), India and Pakistan, serving as head of the AHQ, Supreme Commander's Headquarters (India and Pakistan) , which had become operational from 11 August. Following

1296-534: Was reformed on 1 April 1946, taking over the role of BAFSEA. A month before, on 1 March 1946, Air Headquarters India Communication Squadron had been established at Safdarjung Airport ( RAF Willingdon ). Twelve RAF squadrons (225 Group: Nos 5, 30 at Bhopal, 45 at St Thomas Mount; 227 Group: 298 Squadron at Samungli with a detachment at Chaklala; No. 228 Group RAF : 176, 658 AOP, 355 at Digri, 159 at Salbani; 229 Group: 353 and 232 at Palam; and 10 and 76 with Dakotas at Poona) remained in India after 1 April 1946, and AHQ India

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