Commonwealth / British Empire

[amrit]

I wanted to find as much information as possible about the contributions of the British Empire / Commonwealth / Dominian states / Mandates, in the air war. I'll start with all he countries that fall within one of the above categories. Some of these states / provinces contributed seperate air forces, as well as joining the RAF. Others provided logistical support. Some may not have made any direct contribution.

1. Aden
2. Anglo Egyptian Sudan
3. Ascension Island
4. Australia
5. Bahamas
6. Barbados
7. Bechuanaland
8. Bermuda
9. Borneo
10. British Guiana
11. British Honduras
12. British Somaliland
13. Burma
14. Cameroon
15. Canada
16. Ceylon
17. Chagos
18. Crozet Island
19. Cyprus
20. Diego Garcia
21. Egypt
22. Ellice Islands
23. Falkland Islands
24. Fiji
25. Gambia
26. Gilbert Islands
27. Gibraltar
28. Gold Coast
29. Gough Island
30. Graham Land
31. Kaiser Wilhelm's Land
32. Hong Kong
33. India
34. Iraq
35. Jamaica
36. Kenya
37. Malaya
38. Malta
39. Mauritius
40. Naura
41. Newfoundland
42. New Zealand
43. Nigeria
44. Northern Rhodesia
45. Nyasaland
46. Palestine
47. Papua
48. Prince Edward Island
49. Sandwich Islands
50. Seychelles
51. Sierra Leone
52. Socotra
53. South Georgia
54. South Orkneys
55. South Rhodesia
56. South Shetlands
57. South West Africa
58. St Helena
59. Tanganyika
60. Tasmania
61. Transjordan
62. Trinidad
63. Tristan Da Cunha
64. The United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland
65. Uganda
66. Union of South Africa
67. We Hei Wei
68. West Indies

 

[amrit]

Firstly, a list of Air Forces:

Royal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
South African Air Force (I don't think they ever had the prefix Royal)
Indian Air Force (the prefix Royal was only given in 1945 - hence a lot of documents use IAF)

I'm sure I've missed sombody out - who? (I have not included the USAAF for obvious reasons - but would be interested in information on US personnel in the RAF and RCAF, and any in the other air forces)

 

[amrit]

World War Two

the duration of World War II saw 15,746 RAAF pilots, navigators, wireless operators, gunners and engineers sent to British squadrons and 11,641 to Australian squadrons.

* 3 Squadron RAAF
* 10 Squadron RAAF
* 450 Squadron RAAF
* 451 Squadron RAAF
* 452 Squadron RAAF
* 453 Squadron RAAF
* 454 Squadron RAAF
* 455 Squadron RAAF
* 456 Squadron RAAF
* 457 Squadron RAAF
* 458 Squadron RAAF
* 459 Squadron RAAF
* 460 Squadron RAAF
* 461 Squadron RAAF
* 462 Squadron RAAF
* 463 Squadron RAAF
* 464 Squadron RAAF
* 466 Squadron RAAF
* 467 Squadron RAAF

From: Australian Military Units - Second World War (gives summaries of each squadron)

 

[Gnomey]

If I am not mistaken you have missed Rhodesia of the list. I know they had a few pilots in the RAF (and there own Airforce at one point). They were also a base for training pilots if I am not mistaken as well.

 

[amrit]

Thanks Gnomey

Northern Rhodesia is on the first list. I'll see what info I can find on their air force. In the meantime:

Rhodesian aces of WW2

 

[pbfoot]

The RCAF overseas had the 400-450 block of squadrons plus another 26 based in Canada

 

[amrit]

PB, can you provide details please. I'd like people 'in the know' to contribute as much as they can - and you seem to know a lot about the RCAF contribution.

 

[pbfoot]

I suggest this sight and some of the affiliate links like 6 gp and the BCATP
RCAF.com
The summary of the work preformed by the squadrons at home and overseas is but one part of the story. The other part of the story concerns the 249,662 men and women who wore the uniform of the RCAF. Of this total, 93,844 personnel served overseas, the majority with the British rather than Canadian units. Nearly 60 percent of RCAF personnel were with RAF squadrons. The RCAF contribution to the Royal Air Force was significant . At least one in four fighter pilots in the Battle of Malta was from Canada as did one-fifth of Coastal Command's Aircrew. At the end of the war, almost a quarter of Bomber Command's aircrew were from the RCAF.

The RCAF's Roll of Honour contains the names of 17,100 personnel who gave their lives in the service of Canada. Of these fatalities 14,544 occurred overseas - among them 12,266 on operations and 1906 in training accidents. The majority of overseas casualties were with Bomber Command.

 

[Wildcat]

* 3 Squadron RAAF
* 10 Squadron RAAF
* 450 Squadron RAAF
* 451 Squadron RAAF
* 452 Squadron RAAF
* 453 Squadron RAAF
* 454 Squadron RAAF
* 455 Squadron RAAF
* 456 Squadron RAAF
* 457 Squadron RAAF
* 458 Squadron RAAF
* 459 Squadron RAAF
* 460 Squadron RAAF
* 461 Squadron RAAF
* 462 Squadron RAAF
* 463 Squadron RAAF
* 464 Squadron RAAF
* 466 Squadron RAAF
* 467 Squadron RAAF

These are only the RAAF squadrons that served in the ETO/MTO. To add to the list is about 50 squadrons that served in Australia and the Pacific. The RAAF's 1TAF alone had around 20 squadrons in its formation.

All up 189 700 men and 27 000 women served in the RAAF in WWII. Of these 10 754 were Killed. Here is a breakdown of losses in different threatres.

Europe

5504​

S and SW Pacific

3527​

Middle East

1132​

India,Burma

247​

Canada

145​

Far East

138​

Other Areas

61​

One interesting fact is that RAAF aircrew serving in Bomber Command made up 2% of all RAAF personell but made up 23% of all Australians killed in WWII.

 

[Doodard]

Royal New Zealand Navy seconded to the Fleet Air Arm of Great Britain