| The Coastal Defence Flights |
The Coastal Defence Flights were formed immediately
after the outbreak of the Second World War.
Several RAF Units detached aircraft to form flights.
Most of the CDF aircraft were obsolete types like the Wapitis, Audaxes, Blenheims etc. RAF
and Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve Aircrew manned these various units.
The IAFVR Pilots were about 100 Civilian License
holders who had volunteered for service duties in 1940.
The Units that formed were:
No.1 CDF at St Thomas Mount in Madras. Used Harts,
Audax, Atlantas.
No.2 CDF at Juhu , which took over Wapitis . Later
also used Tata Airlines DH89s and DH86s.
No.3 CDF at Drigh Road had Blenheim Is.
No.4 CDF raised at Drigh Road, moved to Moulmein in
BUrma. Had Four Wapitis and two Audaxes. The unit moved back to Dum DUm after operations.
No.5 CDF at Drigh Road Karachi, later moved to
Cochin.
No.6 CDF was raised at Drigh Road in Feb 42
By the end of 1942, many of the CDFs were disbanded
and the Flight crew utilised to raise new IAF Squadrons.
Most of the information present here is by Squadorn
Leader D W 'Joe' Warne, who published an article on the CDF in Air Enthusiast Magazine,
Volume 28. The Photographs are copyrights of Imperial War Museum, RAF Museum and Mr.
Pushpindar Singh.
|
The Coastal
Defence Flights |
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| No.1 Coastal
Defence Flight |
| Also requisitioned and impressed into
service was the Armstrong Whitworth Atlanta G-ABTL from the Imperial Airways. The Atlanta "Astrea"
was numbered DG450 and saw service with the No.1 Indian Coastal Defence Flight. This
crashed on 22 Aug 1942 killing Fg Offr Patwardhan and two others. |
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| No.2 Coastal
Defence Flight, Santa Cruz |
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No.2 CDF's Westland Wapitis K-1394, K-1403
and K-2290 seen at Juhu Aerodrome in 1940. The Last aircraft crashed at Bangalore on 15
July 42. |
| Wapiti formation of No.2 CDF over Bombay.
Photo courtesy : Wg Cdr M M
Russell |
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| No.3 Coastal
Defence Flight, Bassien |
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Ground Crew work on a Blienheim of No.3
Coastal Defence Flight. One of the three Blienheims in this flight was lost in a Japanese
air raid. |
| Also requisitioned and impressed into
service was the Armstrong Whitworth Atlanta G-ABTL from the Imperial Airways. The Atlanta "Aurora"
was numbered DG454 with 3 CDF. It crashed in the Sunderbans on 6 Apr 42. |
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| No.3 Coastal
Defence Flight, Bassien |
| Wapitis K-1271 and K-1266 during their time
with No.60 RAF Squadron. These aircraft subsequently went to No.4 CDF. |
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| No.5 Coastal
Defence Flight, Cochin |
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An RAF and an Indian Pilot with a DH-86
HX-789 (formerly VT-AKM) which was taken on charge by No.5 CD Flight , IAFVR. This
aircraft was involved in a landing accident on 15.09.42 and was written off. |
| The same DH-86 HX-789 (formerly VT-AKM)
of 5CDF as seen at Cochin. |
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| No.6 Coastal
Defence Flight, Karachi |
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Wapiti K-2294 of 6CDF undergoes testing of
its engine. Note the aircrew hanging on to the tail to keep the aircraft from nosing over
at full power. . Photo courtesy : Air Force History Cell |
| Flt Lt Rupchand (2nd from Right) with Plt
Offrs KL Sondhi (2nd from Left) PC Lal (first from right) before a sortie at Karachi. |
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Flt Lt Rupchand (2nd fro Left)
finishing the pre-flight briefings before a Wapiti Sortie. |
| A Hawker Audax of a CDF, Possibly the 6th |
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 |
 Westland
Wapiti J9496 after a ground collission with Audax “K556?". This sad picture shows the fate of Wapiti II J9496 of No.1 Anti
Aircraft Cooperation Flight of the IAFVR at Drigh Road, Karachi. On 20th May 1942, the
Wapiti , while taxying downwind in strong wind collided with a stationary Audax K5569 of
No.6 Coastal Defence Flight, IAFVR. Both aircraft were struck off charge. |
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| RAF 27 Squadron at
St Thomas Mount. |
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A Blenheim of 60 RAF Squadron seen with
Wapitis of No.27 RAF Squadron at St Thomas Mount in Madras. |
| Bristol Blenheim I L-8382 at St Thomas Mount
in Madras., showing the 'AD' squadron codes. |
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Coolie power is employed to drag a bogged
down Blenheim at St Thomas Mount airfield at Madras. |
| Blenheim L-4916 in July 1940 at Dum Dum
airfield |
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