Training in WW2 - RAF Kohat [www.bharat-rakshak.com]

The RAF commissioned Kohat as an airfield for operational purposes in 1922 to meet the threat posed by tribesmen of the northern and western areas of the Frontier Province.

Kohat was one of the three stations in the region, the other two being Peshawar and Risalpur. In the 20s, Kohat was The administrative wing, maintenance wing fighter-bomber base with two squadrons of Westland Wapitis - Nos. 27 and 60 RAF Squadrons.

According to records , the headquarters building, aircraft and supply hangars, Ml room, armory, swimming pool and many other buildings were erected in 1925. Double storey barracks Nos 90 and 95, and living out JCOs' accommodation were built in 1940. In 1938 there were two different squadrons at the station, Nos 16 and 17 Squadrons RAF with three flights each and with each flight comprising 8 aircraft. The aircraft were mainly Wapitis and Audaxes, with a few Blenheims. All pilots and airmen were British.

During WWII, several RAF and IAF squadrons staged through Kohat as part of their cycle of rest periods between deployments on the Burma front. Kohat was the first ever 'Station' to be commanded by an Officer of the Indian Air Force, when in Aug 43, Subroto Mukerjee took over command. He was suceeded by Wg Cdr Aspy Engineer in January 1945.

As with the photographs on the No.1 SFTS Page, The photographs on this page are taken from the album of an ex-RAF airman C.Hutt. Hutt's Album is currently in the collection of Frank Powley, whose namesake uncle, Wg Cdr Powley, was the CO of one of the Squadrons in No.1 SFTS.

There are more photographs about Kohat Station from OD Agnihotri's albums.

	"K3922 taking a rest at Kohat - Jan 1942" Hawker Hart K3922 – on its back! The aircraft's history is in the lower panel.
"Time to rise at Kohat - Jan 1942" The same aircraft now being raised upright by the ground crew. K3922 was the second of the pair of Hart (India) a/c delivered in Oct 1934 by Hawkers Kingston . Deld to PD 30.10.34; AD Drigh Rd 3.12.34; fitted with extended exhaust; 39 Sqn; 1 SFTS(I); Later with 1 ATU, swung on landing and overturned Bairagarh 14.7.42; 1 AGS(I); SOC 30.11.43. The circumstances behind this particular aircraft are unknown.
	Unidentified a/c “Stuck in the Mud Kohat”, Possibly a Hawker Hart
Lysander – “BF-M” P1686 or similar & BF-Y behind, of No.28 Squadron No.28 Squadron was always considered as the 'rival' squadron to No.1 Squadron IAF. Both units flew into Burma within days of each other. P1686 was one of the aircraft flown by No.28 to Burma. It was lost when Bombs fell off and destroyed it on take off at a Landing Ground near Mingaladon (Rangoon)17/2/42.
	"'B.T' Kohat" -No information on this Vickers Valencia transport aircraft pictured at Kohat.
"The Boys at Kohat" RAF airmen at Kohat airfield. Perhaps the album owner C Hutt is among them?. An Indian Airman is to the left of the photograph.
	"Drome and Snow Clad Mountains, Kohat" 10th Jan 1942
"Drome & Kohat Pass" Jan 10th 1942
	"Kohat"
"Caravan Kohat"

Acknowledgements:
All the above photos are from a WW2 album belonging to "C. Hutt 12222516 RAF" and the album was titled "Ambala India 1941". The album is currently in the possesion of Mr. Frank Powley, who has very kindly allowed the photographs to be displayed on this website.

Thanks also goes to Don Clark for providing the individual aircraft histories of some of the aircraft on this page. Don maintains the definitive website to 211 Squadron at http://users.cyberone.com.au/clardo/

If you have any information related to the photographs in this page, please do email us, so that it can be included in these pages.