Royal Indian Air Force

Royal Indian Air Force
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Active	1932–1950
Country	India  British India  Dominion of India
Type	Air Force
Size	25,000 personnel by VJ Day (1945)[1]
Command	RAF India
Nickname(s)	RIAF
Motto(s)	"Per Ardua ad Astra" (Latin) (Through Adversity to the Stars)
Engagements	Notable operations World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Commanders
Notable commanders	Sir John Miles Steel Sir Cecil Bouchier Sir Hugh Walmsley Sir Thomas Elmhirst
Insignia
Roundel
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Ensign

The Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) was the aerial force of British India and later the Dominion of India. Along with the Indian Army, and Royal Indian Navy, it was one of the Armed Forces of British Indian Empire.

The Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October 1932. Its first flight came into being on 1 April 1933 with six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers). The aircraft inventory consisted of four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes at Drigh Road, Karachi as the "A" Flight nucleus of the planned No.1 (Army Co-operation) Squadron.