The formation of the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) on October 7, 1932, was a significant landmark in India's armed force’s history. As part of the British Indian Empire’s military, along with the Indian Army and the Royal Indian Navy, the RIAF’s formation symbolised a remarkable step toward India’s military self-sufficiency. While rooted in the context of British colonial rule, the RIAF would later play a critical role in World War II and India’s journey toward independence, finally transforming into the formidable Indian Air Force.
The origin of RIAF can be traced back to World War I when four Indian volunteers— Lieutenants Shri Krishna Chandra Welinkar, Hardit Singh Malik, Errol Suyo Chunder Sen and Indra Lal Roy—served as fighter pilots with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), the aerial warfare branch of the British Army.
These early pioneers displayed exceptional bravery in the air. In particular notable was Indra Lal Roy, who became India’s first flying ace, credited with downing 10 enemy aircraft before he was tragically killed in combat in 1918. His significant achievement gained him the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously, cementing his place in history as a heroic aviator. Their contribution highlighted the possibility of Indian soldiers and inspired future development in India’s military aviation.
In the interwar period, as demand for self-governance, the idea of making an air force for India started to achieve momentum.
This was further supported by a key development in 1925 when a committee led by General Sir Andrew Skeen examined the potential of ‘Indianising’ the officer corps of the Indian Army.
One of the committee’s important recommendations was to allow Indian cadets to undergo officer training at RAF Cranwell, the Royal Air Force’s training institution.
