'Streamline - the fastest in India', Royal Air Force Hawker Audax, North West Frontier, India, 1937

Photograph, India, North West Frontier, 1937.

A 20 Squadron Hawker Audax aircraft at an airfield on the North West Frontier of India. 20 Squadron had been based in India since 1919, flying Bristol Fighters until the Westland Wapiti and Hawker Audax replaced them.

Based on the Hawker Hart, the Audax was a two-seater light bomber designed for use in tropical climates. It entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1932. The photograph album compiler obviously appreciated the classic 1930s design and style of the Audax.

In late 1936 there was growing agitation against British rule in Waziristan, led by the Waziri leader Ghazi Mirzali Khan Wazir, 'the Fakir of Ipi'. In response the British launched a military operation into the Khaisora Valley, hoping that a show of strength alone would suffice to reduce unrest. However, the two main columns of troops met stiff resistance and their supply lines were disrupted, forcing them to retire. The operation's failure triggered a wider insurrection and the ensuing guerrilla war drew in more British and Indian forces. Over 30,000 troops, together with aircraft and armoured cars, were deployed to the region. Violence subsided in late 1937 and after brief flare-ups in 1938 and 1939 the North West Frontier was relatively quiet until India became independent in 1947.

The Royal Air Force developed close air support tactics in the 1930s and used the operations on the North West Frontier of India to test them. Six squadrons were deployed during the operations in Waziristan, primarily flying the Westland Wapiti, Hawker Hart and Hawker Audax aircraft. Larger bomber/transport aircraft such as Vickers Valentias were used for resupply and were, when fitted with external bomb racks, also used for air strikes.

From an album of 347 photographs compiled by Captain (later Major) Wynne Howes-Roberts, 1st Battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles, India and UK, 1936-1937.