'Waiting to get off a flight of Wapitis', Royal Air Force, India, North West Frontier, 1937

Photograph, India, North West Frontier, 1937.

Royal Air Force Westland Wapiti aircraft prepare to depart from an airfield on a bombing mission.

The Westland Wapiti, a two seat general purpose biplane, entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1928, serving with twenty squadrons at home and abroad, particularly in India and Iraq. The aircraft was named after a type of elk and was used for reconnaissance and bombing missions.

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.