Warplanes Over British Era Bombay In WWII, 2 Photos 1940
Two rare 1940 photographs of British-era Bombay (Mumbai) during World War II. The photos capture an extraordinary moment in aviation history. The images show three De Havilland Dragon Rapide biplanes of the Coastal Defence Flight (CDF) flying over the city. In the first photo, the aircraft soars above the iconic Gateway of India, the Taj Mahal Hotel, and the Royal Bombay Yacht Club. And even the incomplete Back Bay reclamation seawall is visible in the backdrop. The second photo shows warplanes flying over the European quarter of Fort or Colaba, a reminder of the city’s colonial landscape during World War II.
The Coastal Defence Flights (CDF) were established at the start of the Second World War to safeguard India’s coastlines. These units were jointly operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve (IAFVR). Interestingly, many IAFVR pilots were civilian aviators who held flying licenses and had volunteered for wartime service. The CDF operated aircraft such as the Wapitis, Audaxes, Blenheims, and the Dragon Rapides. The planes were reliable but considered outdated in 1940.
The organization of the Coastal Defence Flights in India was as follows:
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No.1 CDF – Raised at Drigh Road Airport (Karachi), later at St. Thomas Mount, Madras.
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No.2 CDF – Based at Juhu Airport, Bombay.
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No.3 CDF – Operated from Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta.
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No.4 CDF – Initially at Drigh Road, later moved to Moulmein (Burma), with a second unit raised at Dum Dum in 1942 before shifting to Visakhapatnam.
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No.5 CDF – From Drigh Road, relocated to Cochin.
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No.6 CDF – Raised at Drigh Road in February 1942.
These rare WWII photographs not only document military aviation over Bombay in 1940 but also highlight the city’s role in India’s early aviation history. It had pioneering flights from Allahabad, Madras, Sitapur, Peshawar, and Calcutta.
Did you know – the Dragon Rapide, assigned to wartime service, was formerly the VT-AJB, which was used by the Tata Airlines.
From the collection – India Raj Elephant Battling Lion Watercol. Sketch, 1837., Mount Road During British Era Madras, 1907 Postcard., Queen Mary In Delhi – Old Print 1912., Beautiful Motor Cars In British India Era, 1908 PC.
