No. 4 Squadron IAF

No. 4 Squadron, Indian Air Force (Oorials), formed at Peshawar on 1 February 1942 under the command of Squadron Leader HU 'Bulbul' Khan, was the third Indian Air Force Squadron to be equipped with the Westland Lysander Army Co-operation aircraft. Within days of its formation, it moved to its first mission against the tribal fighters on the Northwest Frontier.

In March 1944, the Squadron moved to Feni to provide close air support to the Fourteenth Army for operations against the Japanese Imperial Army. By the end of June it moved to Cox's Bazar to relieve No. 6 Squadron. Its missions included attacking the Bashas in Mayu Valley, strafing of sampans on the Kaladan River, bombing of gunpits in Seinnyinbya and offensive reconnaissance missions over most of Arakan. For the Third Arakan campaign, it received a Spitfire LF Mk VIIIc, the first Spitfire to be operated by the IAF, which operated from Cox's Bazaar path finding for Allied P-47s and P-51s.

In February 1945 the Squadron moved to Akyab.

In 1946, No. 4 Squadron went to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. Return started in September and was complete by October 1947.

Sources

• No. 4 Squadron from Bharat-Rakshak