44th Indian Airborne Division

With the rasing of an Airborne Division in India the need for glider pilots arises. Therefore, in January 1944, the War Office requests eighty glider pilot crews for the Hadrians, but with the entirety of the Glider Pilot Regiment already committed to the upcoming Normandy invasion, only thirty pilots are available. To address this shortage, South-East Asia Command asks Middle East Command to supply forty non-commissioned officers from the Army, who are to be trained in India as second pilots. The thirty pilots from the Regiment travel to Ambala in East Punjab for a three-week refresher course on light aircraft, while the forty Non-Commsioned Officers from Middle East Command are sent to India to begin training.

With the Japanese invasion of India, codenamed Operation U-Go, creating an urgent crisis, elements from the division’s headquarters and some support units are transferred to the 21^st Indian Infantry Division on April 20^th, 1944. This ad hoc formation is deployed to Assam to reinforce British and Indian forces in the region. The diversion of personnel suspends the formation of the 44^th Indian Airborne Division. By July 15^th, 1944, as the crisis subsides and the Japanese offensive is contained, the process of forming the airborne division resumes. The raising of the division proves slow and complicated, with training not commencing until late November 1944. However, the following month, the Royal Air Force squadrons allocated to work with the division are withdrawn for operational duties over Burma, causing further delays.

By August 1944, the Glider Pilot Detachment is formally designated as 10^th Independent Glider Pilot Squadron, with a strength of ten officers and 133 Non-Commsioned Officers, the additional personnel drawn from army units in India. Recognising the need for a much larger force, Vice Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia Command, warns that a shortage of glider pilots could severely hamper operations in Burma. He reports an urgent need for 517 glider pilots and states that he requires two British-Indian airborne divisions in 1944–45 and three in 1945–46. Plans are laid for the delivery of 600 Horsas and 2,000 Hadrians to India by the end of 1944.

On September 15^th, 1944, the existing 50^th Indian Parachute Brigade is integrated into the division. The brigade is originally established as part of the Indian Army during the Second World War. Formed in October 1941 as an independent parachute brigade, it later becomes one of two parachute brigades within the 44^th Indian Airborne Division. Upon its formation, the brigade comprises several key units, including its headquarters, a dedicated signal section, and three parachute battalions drawn from British, Indian, and Gurkha troops. These include the 151^st Battalion of The Parachute Regiment (British), the 152^nd Parachute Battalion (Indian), and the 153^rd Parachute Battalion (Gurkha). Additionally, the brigade includes the 411th (Royal Bombay) Parachute Engineer Section from the Royal Indian Engineers, providing essential engineering and logistical support for airborne operations. Brigadier (Temporary) Thomas Brodie of the Cheshire Regiment commands the brigade, having led it since November 1943 throughout the Chindit operations. On March 4^th, 1945, he is replaced by Brigadier (Acting) Francis William Gibb of the 19^th Hyderabad Regiment.

During that time, a debate arises over the command structure of the glider pilot organisation in India. The War Office suggests that it should be under army control, with senior positions filled by members of the Glider Pilot Regiment. The Air Council, however, opposes this, arguing that the Royal Air Force’s extensive commitment to airborne operations necessitates retaining control. It is also pointed out that Royal Air Force pilots have been assured they will remain under Royal Air Force command after conversion to gliders. As a compromise, it is decided that both Wings will be commanded by Royal Air Force Wing Commanders, with Army Majors as their deputies. Half of the six squadrons, numbered 668 to 673, are to be led by Royal Air Force Squadron Leaders, while the others will be commanded by Army Majors. The army glider pilots are distributed evenly throughout all six squadrons to share their expertise and provide leadership in ground operations.

The legal status of army personnel within the Royal Air Force glider organisation becomes a matter of discussion. On November 26^th, 1944, Headquarters, Air Command, South East Asia clarifies that all army personnel in the glider force will be attached rather than seconded to the Royal Air Force, meaning they will be subject to the RAF Act under Section 179(a).

In the second half of 1944, a decision is made to disband the Chindit formations, with some of their units designated for conversion into airborne troops. As a result, they stregthen the 14^th British Airlanding Brigade that becomes part of the division on November 1^st, 1944. The brigade is established on November 1^st, 1944, formed from the 14^th British Infantry Brigade, and initially assigned to the 44^th Airborne Division. Upon its creation, it includes the 4/6^th Rajputana Rifles, the 2^nd Battalion Black Watch, the 2^nd Battalion King’s Own Royal Regiment, and the 6/16^th Punjab Regiment. Throughout the Second World War, the brigade is commanded first by Brigadier Thomas Brodie and later by Brigadier F. W. Gibb. Under their leadership, it undergoes its transformation into an airborne formation, adapting to the specialised demands of airborne warfare.

The 44^th Airborne Division’s Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron, is also raised on November 1^st, 1944, although it is never deployed operationally in this role.

The division’s artillery is commanded by Brigadier (Acting) Reginald John Kirton of the Royal Artillery, who appears to have been promoted from major to assume the role. He is appointed on November 6^th, 1944, possibly at the recommendation of Major General Down. He remains in post until May 20^th, 1945.

The 123^rd Field Regiment, is originally a pre-war Territorial Army unit, is formed in 1939 as a duplicate of the 71^st Field Regiment. It arrives in Bombay on October 10^th, 1942 and is first assigned to the 32^nd Indian Armoured Division, then the 44^th Indian Armoured Division. On January 18^th, 1945, it is redesignated as the 123^rd Parachute Field Regiment and joins the airborne division. However, on June 28^th, 1945, it is reverted to its status as a field regiment and, following the end of the war, is disbanded on December 1^st, 1945.

The 159^th Parachute Field Regiment is formed in India on April 1^st, 1941. It is posted to Iraq on October 29^th, 1941 before returning to India on July 11^th, 1944. Initially assigned to the 26^th Indian Infantry Division and based in Bangalore, it is converted into a parachute field regiment on January 20^th, 1945 and equipped with American 75 mm howitzers. This is how it ends the war.

The deployment of reinforcements from the Glider Pilot Regiment to India proves difficult. In December 1944, a Dakota en route to India from Northolt crashes near Usson in the Massif Central, killing fifteen of the twenty Regiment personnel on board. The surviving members of the draft reach their destination, but the loss of their paperwork in the crash delays their assignment.

Meanwhile, selection boards begin interviewing volunteer army glider pilots in India. Those chosen undergo training at Royal Air Force Elementary Flying Training Schools in Ambala, Jodhpur, and Begumpet. Upon completing their training, they are promoted to Sergeant and awarded the Second Glider Pilot Badge. On November 9^th, 1944, Chatterton is authorised to form No. 3 Wing of the Regiment for service in India, increasing the Regiment’s strength to thirteen squadrons.

By January 1^st, 1945, No. 343 Wing Headquarters is based at Fatehjang and 344 at Bikram. To better coordinate airborne operations in the theatre, No. 238 Group is formed, tasked with preparing for the recapture of Malaya. The new airborne squadrons are established at various locations, including Calcutta, Basal, Fatehjang, and Bikram, before later expanding to Dhamial, Upper Topa, Chaklala, Belgaum, Kargi Road, Tilda, and Lalaghat. A total of 470 Royal Air Force and Army glider pilots are eventually trained on Hadrians.

As preparations continue, it is recognised that glider pilots may need to assume command of Indian troops in the event of officer casualties within the Divisional Air-Landing Brigade. To prepare them for this responsibility, they undergo a six-week Platoon Commanders’ Course at Belgaum. Additional survival training takes place at the Jungle Survival School at Marbleshwar and the Royal Air Force Mountain Centre near Srinagar in Kashmir.

In April 1945, a meeting at the Air Ministry determines that airborne operations will remain a priority beyond the war in Europe. Without anticipating the imminent German surrender, plans are made to retain a force of 700 Horsas and 50 Hamilcars in the Great Briatin while sending any surplus glider pilots to South East Asia Command. Projections indicate that South East Asia Command will require 4,000 Wacos and 540 Horsas for operations in the Far East, with sufficient tug aircraft expected to become available after the capture of Rangoon. Plans are outlined for airborne landings in Singapore, Bangkok, Sumatra, and other strategic locations throughout 1945 and 1946.

The Indian 77^th Parachute Brigade is added to the 44^th Airborne Division on March 1^st, 1945. The transformation of the 77^th Brigade into a parachute formation coincides with the establishment of the Indian Parachute Regiment. This newly formed regiment absorbs the existing Indian and Gurkha parachute battalions, consolidating them under a unified structure. Additionally, two British battalions of the Parachute Regiment are formed around cadres of troops who have already fought as glider infantry during the Chindit campaign. The nucleus of the 77^th Parachute Brigade is composed of two former Chindit infantry battalion, the 1^st Battalion, King’s Regiment (Liverpool) and the 1^st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. Redesignated as the 15^th (King’s) Battalion, Parachute Regiment and the 16^th (Staffordshire) Battalion, Parachute Regiment. The brigade is further strengthened with the transfer of the 2^nd (Gurkha) Battalion, Indian Parachute Regiment from the 50^th Indian Parachute Brigade, along with the 4^th (Indian) Battalion, Indian Parachute Regiment, which remains the only all-Muslim unit in the British Indian Army. The commander of the 77^th Indian Parachute Brigade is Brigadier (Acting) Claude John Wilkinson, who had previously commanded the 14^th Parachute Brigade.

On the glider Pilot front, the 10^th Independent Glider Pilot Squadron is disbanded in March 1945, with its personnel transferring to No. 670 Squadron.

By August 1945, South East Asia Command possesses 866 Hadrians, although a cyclone destroys sixty gliders assembled on the airfields. With Japan’s surrender on August 15^th, 1945, the division is no longer required for operations in Malaya and remains in India. In November 1945, it is redesignated as the 2^nd Indian Airborne Division. Major General (Temporary) Charles Hamilton Boucher assumes command on March 31^st, 1945, replacing Major General Down, who is posted to Greece.

In the final stages of the Second World War, following Japan’s surrender in August 1945, the 44^th Indian Airborne Division undertakes critical humanitarian missions across Southeast Asia. Recognising the dire conditions of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and interned civilians in Japanese-occupied territories, the division deploys airborne detachments ahead of the main Allied forces. These teams parachute into various locations, including Java, Sumatra, Bangkok, and Singapore, with the primary objective of locating and liberating POW camps and civilian internment centres.

Upon arrival, the airborne teams provide immediate medical assistance, deliver emergency relief supplies, and restore order until larger Allied units can establish a permanent presence. Notably, Captain G. Wishart of the 15th (King’s) Parachute Battalion becomes the first Allied officer to return to Singapore since its fall in 1942, leading a team that parachutes into the region to assist liberated prisoners.

By mid-1946, the division is retitled as the 2^nd Airborne Division and, at the time of partition, is stationed in Karachi and Quetta. One brigade remains in the newly created Pakistan, while the other two are transferred to the new state of India.

With the airborne force in India no longer needed, the remaining army glider pilots are stationed at Rawalpindi, where they assist in the repatriation of prisoners of war and tour-expired servicemen. The end of Lend-Lease between Britain and the United States leads to a further issue: the British government is informed that, unless returned, the Waco gliders held in the Great Britain and South East Asia Command must be paid for in dollars, a clear sign that wartime cooperation between the two nations is rapidly being replaced by economic pragmatism.