Pink's War was an air-to-ground bombardment and strafing campaign carried out by the Royal Air Force, under the command of Wing CommanderRichard Pink, against the mountain strongholds of Mahsud tribesmen in South Waziristan in March and April 1925. It was the first independent action by the RAF, and remains the only campaign named after an RAF officer.[1][2]
The defence of the North-West Frontier Province was an important task for British India. In the 1920s, the British were engaged in a continuing effort to defend British Indian Army bases against raids from Native Pashtun tribesmen in the province. In July 1924, the British mounted operations against several of the Mahsud tribes in southern Waziristan and by October most tribes had ceased their activities. Only the Abdur Rahman Khel tribe and three other supporting tribes continued to attack army posts.[3]
After the successful use of aerial bombardment in the Fifth Expedition of Somaliland campaign in 1920, the fledgling RAF was keen to further establish its military credentials. British forces had conducted operations against Mahsud tribes in Waziristan from July 1924, leaving only the Abdur Rahman Khel tribe and a few other tribes still engaged in activity by October 1924. The air officer commanding in India, Sir Edward Ellington, made the unprecedented decision to conduct air operations against the tribesmen without the support of the army. No. 2 (India) Wing, under the command of Wing CommanderRichard Pink at Risalpur, was assigned to conduct the operation.[3]
Bristol F.2B Fighters of No. 5 Squadron were deployed to the operational headquarters at Tank airstrip, with de Havilland DH.9As from 27 and 60 squadrons deployed to a forward operating base at Miranshah.[3] Operations commenced on 9 March 1925,[4] and following an initial sortie to drop warning leaflets on the targeted areas, the RAF squadrons strafed tribal mountain strongholds in a successful attempt to crush the rebellion.[3][2] Operations focused on causing disruption to day-to-day activities for the militant tribes, as well as preventing access to safe havens; sorties were flown at night as well as during the day, in order to cause further disruption.[3]
On 1 May 1925, after just over 50 days of bombing, the tribal leaders sought peace to end the bombing, bringing the short campaign to a close.[2] Only two British lives and one aircraft were lost during the campaign; Mahsud casualties are not known.[2][3] Pink's War was the first air action of the RAF carried out independently of the British Army or Royal Navy.[2]
pink, ground, bombardment, strafing, campaign, carried, royal, force, under, command, wing, commander, richard, pink, against, mountain, strongholds, mahsud, tribesmen, south, waziristan, march, april, 1925, first, independent, action, remains, only, campaign,. Pink s War was an air to ground bombardment and strafing campaign carried out by the Royal Air Force under the command of Wing Commander Richard Pink against the mountain strongholds of Mahsud tribesmen in South Waziristan in March and April 1925 It was the first independent action by the RAF and remains the only campaign named after an RAF officer 1 2 Pink s WarPart of the instability on the North West FrontierMap of the area of operationsDate9 March 1925 1925 03 09 1 May 1925 1925 05 01 53 days LocationSouth WaziristanResultBritish victory see Operations section Belligerents United KingdomMahsud tribesmenCommanders and leadersEdward Ellington Richard PinkUnknownUnits involvedNo 2 Indian Wing RAF 1 UnknownStrengthThree aircraft squadronsFour tribesCasualties and lossesTwo killedOne aircraft lostUnknown Contents 1 Background 2 Operations 3 Honours 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksBackground editMain article Waziristan campaign 1919 1920 The defence of the North West Frontier Province was an important task for British India In the 1920s the British were engaged in a continuing effort to defend British Indian Army bases against raids from Native Pashtun tribesmen in the province In July 1924 the British mounted operations against several of the Mahsud tribes in southern Waziristan and by October most tribes had ceased their activities Only the Abdur Rahman Khel tribe and three other supporting tribes continued to attack army posts 3 Operations edit nbsp A pair of Bristol F 2B fighters one of the types of aircraft used in the operation After the successful use of aerial bombardment in the Fifth Expedition of Somaliland campaign in 1920 the fledgling RAF was keen to further establish its military credentials British forces had conducted operations against Mahsud tribes in Waziristan from July 1924 leaving only the Abdur Rahman Khel tribe and a few other tribes still engaged in activity by October 1924 The air officer commanding in India Sir Edward Ellington made the unprecedented decision to conduct air operations against the tribesmen without the support of the army No 2 India Wing under the command of Wing Commander Richard Pink at Risalpur was assigned to conduct the operation 3 Bristol F 2B Fighters of No 5 Squadron were deployed to the operational headquarters at Tank airstrip with de Havilland DH 9As from 27 and 60 squadrons deployed to a forward operating base at Miranshah 3 Operations commenced on 9 March 1925 4 and following an initial sortie to drop warning leaflets on the targeted areas the RAF squadrons strafed tribal mountain strongholds in a successful attempt to crush the rebellion 3 2 Operations focused on causing disruption to day to day activities for the militant tribes as well as preventing access to safe havens sorties were flown at night as well as during the day in order to cause further disruption 3 On 1 May 1925 after just over 50 days of bombing the tribal leaders sought peace to end the bombing bringing the short campaign to a close 2 Only two British lives and one aircraft were lost during the campaign Mahsud casualties are not known 2 3 Pink s War was the first air action of the RAF carried out independently of the British Army or Royal Navy 2 Honours editAfter the campaign was over the India General Service Medal with the Waziristan 1925 bar was awarded to the 46 officers and 214 men of the Royal Air Force who took part in Pink s War It was by far the rarest bar given with an India General Service Medal and was only awarded after the then Chief of the Air Staff Sir John Salmond succeeded in overturning the War Office decision not to grant a medal for the campaign 5 The campaign s commander Wing Commander Pink after whom the action became named soon received a promotion to group captain in recognition of his services in the field of Waziristan 3 1 6 7 For distinguished service during Pink s War Squadron Leader Arthur John Capel was awarded the Distinguished Service Order the Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to flight lieutenants John Baker and William Cumming and Flying Officer Reginald Pyne and the Distinguished Flying Medal was given to sergeant pilots George Campbell and Ralph Hawkins Sergeant Arthur Rutherford Corporal Reginald Robins and Leading Aircraftman William Alfred Walmsley 8 A further 14 men were mentioned in dispatches including flying officers Edward Dashwood and Noel Hayter Hames who both died in the campaign 8 See also editBacha Khan Mirzali Khan Mullah PowindahReferences edit a b c Air Commodore R C M Pink Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation 17 June 2007 Retrieved 8 September 2007 a b c d e Royal Air Force History RAF History Timeline 1918 to 1929 Royal Air Force 2003 Archived from the original on 2 January 2010 Retrieved 8 September 2007 a b c d e f g Smith Richard Pink Richard Charles Montagu 1888 1932 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Archived from the original on 9 November 2013 Retrieved 15 May 2013 Delve Ken 1994 The Source Book of the RAF Airlife Publishing Ltd p 283 ISBN 1 85310 451 5 Laffin John 1964 Swifter than Eagles A biography of Marshal of the RAF Sir John Salmond William Blackwood amp Sons Ltd pp 207 208 New Year Honours Royal Air Force The London Gazette Retrieved 8 May 2013 No 33119 The London Gazette Supplement 29 December 1925 p 10 a b No 33104 The London Gazette Supplement 20 November 1925 pp 7595 7601 Further reading editBowyer Chaz 1988 Chapter Eight Pink s War RAF Operations 1918 1938 London William Kimber ISBN 0 7183 0671 6 Air Power Review Volume 13 Number 3 Autumn Winter 2010 Pink s War Applying the Principles of Air Control to Waziristan Lieutenant Colonel Andrew RoeExternal links editThe Small Wars at the Royal Air Force official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pink 27s War amp oldid 1214088432, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
