The Royal Air Force strikes of 1946 was a series of demonstrations and strikes at several dozen Royal Air Force stations in the Indian subcontinent beginning on 22 January 1946.[1][2] As these incidents involved refusals to obey orders they technically constituted a form of mutiny.[1]
A series of demonstrations and strikes occurred at several dozen Royal Air Force stations in the Indian subcontinent beginning on 22 January 1946. As these incidents involved refusals to obey orders, they technically constituted a form of mutiny. The protests arose in response to slow demobilization and return of British troops to Britain, and use of British shipping facilities for transporting G.I.s. The "mutiny" began at either Maripur[1] or nearby Karachi (RAF Drigh Road) and later spread to involve nearly 50,000 men over 60 RAF stations in India, Ceylon, Burma and as far away as Singapore,[3] Egypt, North Africa, and Gibraltar.[4] The peaceful protests lasted between three and eleven days.
For their part, the British Government argued that the amount of shipping available was insufficient to permit immediate repatriation of the large number of personnel. However, later declassified reports have shown that British troops were deliberately retained in India to control possible unrest from the independence movement, and the grievances of the RAF men may have also included significant political views and sympathy with the communist Party of India.[3]
The initial protests in Karachi took the form of a collective refusal to prepare kit for inspection and going to the parade ground at the normal time but in casual khaki drill rather than the "best blue" uniforms required when on morning parade.[5]
The issues were ultimately resolved. Some of the airmen involved faced courts-martial. However, the precedent set by this event was important in instigating subsequent actions by the Royal Indian Air Force and later, the Royal Indian Navy in February 1946 in which 78 of a total of 88 ships mutinied. Lord Wavell, Viceroy of India, commented at the time, "I am afraid that [the] example of the Royal Air Force, who got away with what was really a mutiny, has some responsibility for the present situation."[6]
^Ben Gliniecki (27 April 2020). "World War II: from war to revolution". Retrieved 27 April 2020.
^Mutiny in the RAF: the air force strikes of 1946 - David Duncan
^Field Marshal Viscount Wavell to Mr Attlee (via India Office), Telegram, L/PO/4/28: ff 66-7. Sent 24 February 1946, 4.50 pm at New Delhi, appears in The Transfer of Power in India, 1942-47, Volume 6, Page 1055 edited by Nicholas Mansergh, published by Foreign & Commonwealth Office (London, 1976).
Childs, David (2000), Britain Since 1945: A Political History, Routledge, ISBN0-415-24804-3.
Bibliographyedit
Mutiny in the RAF - the Air Force Strikes of 1946. David Duncan. 1999 ISBN0-9523810-6-0.
Review of Richard Woodman's A brief history of mutiny. Journal for Maritime research. August 2005.
David van Vlymen. . The John Carpenter Club. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. article by Bernard Shilling and published in the December 1986 issue of Aeroplane Monthly.
John W. Cell, in Reviews of Books; Asia. White Mutiny: British Military Culture in India by Peter Stanley. The American Historical Review, Vol. 104, No. 3. (Jun., 1999), pp. 888–889.
White, Nigel (18 December 2006). "Gerry Rubin, Murder, Mutiny and the Military: British Court Martial Cases 1940–1966". Journal of Conflict and Security Law. 11 (3): 511–513. doi:10.1093/jcsl/krl025.
January 01, 1970
royal, force, strikes, 1946, series, demonstrations, strikes, several, dozen, royal, force, stations, indian, subcontinent, beginning, january, 1946, these, incidents, involved, refusals, obey, orders, they, technically, constituted, form, mutiny, contents, pr. The Royal Air Force strikes of 1946 was a series of demonstrations and strikes at several dozen Royal Air Force stations in the Indian subcontinent beginning on 22 January 1946 1 2 As these incidents involved refusals to obey orders they technically constituted a form of mutiny 1 Contents 1 Protests 2 See also 3 References 4 BibliographyProtests editA series of demonstrations and strikes occurred at several dozen Royal Air Force stations in the Indian subcontinent beginning on 22 January 1946 As these incidents involved refusals to obey orders they technically constituted a form of mutiny The protests arose in response to slow demobilization and return of British troops to Britain and use of British shipping facilities for transporting G I s The mutiny began at either Maripur 1 or nearby Karachi RAF Drigh Road and later spread to involve nearly 50 000 men over 60 RAF stations in India Ceylon Burma and as far away as Singapore 3 Egypt North Africa and Gibraltar 4 The peaceful protests lasted between three and eleven days For their part the British Government argued that the amount of shipping available was insufficient to permit immediate repatriation of the large number of personnel However later declassified reports have shown that British troops were deliberately retained in India to control possible unrest from the independence movement and the grievances of the RAF men may have also included significant political views and sympathy with the communist Party of India 3 The initial protests in Karachi took the form of a collective refusal to prepare kit for inspection and going to the parade ground at the normal time but in casual khaki drill rather than the best blue uniforms required when on morning parade 5 The issues were ultimately resolved Some of the airmen involved faced courts martial However the precedent set by this event was important in instigating subsequent actions by the Royal Indian Air Force and later the Royal Indian Navy in February 1946 in which 78 of a total of 88 ships mutinied Lord Wavell Viceroy of India commented at the time I am afraid that the example of the Royal Air Force who got away with what was really a mutiny has some responsibility for the present situation 6 See also editRoyal Indian Navy mutiny RAF IndiaReferences edit a b c Mutiny Royal Air Force Museum BBC People s war a b Childs 2000 p 22 Ben Gliniecki 27 April 2020 World War II from war to revolution Retrieved 27 April 2020 Mutiny in the RAF the air force strikes of 1946 David Duncan Field Marshal Viscount Wavell to Mr Attlee via India Office Telegram L PO 4 28 ff 66 7 Sent 24 February 1946 4 50 pm at New Delhi appears in The Transfer of Power in India 1942 47 Volume 6 Page 1055 edited by Nicholas Mansergh published by Foreign amp Commonwealth Office London 1976 Childs David 2000 Britain Since 1945 A Political History Routledge ISBN 0 415 24804 3 Bibliography editMutiny in the RAF the Air Force Strikes of 1946 David Duncan 1999 ISBN 0 9523810 6 0 Review of Richard Woodman s A brief history of mutiny Journal for Maritime research August 2005 David van Vlymen RAF strike in India 1946 The John Carpenter Club Archived from the original on 6 October 2007 article by Bernard Shilling and published in the December 1986 issue of Aeroplane Monthly John W Cell in Reviews of Books Asia White Mutiny British Military Culture in India by Peter Stanley The American Historical Review Vol 104 No 3 Jun 1999 pp 888 889 SECRET HISTORY MUTINY IN THE RAF British Film Institute White Nigel 18 December 2006 Gerry Rubin Murder Mutiny and the Military British Court Martial Cases 1940 1966 Journal of Conflict and Security Law 11 3 511 513 doi 10 1093 jcsl krl025 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Royal Air Force strikes of 1946 amp oldid 1206369272, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
