PIONEER SQUADRON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1943, Page 4

PIONEER SQUADRON

OF INDIAN AIR FORCE. SOME PROUD MEMORIES. The proud record of No. 31 Squadron of the Royal Air Force (Indian Wing) is that it was the first ever to fly in India. And for 27 years until the present day it has been flying without break in India. The first flight of this famous squadron arrived at Nowshera in 1915, at the request of the Viceroy, for work on the North-West Frontier. They adopted for their crest the five-point-ed star of India, and the motto, “In Caelum Indi cum Primus”—“First into the Indian Skies.” Another “first” the squadron can claim is that it flew in co-operation with the Army in North-West frontier engagements in 1916, the first time any unit of the Royal Air Force—then , the Royal'Flying Corps—took part in* operations in India. Afterwards it was employed on many occasions oh the North-West frontier and in the 3rd Afghan War. Flights of the squadron have flown in all parts of India. The 31st Squadron is also proud of yet another “first.” Its first R.A.F. Commanding Officer was Squadron Leader A. T. Harris, now Air Marshal A. T. Harris, C. 8., 0.8. E., A.F.C., hardhitting chief of the R.A.F.’s Bomber Command, which is pounding at the heart of Germany with such devastating effect.