Pink's War

Pink's War
Part of the instability on the North-West Frontier
Map of the area of operations
Date 9 March 1925 (1925-03-09) – 1 May 1925 (1925-05-01) (53 days) Location South Waziristan Result Tribal leaders accept terms
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Mahsud tribesmen
Commanders and leaders
Edward Leonard Ellington Richard Pink	?
Units involved
No. 2 (Indian) Wing, RAF	?
Strength
Three aircraft squadrons	Four tribes
Casualties and losses
Two killed one aircraft lost	Not known

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.

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 pacify militant tribesmen in the province. In July 1924 the British mounted operations against several of the Mahsud tribes in southern Waziristan and by October they had mostly been subdued. Only the Abdur Rahman Khel tribe and three other supporting tribes continued to attack British Indian Army posts.

The fledgling RAF was keen to establish its military credentials and 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.

Bristol Fighters and de Havilland DH.9As from No. 5, 27 and 60 squadrons were deployed to the airstrips at Miranshah and Tank. Operations commenced on 9 March 1925, and the RAF squadrons strafed tribal mountain strongholds in a successful attempt to crush the rebellion.

On 1 May 1925, the tribal leaders sought an honourable peace, bringing the short campaign to a close. Only two British lives and one aircraft were lost during the campaign. Pink's War was the first air action of the RAF carried out independent of the army or navy.

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