Although outside main combat areas during the Second World War, India became an important region for the RAAF, and for many RAAF personnel attached to RAF units. In some RAF squadrons, ten percent of the crews were Australians, many of them transferred from training or bomber units based in England.

Most RAAF and RAF activity happened in the northern half of India. The Eastern division of Bomber Command used various bases in Bengal (now Bangladesh) for raids against Japanese forces in Burma and Thailand. RAF Ferry Command units kept busy delivering new planes. For troops and supplies, Bombay was a major port between Australia, the Middle East and Europe. Intelligence work, general administration and advanced hospital facilities were centred in New Delhi. At the end of the war, Bhopal in central India became the base area for a huge transit/demobilisation camp.

Agra, India. 6 February 1945. Outside the Taj Mahal, Leading Aircraftman (LAC) J. A. (Snow) Wardlaw, RAAF of Hornsby, NSW (left) and LAC H. K. (Johnno) Johnston, RAAF of Broken Hill, NSW, sit for Captain W. A. (Bill) Dargie, Australian Official War Artist. SEA0139