The Turkish Air Force (TAF) had three battalions in 1928; three regiments in 1932; and three brigades in 1939. Turkey ordered 24
Heinkel He 111J-1s in March 1937, which were quickly received within about seven months. The TAF received large numbers of new aircraft in 1939-1945. Initially 59
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Is were approved for export to Turkey, but after two were delivered, the delivery of the remainder were stopped in May 1940. Later, reportedly,
Spitfires Mark V and IX were delivered. Other new aircraft for the TAF included
Curtiss Falcon CW-22R/B,
Fairey Battle Mk. I (received 30 aircraft, including 1 target tug),
Avro Anson I,
Hawker Hurricane I/II,
Morane-Saulnier M.S.406,
Curtiss Tomahawk (40 delivered from British stocks in the Middle East, used 1942-44, including at
Gaziemir), Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk,
Westland Lysander (36 Mark III supplied in 1939),
Bristol Blenheim IV/V,
Bristol Beaufort,
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.I/X,
Focke-Wulf Fw 190-A3,
Martin 187 Baltimore,
de Havilland Mosquito Mk.III/IV,
Douglas B-26B/C Invader,
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt and
Douglas C-47A/B Dakota. Eleven U.S.
Consolidated B-24 Liberators made an emergency landing in Turkey coming from bombing of Ploesti within
Operation Tidal Wave. All of them were interned by Turkey and five of them were repaired and served in the Turkish Air Force. In 1947, Turkey received aircraft from Britain, including four Spitfire PR. XIXs, which were reportedly based at
Merzifon and operational in 1948. ==See also==