In 1943, Latif promoted to the rank of Flying Officer and posted to the No. 3 Squadron IAF, commanded by Squadron Leader DAR Nanda, based at RAF Station Kohat. The airbase was commanded by Wing Commander (later Air Marshal & CAS) Subroto Mukerjee, the first Indian officer to command an airbase. He flew operational missions in the North-West Frontier Province, periodically flying to the advance base at Miramshah. Later in the year, he was among the few Indian pilots to be seconded to the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was trained on the Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire along with the operational squadrons of the RAF.