East Pakistan Air Operations, 1971
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East Pakistan Air Operations incorporate the interdiction, air defence, ground support, and logistics missions flown by the Indian Air Force in support of the advancing Indian Army (called Operation Cactus Lilly) and the Mitro Bahini in the eastern theatre during the Indo-Pakistani conflict of 1971. Although the first of the engagements between the opposing airpowers occurred before the formal declaration of hostillities, the events described below include only those conducted after the declaration of war.
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[edit] Back Ground
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 will be noted in History as one of the defining conflicts which led to the Birth of the new nation of Bangladesh. The engagements between the Indian Army against the Pakistani Army lasted a short but intense 14 days, between 3 December and 16 December 1971.
The speedy conclusion was only possible because the objectives set by the Indian Forces in the east were achieved in that time. This was only possible due to excellent co-ordination between the Indian Army, Air Force, and the Navy.
Although the Western theatre saw engagements that have defined the rules of 20th century Warare, including the Battle of Longewala, Operation Trident, as well as Battle of the bases between the two rival Air Forces, the eastern theatre would be marked by a near total domination by the Indian Forces and the Mitro Bahini. Two major reasons stand out, the first and major was the fact that the Bengalee population and the Awami League led resistance had already greatly weakened the Pakistani Forces. The second, and possibly equally important, is the total air supremacy that the IAF came to achieve within the opening days of the war. The article tries to bring forth a balanced description of the efforts that the IAF took to achieve this situation of superiority.
[edit] IAF Operations in 1971
The IAF had engaged with the enemy earlier in the east than the it did in the west, having clashed with PAF over the Salient of Boyra in West Bengal on 22 November Between then and 3 December, 1971, there were no engagements of the two airforces. However,following the preemptive strike by the PAF on its airfields in the western sector, the IAF went into action on the midnight of 3 December of 1971. However, the western air campaign was, at least in the initial days, limited to striking PAF forward bases and providing ground support, but was not aimed at achieving air supremacy. In the east, however, faced with only the No. 14 squadron defending the whole sector, the Eastern Air Command was given the task to achieve total air dominance, which ultimately it did.
[edit] 3-4 December
Canberra bombers struck Tejgaon repeatedly on the night of 3 December. The PAF No. 14 operated only sabres which lacked night fighting capabillity. The first strikes were therefore unchallenged. By the morning of 4 December, however, strike missions against Tejgaon were assigned to Hunters of the No. 7, No. 14 sqn, No. 17 sqn and No.37 sqn, Su-7s (No. 221 Sqn) and MiG-21s (No. 28 sqn). The first raids in East Pakistan were flown by Hunters of No.17 Sqn and these were given top cover by four MiG-21s from No.4 Sqn. It proved unnecessary, the Hunters shot down one Sabre when intercepted before the rendezvous took place. No. 14 sqn also struck Kurmitola AFB, htting the Hangars and Installations with rockets. By the afternoon, Hunter's would strike Narayangunj fuel depots. Hunters from No. 14 Sqn also struck Chittagong Harbour on the morning of 4th December. In an afternoon strike on Tezgaon by Migs from 28 Sqn, a Twin otter was destroyed on the ground.
For the interceptors sent up to challenge the strikes, PAF was to suffer the loss of three sabres in dog fights over Dhaka, two to Hunters striking Kumitola. Of these, Wg Cdr S M Ahmed and Flt. Lt. Saeed ejected safely over the village of Ghazipur, but were not found by search parties and were listed as "missing" for the duration of the war. Later reports would suggest that both pilots were killed by hostile local populace [1]. The last of the Sabres lost that day was to an afternoon strike on Narayangunj, Fg Off Sajjad Noor was shot down while attempting to engage a strike by Hunters from No. 14Sqn. Noor ejected safely over the village of Zinjira and was later rescued.[1]
The IAF also suffered some of its heaviest losses on these missions, losing six hunters and one Su-7. No. 7 sqn, on a strike mission against an ammunition train at Lal Munir Hat, would suffer one Pilot- Flt Lt A R Da Costa KIA, along with the loss of two Hunters- both hit by fierce ground fire and crashing in Indian territory. One of the pilots of the stricken planes, Sqn Ldr S K Gupta safely ejected at Bagdogra[2] . No. 14 Sqn also lost two Hunters on the day to ack ack. Both the pilots, Sqn Ldr K D Mehra and Flt Lt K C Tremenhere, ejected safely[2] . Tremenhere was taken POW while Mehra managed to evade capture and get back to Indian territory. The highest price of the day was however, paid by No. 37 Sqn, which suffered the death of two pilots- Sqn Ldr S B Samanta and Fg Off S G Khonde[2] . No. 221 Sqn was to suffer one Su-7 shot down with the pilot, Sqn Ldr V. Bhutani taken POW.[2]
[edit] 5-7 December
People of Dhaka witnessed thrilling low-level dogfight throughout 4 and 5 December. The IAF concentrated in attacking the aircraft on the ground. However, for the dear price paid, it failed to cause significant damage to the PAF assets in well-dispersed and camouflaged locations. By the evening of 5 December, the IAF realised that a change of tactic was necessary. On the morning of 6 December four MiG-21s (No. 28 Sqn), flying from Gauhati hit Tejgaon with 1000lber, scoring several hits on the runway. However, Kurmitola was to remain operational till the morning of 7 December, when Mig-21s of No. 28 Sqn again hit the runway. No. 7 Sqn was pulled out of the eastern ops on the 6 December to help the army in the west. Repeated attack by MiG-21s and Hunters of No. 14 and No.28 however, kept the runway cratered. The Air Combat and Information Group Website, at http://www.acig.org, notes : "A notable fact remains that the MiG-21FL was neither as easy to fly nor to operate in combat under conditions the IAF had to expect in the case of a new war with Pakistan. It was designed as simple point-defence fighter-interceptor that was to operate under close GCI-control and attack its targets from the rear hemisphere with R-3S (ASCC-Code AA-2 Atoll) heat-seeking missiles. However, pleased with the speed and handling of the MiGs during operational conversions, Indian pilots trained intensively and gained not only considerable confidence, but also expertise. The Indians were to use it as an air superiority fighter as well as fighter bomber over extended ranges and well inside the enemy airspace, with minimal or no GCI-support at all." [3]
The results of the IAF's assault was that by 7 December, the PAF in the East was effectively grounded. The IAF also bombed other airfields including the abandoned WWII airfields of Comilla, Lal munir hat and Shamsher Nagar through the war, denying their use to PAF planes that may be moved by road, as well as to any external aerial reinforcement.
[edit] Operations in Support of Ground Forces
With the PAF in the east effectively neutralised, the IAF could now concentrate in supporting their advancing army. Movements of Pakistani troops during day time came to a virtual halt due to relentless IAF air attack. Ferries across major river crossings were sunk by the IAF thus denying the Pak army its line of retreat to Dhaka. On 7 December, INS Vikrant, the navy's sole aircraft carrier at the time, joined the operation.Sea Hawks operating from the deck of Vikrant struck Chittagong harbour, Cox's Bazar and Barisal. Whatever remained of the Pakistani Navy was destroyed or sunk. The airfields in Cox's Bazar, Chiringa and Feni were made inoperative.
On 10 December IAF helilifted troops of the IV Corps from Ashuganj to Raipura and Narsingi in what came to be termed the Operation Cactus-Lilly (also known as the Helibridge over Meghna). Entire Brigade strengths were lifted over the River Meghna, allowing the Indian Army to continue their advance in-spite of stiff resistance at Ashuganj, where the retreating Pakistani Army also blew up the Bridge.
On 11 December, India airdropped Para Bn Gp 130 in the now famous Tangail airdrop. The operation involved An-12, C-119s, 2 Caribous and Dakotas from 11 sqn and 48 Sn. In total, about 1000 troops were airdropped. The only hitch was one paratrooper who a static line hangup.
Gnats from No. 22 sqn provided top cover for the operation, which ultimately went unhindered. Also on the 11th of December three converted An-12s from the No.44 Squadron struck the Jaydebpur Ordnance factory in East Pakistan.
On the morning of 14 December, a message was intercepted by Indian Intelligence of a high-level meeting of the civilian administration in East Pakistan and a decision was made to mount an attack. Within 15 minutes interception of the message, a strike was launched against Dhaka . Armed with tourist guide maps of the city, a four Mig 21s of No. 28 Sqn hit the Government House with 57mm rockets, ripping the massive roof of the main hall and turning the building into a smouldering wreck. The Governor of East Pakistan, Mr. A H Malik, resigned then and there renouncing all ties with the West Pakistani administration , to take refuge at the Red Cross Center in Dhaka.
The IAF was to continue flying interdiction missions for the remainder of the war in, shooting up ammunition dumps and other fixed installations. Gnats and Sukhoi Su-7s flew many missions in support of army units as they moved swiftly towards Dhaka, delivering ordnance such as iron bombs to take out enemy bunkers which occasionally posed an obstacle to advancing infantry. Canberras repeatedly struck Jessore forcing the enemy to abandon this strategic city. The IAF also was prepared to hit any Chinese incursions into Indian territory in the eastern Himalayas. As it turned out, the Chinese did not stir.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Group Captain Sultan M. Hali(PAF).The Air War of '71 Revisited.Journal of the Pakistan Institute of defence studies
URL accessed on 13 Aug 06Though not programmed or required to fly, Ahmad had insisted - in keeping with the PAF's tradition of its seniors leading in combat - and was soon in the thick of battle with 4 Hunters, joined minutes later by some MiG-21s and Su-7s. In the melee, the Hunters' leader shot down Ahmad’s F-86, forcing him to eject 5 miles from Kurmitola; despite an air and ground search he was never found. Rashidi, in the meanwhile, successfully extricated himself from the 'one-versus-several' situation just as another pair of PAF F-86s, comprising Sdn. Ldr. Afzaal and Flt. Lt. Saeed, was engaging 3 Hunters, a few miles away. Both Afzaal and Saeed were immediately set upon by another Hunter and was himself shot down. Only minutes later Afzaal had avenged this loss by chasing a MiG-21 and shooting it down. Although Saeed had ejected safely, he too was never found; reportedly both Saeed and Ahmad were taken away by Mukti supporters.
- ^ a b c d Indian Air Force losses in the 1971 War (HTML). www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-23.
- ^ India - Pakistan War, 1971; Introduction (HTML). Tom Cooper $ Shais Ali. www.acig.org. Retrieved on 2006-08-23.
