East Pakistan Air Operations (1971): Difference between revisions

{{tone|date=April 2022}}

{{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

| casualties2      = 23 aircraft, including 16 Sabres lost altogether,<ref name="bharat-rakshak1">{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1971War/Appendix3.html |title=Aircraft Losses in Pakistan -1971 War |access-date=24 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501082102/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1971War/Appendix3.html |archive-date=1 May 2022}} IAF claim of PAF Losses</ref> <br />1 helicopter shot down or abandoned<ref name=brloss1971/>{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The air forces of both countries launched attacks against each other's bases in the eastern theater as soon as hostilities commenced in September 1965. The IAF bombed airfields and airstrips located in East Pakistan (at [[Chittagong]], [[Dhaka]], [[Lalmunirhat Airport]], and [[Jessore (city)|Jessore]]), while the PAF managed to launch two celebrated raids on the Indian Air Force base at [[Kalaikunda Air Force Station|Kalaikunda]], near [[Kharagpur]], in [[West Bengal]].<ref>Gp Capt NA Moitra VM</ref> The PAF raids, a five-plane strike which had achieved total surprise, was followed up by a four-plane attack, which was opposed by Indian Interceptors, took place on 7 September, destroying several [[English Electric Canberra]] bombers and [[Vampire|de Havilland Vampire]] aircraft on the ground,<ref>* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965war/Appendix2] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130117205845/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965war/Appendix2|date=17 January 2022}}</ref> while the IAF claimed 2 aerial kills (Pakistani sources record 1 F-86 lost). The PAF also launched attacks on Bagdogra on 10 September and Barrackpore on 14 September, with varying results. The IAF hit back with more airstrikes on Dacca, Jessore, and Lalmunirhat, these failed to destroy any aircraft. Mid-air interceptions and dogfights rarely happened, and barring some skirmishing between the [[East Pakistan Rifles|EPR]] and [[Border Security Force|BSF]] along the border, the air forces of both countries were responsible for most of the combat activity in the eastern theater during the 1965 war. The final tally was 12 Indian aircraft destroyed on the ground (PAF claim 21 aircraft destroyed),{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} 2 Pakistani Sabres shot down,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Appendix2.html |title=IAF Claims vs. Official List of PAF Losses |publisher=Bharat-rakshak.com |access-date=17 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226201429/http://bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Appendix2.html |archive-date=26 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (the PAF records one aircraft lost), and 1 PAF Sabre lost due to an accident.<ref>* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Losses1965html] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130117214800/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Losses1965html|date=17 January 2022}}</ref> Following the war, the IAF continued its steady growth in combat capacity and logistical capabilities, while Pakistan boosted its squadron strength to 20 Canadair F-86 Sabres (although it neglected to expand its operational infrastructure substantially).

PAF lost two Sabres in dog fights over Dhaka - to IAF Hunters striking Kurmitola. Wing Commander S. M. Ahmed and Flight Lt. Saeed [[ejection seat|ejected]] safely over the village of Ghazipur, but were not found by search parties. They were listed as "missing" for the duration of the war and then assumed killed by a hostile local populace.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} Wing Commander Nadrinder Chatrath of No 17 Squadron and Flight Officer Harish Masand each are credited with a Sabre kill. Squadron Leader K.D. Mehra of IAF No. 14 squadron was shot down by a Sabre. Later in the day PAF Flight officer Sajjad Noor was shot down by IAF NO 14 Squadron Leader Sundaresan, who lost his wingman when PAF Squadron Leader Dilawar Hussain shot down the Hunter of Flight Lt K. C. Tremenhere during the same dogfight.  Flight Lt. K. C. Tremenhere and Sajjad Noor ejected safely, and both were rescued and Tremenhere became a POW.<ref>Mohan, P.V.S. Jagan and Chopra, Samir, ''Eagles Over Bangladesh'', p148</ref>

Early in the morning of 6 December a sortie by four PAF Sabres intercepted four Hunters of IAF No. 17 squadron without any dogfights near [[Laksham]]. After the Sabres returned and landed at Tejgaon, and before the duty flight had taken off,<ref name="Salik, Siddiq p131">Salik, Siddiq, ''Witness to Surrender'', p131</ref> four MiG-21s from No. 28 and No. 4 Squadron, flying from [[Gauhati]] under the command of Wing Commander B. K. Bishnoi at very low level, escorted by another four Mig 21s, bombed Tejgaon airstrip with 500&nbsp;kg. bombs, scoring several hits on the runway. Two craters, each ten meters deep and twenty meters wide and separated by 1200 meters, had rendered the runway unusable (the bombs were [[BETAB-500]], anti-airstrip ordnance).  The Migs used steep glide instead of a dive to bomb Tejgaon and also rocketed Kurmitola runway. Hunters from No. 14 squadron then attacked Tejgaon with Napalm, with little damage.<ref>Mohan, P.V.S. Jagan and Chopra, Samir, ''Eagles Over Bangladesh'', p192</ref> Mig 21s also attacked Pakistani Targets in Sylhet and Comilla, during which No. 28 squadron lost one plane.<ref name="bharat-rakshak.com">[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Loss1971.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609141826/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Loss1971.html|date=9 June 2022}} IAF Losses in the East</ref> Su-7s of No. 221 Squadron struck targets around Jessore, Gnats of No. 15 Squadron and Hunters from No. 37 Squadron struck Hili, while Gnats of No. 22 Squadron attacked Barisal airfield. MiG-21s and Hunters of No. 28 and No.14 Squadrons struck Tejgaon repeatedly, one raid occurred during the cease fire brokered by the UN and foiled the attempt to evacuate foreign civilians from Dhaka.<ref>Mohan, P.V.S. Jagan and Chopra, Samir, ''Eagles Over Bangladesh'', p197</ref>

[[File:Dacca Govt House.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Dacca Govt. House, seat of the East Pakistan Civilian administration, after a strike by Mig 21s of No. 28 Sqn on the morning of 14 December.]] <!-- FAIR USE of Dacca_Govt_House.jpg: see image description page at http://en.bharatdata.org/wiki/Image:Dacca_Govt_House.jpg for rationale -->