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==IAF Activity until 16 December 1971== | ==IAF Activity until 16 December 1971== | ||
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IAF focus shifted on supporting the Mitro Bahini advance following the grounding of PAF after 7 December 1971. [[Folland Gnat|Gnat]] squadrons, previously employed in flying combat air patrols over IAF bases, now began attacking targets inside Pakistani territory along other IAF squadrons. The IAF flew interdiction missions for the remainder of the war, 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 the advancing infantry. Canberras repeatedly struck Jessore, forcing the enemy to abandon this strategic city. The IAF also bombed other airfields, including the abandoned World War II airfields of [[Comilla]], [[Lal Munir Hat]], and [[Shamsher Nagar]] throughout the war, denying their use to PAF planes that may be moved by road, as well as to any external aerial reinforcement. {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}}, the [[Indian Navy|Navy's]] sole aircraft carrier, periodically sent [[Hawker Sea Hawk|Sea Hawks]] to bomb the [[Chittagong]] harbor and airport throughout the war, while also sent bombing missions to [[Cox's Bazar]], [[Barisal]], Khulna and Mongla ports, and to Chandpur and other Pakistani positions between 7–14 December 1971. | IAF focus shifted on supporting the Mitro Bahini advance following the grounding of PAF after 7 December 1971. [[Folland Gnat|Gnat]] squadrons, previously employed in flying combat air patrols over IAF bases, now began attacking targets inside Pakistani territory along other IAF squadrons. The IAF flew interdiction missions for the remainder of the war, 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 the advancing infantry. Canberras repeatedly struck Jessore, forcing the enemy to abandon this strategic city. The IAF also bombed other airfields, including the abandoned World War II airfields of [[Comilla]], [[Lal Munir Hat]], and [[Shamsher Nagar]] throughout the war, denying their use to PAF planes that may be moved by road, as well as to any external aerial reinforcement. {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}}, the [[Indian Navy|Navy's]] sole aircraft carrier, periodically sent [[Hawker Sea Hawk|Sea Hawks]] to bomb the [[Chittagong]] harbor and airport throughout the war, while also sent bombing missions to [[Cox's Bazar]], [[Barisal]], Khulna and Mongla ports, and to Chandpur and other Pakistani positions between 7–14 December 1971. | ||