MY EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE WAR ZONE - 41
I SALUTE OUR BRAVE PILOTS WHO HAVE MADE US PROUD BY WIPING OUT THE TERROR OUTFITS IN PAKISTAN TODAY
I have had my own share of being in a war zone during an Air Raid . This happened when i was a school kid during the Indo - Pak war of 1965 . As can only be imagined , to be a first hand witness to an Air Fight right before your eyes , sets all of your adrenaline racing .
We were in the midst of the Indo - Pak War during the year 1965 . My father , a Very Senior Railway Officer was stationed at Kharagpur some 72 Kms from the present day Kolkata . For those not in the knowhow , Kharagpur is one of the biggest and busiest Railway Junctions in the Country .
Our Bungalow was hardly 5 kms away from the Eastern Air Command at Kalaikunda . In fact one of my classmates was Linda Lafontaine whose father later on went on to become the AIR CHIEF MARSHAL of the Indian Air Force .
At that time , Bangladesh did not exist , Pakistan was divided into East and West Pakistan . Kolkata and Kharagpur being very close to Dacca was always a prime target for an air attack during wartime .
Even as the war started , The Civil Defence Apparatus took it upon themselves to create an awareness among the Public at large on the steps to be taken during an air raid .
1 ) Air Raid Siren , up and down hooting very similar to a fire alarm in our Mills and the all clear long hoot signal were practiced on a regular basis .
2 ) All the window glass panes were painted green or covered with brown paper .
3 ) All lights were to be switched off during an air raid .
The war was being fought at both the Eastern and Western Fronts .
At that time the Indians had to do with the Canberra s and the Hunters while the Pakistani s had the much more modern American made Sabre s and Gnats at their command .
On the evening 6 th of Sept 1965 , the Indian Airforce had carried out a successful raid on the Dacca Air Base and inflicted considerable damage .
The retaliatory raid was on the very next day . The heavy rain and inclement weather made things even more difficult for both the sides . Not much damage on either side in that sortie . Air Commodore Wilson then incharge of the Eastern Air Command rightly expected the second sortie by the Pak Airforce and was fully prepared for the same .
Hunters and Sabers were ripping across the sky , often at very low levels and firing at each other .
FOUR of the much acclaimed Saber jets were shot down and if i remember correctly Flt Lt Alfred Cooke was awarded the VIR CHAKRA , one of them crashed onto the empty field between our Bungalow and the Indian Institute of Technology.
The half charred body of Afzal Khan one of the felled planes was also recovered .
Even after so many many years , i still have with me a metal something which i believe to be a debri from the fallen Aircraft .
BRAVO TO ALL OUR DEFENCE PERSONNEL AND TO ALL THE AIRMEN WHO HAVE MADE US PROUD THIS DAY - JAIHIND
I have had my own share of being in a war zone during an Air Raid . This happened when i was a school kid during the Indo - Pak war of 1965 . As can only be imagined , to be a first hand witness to an Air Fight right before your eyes , sets all of your adrenaline racing .
We were in the midst of the Indo - Pak War during the year 1965 . My father , a Very Senior Railway Officer was stationed at Kharagpur some 72 Kms from the present day Kolkata . For those not in the knowhow , Kharagpur is one of the biggest and busiest Railway Junctions in the Country .
Our Bungalow was hardly 5 kms away from the Eastern Air Command at Kalaikunda . In fact one of my classmates was Linda Lafontaine whose father later on went on to become the AIR CHIEF MARSHAL of the Indian Air Force .
At that time , Bangladesh did not exist , Pakistan was divided into East and West Pakistan . Kolkata and Kharagpur being very close to Dacca was always a prime target for an air attack during wartime .
Even as the war started , The Civil Defence Apparatus took it upon themselves to create an awareness among the Public at large on the steps to be taken during an air raid .
1 ) Air Raid Siren , up and down hooting very similar to a fire alarm in our Mills and the all clear long hoot signal were practiced on a regular basis .
2 ) All the window glass panes were painted green or covered with brown paper .
3 ) All lights were to be switched off during an air raid .
The war was being fought at both the Eastern and Western Fronts .
At that time the Indians had to do with the Canberra s and the Hunters while the Pakistani s had the much more modern American made Sabre s and Gnats at their command .
On the evening 6 th of Sept 1965 , the Indian Airforce had carried out a successful raid on the Dacca Air Base and inflicted considerable damage .
The retaliatory raid was on the very next day . The heavy rain and inclement weather made things even more difficult for both the sides . Not much damage on either side in that sortie . Air Commodore Wilson then incharge of the Eastern Air Command rightly expected the second sortie by the Pak Airforce and was fully prepared for the same .
Hunters and Sabers were ripping across the sky , often at very low levels and firing at each other .
FOUR of the much acclaimed Saber jets were shot down and if i remember correctly Flt Lt Alfred Cooke was awarded the VIR CHAKRA , one of them crashed onto the empty field between our Bungalow and the Indian Institute of Technology.
The half charred body of Afzal Khan one of the felled planes was also recovered .
Even after so many many years , i still have with me a metal something which i believe to be a debri from the fallen Aircraft .
BRAVO TO ALL OUR DEFENCE PERSONNEL AND TO ALL THE AIRMEN WHO HAVE MADE US PROUD THIS DAY - JAIHIND
seems to be a thrilling experience
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