AFVOA Newsletter May 2020

Section 3 - Memoirs Newsletter No. 1 / 2020 P a g e 32 | 101 Reflections I initially believed significance can be attached to the patrol boat being full of High Explosives, boat moving towards INS Delhi and capture of a soldier from the boat. From an interrogation of the captured soldier, and later of other surrendered Portuguese, it would indicate that the patrol boat was on a mission to ram into the stationary INS Delhi gaining proximity by false pretentions. That, if successful, would have been a serious blow as in the case of U.S.S. Cole in Aden harbour in Yemen on 12th Oct 2000. Since it first happened, a good amount of literature has been published from the Portuguese side. The boat that I attacked was “N.R.P Vega”, a micro warship equipped with a 20 mm cannon with a crew of eight. It was commanded by 2nd Lt Oliveira e Carmo of the Portuguese Navy. He had received orders to engage the Indian forces on the morning of December 18th, and though outgunned, he set sail to engage the INS Delhi. I encountered the patrol boat en-route and the exchange of fire took place. Oliveira e Carmo was hit in the first pass and he died heroically at helm as the Vega went down. Another seaman Ferreira died in the same attack – while a third Seaman Jardino died of injuries later. Five of the Vega’s crew survived the action. Very unfortunately, our only fatal casualty during Ops Vijay occurred when I was taxying-in to the dispersal on 19th. I turned in to the parking bay following the Marshaller’s bat signals. When we climbed down the ladder, we learnt that our “Chiefy” had been hit by the wingtip on his right temple. He was standing on the grass shoulder of the taxiway signaling to the Marshaller. It was a pity he was standing just an inch closer than safe and was focused on the Marshaller. He was awake throughout the previous night supervising the arming and preparing of all aircraft for the early morning sorties. Lack of sleep and rest possibly resulted in a slight misjudgment of distances. The perspex cover of the wing tip navigation light was found cracked. Flt Sgt Swamy was a dedicated and knowledgeable technician held in high esteem by all the air and ground crew. It was a great loss to the base and his funeral was attended by all officers and men on the station which was a fitting tribute to him. In a spontaneous gesture, all personnel made generous donations to a fund raiser to provide substantial immediate support to the bereaved family.