AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 5 – War Diary CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 110 of 332 "I flew through the day and almost up tomidnight, carrying out 15 take-offs and landings between Kailashahar (Tripura) and Agartala. It was back-breaking work, but the happiness we saw on the returning soldiers's faces was the tonic we needed to go on! I remember that the take-offs and landings from both these airfields were not easy, especially at night. "Kailashahar had just six sets of 'goosenecks' (thick burning wicks dipped in oil) placed at the beginning of the runway. "Agartala was the worst. It had just a few lights placed on only one edge of the runway! Aligning the aircraft was a problem and so was depth perception. "This coupled with the short length of the strips meant that there was no margin for error. "Every time I was aligned for landing at Agartala, I would reconfirm from the ATC as to which side of the runway the lights were placed!" Having been in the field of military aviation for so many years myself, I can say with absolute certainty that the pilots of those days were a class apart. To fly such big machines, which had just the bare instruments and no 'auto pilot' to help you fly (especially at night) and that too land on an unlighted runway, needed guts and above all perfect flying skills that the new generation of 'button pilots' don't have! It was pure 'seat of the pants' flying, relying on your guts and excellent training. Ask any pilot today if he would do what those guys did in 1971 and you will get a big NO for sure! Before that, the Dakotas were used to move the Kilo Flight, lock stock and barrel, to Agartala around December 9-10. Their role in the war was now almost negligible and they were excited to get back to their own independent country with the aeroplanes to form the Bangladesh air force. "Have you seen that famous photo of the surrender at Dacca?" "I have my little story about that too," revealed the veteran pilot. "On December 16, I was allowed by Group Captain Chandan Singh to go to Dacca in the choppers that were going there for the surrender ceremony. "I flew with my friends and was amazed at the reception at Dacca after landing.