Remembrances One – 11 / 2021 28, November, 2021

1965 – Indo Pak War : No. – 12 Squadron (Packets) Was Located at Pathankot to under take air maintenance in Ladakh area. Since first weak of September the war clouds were gathering. Two rehearsals for move of the sqn. had been undertaken. Both were recalled an cancelled. It was on 6 Setember 1965 the first fighter attack was launched. This comprised of Tofanis, Mysteres and Vampires, out of these 18 air craft package six did not come back. No.-12 Sqn. was asked to move out, since Air Hq. din’t not know where to send the Sqn. The Squadron was directed to move to Palam. No accommodation, No Transport, most of the personnel stayed on the aircraft it self. The sleeping platform was the top of packet air craft. The food was picked up from near by Food Dhaba’s. Aft 3 days No.-12 Sqn. was moved to Bareilly. Nearly Five in a room but the psyche was such that every body enjoyed next 7 months stay at Bareilly (U.P.). 1971 – The Bangladesh War : It was a matter of Pride for a Transport Squadron to be well trend for Bombing Operation’s. That pride was with the no. – 44 Squadron. The Squadron was under the most able command of Wing Commander V. B. Vashisht. The squadron was I located at Bareilly again. The task was to carryout Carpet Bombing in Western and Eastern Sector. Nearly Six Air Craft formations used to Take of during nights of the period 1971 War (03 December, 1971 to 16 December, 1971). This meticulous task was accomplished by most professional Air Crews of No-44 Squadron (An-12 Sqn.). It is a matter of pride that squadron earned One MVC, Three VrC and many more gallantry awards. When Russians were told of this happening at Military Academy at IVANOVA (USSR) during the IL – 76 training program they were highly surprised. 1987 – Operation Brass Tacks : General Sundarjee was the army chief at that time. He was a war savvy General. No-44 Squadron (Now IL-76 ) was position at NNP. In the third week of January 1987 I was summoned Air HQ. by the ACAS Ops. The task was to air lift BMP’s from Chandigarh to Thoise. The Thoise runway at that time was only 1750 meters. Even in the plains. IL-76 Ops. were cleared for runway length of 2000 meters. I made a trip from Leh to thoise in a MI-17 and discussed our proposed plan with the station commander who was group captain Sandhu. A touch down point was marked at the beginning of the landing dumbbell. The touch down was to be with-in +- 5 meters of this marking . At Chandigarh 2 Air craft were earmarked to undertake minimum of 4 sorties per day. The whole operation of 24 sorties was accomplished between 29th January, 1987 till 02nd February 1987. My co-pilots were Chacha Sahani, V.K. Sahani and Shrivastava. All details are taken from my personal Log Book. The First Day when we landed at thoise, The then Army Commander Northen Commander General Handoo walked in with a Cup-of-Tea and a Samosa. Hugged me in the cockpit and said “Ashok U have done a Yeomen Service to Indian Army”. Ground time at thoise was only 7 minutes. Snippets 1- Great Happening at Gurgaon. The state Govt. has earmarked certain open places for Muslims to offer Namaaz on Friday’s. This was resisted by ultra Hindu Organizations. A Guru Dwara Granthi invited the Molvi Sahab and offered him Complete Guru Dwara for Muslims to offer there Namaaz. Not only that a Businessman Yadav offered his Workshop and Big House for the same. A True reflection of brotherhood. That is what India we all would like to see. Many more write-up on Defense & National Security issues and Happenings around the world read Go on : http://airmarshalashokgoel.blogspot.com/ JAI HIND – JAI BHARAT