NEW DELHI – As 2017 comes to end, the Indian Air Force will bid goodbye totwo of its best-known squadron fighters.
This will bring down its strength of squadron fighters to 31.
This afternoon, the Type-96-Mig-21, once the backbone and workhorse of theAir Force, swiftly took off from Nal Airbase in Bikaner, Rajasthan in whatwould be its last sortie.
The 108 Squadron of the Indian Air Force, comprising the Type 96 -MiG-21will be “number-plated” or decommissioned.
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, a MiG-21 pilot, flew the last sortie of the108 squadron.
The 108 Squadron, also known as the “Hawkeyes”, took part in the Goaliberation war, the 1965 and 1971 India -Pakistan war.
Once based in Pathankot, the squadron was moved to defend the skies overRajasthan.
On Thursday, the last of the original Mig-27 fighter-bombers of thedecorated 22 Squadron, roared for the last time over the forward airbase inHasimara.
The 22 Squadron of the IAF also called the “Swifts” are also know the BoyraSquadron after the famous air battle with the Pak Sabre jets in the 1971India-Pakistan war.
On 22 November 1971, for the third time that day, Indian radars picked upthree intruding Pakistani fighters.
Although, the war will be declared on 3 December, Pakistani jets regularlyintruded Indian air space to take on the Mukti Bahini – the guerrillafighters – and Indian troops assisting them.
The 22 Squadron was then moved to Calcutta to protect the Indian skies.
Comprising Gnat fighters, four jets of the 22 Squadron took-off fromDum-Dum airport to take on three intruding Pakistan Sabre jets.
Minutes after being airborne they came across three Pakistani Sabre jets.
By then the Gnats had divided themselves into two groups of two each totake on the advanced Sabre jets.
As the Gnats divided down to attack, the Sabre jets tried to pull out.
A call went out from the Indian fighters – “murder murder murder.”
Two Sabre jets were hit and the pilots ejected. Subsequently, the Gnatsalso hit and damaged the third Sabre.
The images of Sabre jets being shot down became one of the most enduringimages of the 1971 war.
The four Indian pilots were subsequently awarded the Vir Chakra.