DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22461#0164
il'-itiut lit u 1:i it i.'nco
April -4, 195
Role of Indian Air Force in PhMes,°2' Gram:>dh*"*
• Kashmir -Campaign . /iggJJJ Cawect dime
' ." i {Continued from paije 0)
The main problem now was the provision
Of Supplies tor tho troops and the refugees, and
this could be done only by air. There was no
airfields So, one was constructed within a week
by "O.O'IO refugees working day and night. Land-
ings on ami takeoffs from this airstrip were
no easy task because it was surrounded on three,
•§i(fes by streams. It' had a steep approach and
mi aircraft had to drop straight from a .height
before landing And yet the decision was taken
to' land heavily-loaded Dakota."* each earning
. 6,5000 lbs. of supplies, as against the normal 2.000
lbs. The entire Transport Squadron worked at f
■ top. pressure :ntd, within six days,, carried oi.it ;
.-73 sorties and landed ,1,21,000 lh«. of supplies, \
in addition to evaluating thousands oi rcfugcQjs,
This work Went on for moro than a year.
Historic Flight to Leh - .
Finally, early ju 1948, the enomy tried fto
iuiiltrate* from Gilgit in the north, towards tinrais
on the. Rishonganga, River and along the Middle
Indus towards Khalatse and I.eh. For a moment,
it looked' as though'nothing could stop him from,
over running the Buddhist centro of Leh. In the
fact" of this dan; cr, on May 'J f, tho late Air
Commodore Mohar Singh, with Gen. K. S. Tln'm-
.maya, made the historic (light over the Inner
-Himalayas, above 23,000 feet, through an urichar-.
tercd area to Leh. A decision was, taken on. the
spot to fly troops to Lob, so that ton .Jill}* H,
:When the enemy made his attack, we. were fully
prepared to .meet him.
While the Fighter and Transport Squadrons
of-tho I. A. K. were" thus ■engaged, the Keeon-
naissaiu-e Squadrons were busy on all the f onts.'
They carried 'out innumerable contact, photogia- .
•phic and'other* reconnaissance sor.'ies and brought
back vital information about enemy movements
and dispositions^ impos.sii.ile to obtain in a r.-gion
devoid of reliable ground intelligence. .*
Thus, on January 1, Hl4i). when, the cease-
lire" order came into effect, trio !. A. F. had
every reason for satisfaction." It had stop© "aline
job of work,' It.had the. good fortune of posse
• ssing. at a critical'Juncture, .material, and men of
right-"calibre to.enable it \q meet the < national
. emeige'ncy in a magnificent fashion.
BUY ft RELIABLE WATCH TO-DAY
8. K. ADBIKARY
. Upper Bank Road, Kalimpong
Dealer in : Watches, Clocks, Gramophone, Radio,
Fountainpen, Typewriter, Spectacles and Gas lights
REPAIR SERVICE A SPECIALITY
A VACANCY FOR YOU
If you are really able and ambitious,
there is always a .vacancy for you tor a
permanent job, with freedom and opportu-
nity. It may ensure your success in life
while contributing to larger social &
national good. It is the job of Life
Insurance Salesman.
A Hindustlian Agency is a life time job.'
Join our Agency Force & make your life' a
success.
HINDU5THAN . CO-OPERATIVE
'INSURANCE SOCIETY, LTD..
HINDUSTHAN 1U II DINGS,
CALCUTTA. 13
NJEM* BUSINESS ( UKSti )
Over Ks IS crorcs.
tor agency and other particulars
Please write to :- Mr. P. C. Ghosh,
Branch Manager, Jalpaiguri.
DARJEELWG RADIO CO. FOR PHILIPS RADIO—FLAYERS
April -4, 195
Role of Indian Air Force in PhMes,°2' Gram:>dh*"*
• Kashmir -Campaign . /iggJJJ Cawect dime
' ." i {Continued from paije 0)
The main problem now was the provision
Of Supplies tor tho troops and the refugees, and
this could be done only by air. There was no
airfields So, one was constructed within a week
by "O.O'IO refugees working day and night. Land-
ings on ami takeoffs from this airstrip were
no easy task because it was surrounded on three,
•§i(fes by streams. It' had a steep approach and
mi aircraft had to drop straight from a .height
before landing And yet the decision was taken
to' land heavily-loaded Dakota."* each earning
. 6,5000 lbs. of supplies, as against the normal 2.000
lbs. The entire Transport Squadron worked at f
■ top. pressure :ntd, within six days,, carried oi.it ;
.-73 sorties and landed ,1,21,000 lh«. of supplies, \
in addition to evaluating thousands oi rcfugcQjs,
This work Went on for moro than a year.
Historic Flight to Leh - .
Finally, early ju 1948, the enomy tried fto
iuiiltrate* from Gilgit in the north, towards tinrais
on the. Rishonganga, River and along the Middle
Indus towards Khalatse and I.eh. For a moment,
it looked' as though'nothing could stop him from,
over running the Buddhist centro of Leh. In the
fact" of this dan; cr, on May 'J f, tho late Air
Commodore Mohar Singh, with Gen. K. S. Tln'm-
.maya, made the historic (light over the Inner
-Himalayas, above 23,000 feet, through an urichar-.
tercd area to Leh. A decision was, taken on. the
spot to fly troops to Lob, so that ton .Jill}* H,
:When the enemy made his attack, we. were fully
prepared to .meet him.
While the Fighter and Transport Squadrons
of-tho I. A. K. were" thus ■engaged, the Keeon-
naissaiu-e Squadrons were busy on all the f onts.'
They carried 'out innumerable contact, photogia- .
•phic and'other* reconnaissance sor.'ies and brought
back vital information about enemy movements
and dispositions^ impos.sii.ile to obtain in a r.-gion
devoid of reliable ground intelligence. .*
Thus, on January 1, Hl4i). when, the cease-
lire" order came into effect, trio !. A. F. had
every reason for satisfaction." It had stop© "aline
job of work,' It.had the. good fortune of posse
• ssing. at a critical'Juncture, .material, and men of
right-"calibre to.enable it \q meet the < national
. emeige'ncy in a magnificent fashion.
BUY ft RELIABLE WATCH TO-DAY
8. K. ADBIKARY
. Upper Bank Road, Kalimpong
Dealer in : Watches, Clocks, Gramophone, Radio,
Fountainpen, Typewriter, Spectacles and Gas lights
REPAIR SERVICE A SPECIALITY
A VACANCY FOR YOU
If you are really able and ambitious,
there is always a .vacancy for you tor a
permanent job, with freedom and opportu-
nity. It may ensure your success in life
while contributing to larger social &
national good. It is the job of Life
Insurance Salesman.
A Hindustlian Agency is a life time job.'
Join our Agency Force & make your life' a
success.
HINDU5THAN . CO-OPERATIVE
'INSURANCE SOCIETY, LTD..
HINDUSTHAN 1U II DINGS,
CALCUTTA. 13
NJEM* BUSINESS ( UKSti )
Over Ks IS crorcs.
tor agency and other particulars
Please write to :- Mr. P. C. Ghosh,
Branch Manager, Jalpaiguri.
DARJEELWG RADIO CO. FOR PHILIPS RADIO—FLAYERS