Saviour Of Kashmir : THE GREAT DAKOTAS OF IAF
The GOONEY BIRD
BY
Air Mshl Manjit Sekhon, Retd
Part 1. The Work Horse Dakota
The Work Horse of IAF, the venerable Dakota saved thousands of refugees in Aug 1947 during the partition. RIAF had received only ½ Transport Squadron, a total of just 7 Daks as our share the rest went to PAF. Baba (Wing Commander ) Mehar Singh, who earlier commanded No. 6 Sqn Hurricanes, (and had won DSO), STARTED FLYING Daks in the most daring manner. Refugee evacuation from Lahore to Amritsar, with only 15 mins reserve, he used to carry approximately 100 sick women & children refugees, unsticking at last slab. Hats Off. !
Part 2. 1947 J&K War
How Daks saved Srinagar, we all know the history. During Sep-Oct 47 approx 4000 raiders/razakars overran Muzaffrabad, Domel, Uri, Baramulla, Pattan &reached Badgam to capture Srinagar Air Field. J&K Army C-in-C Brig Rajinder Singh died fighting at Rampur. Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India on 26 Oct 1947. 2 Daks of 12 Sqn were called to Palam. On 1st Light 27 Oct. With help of the Army Transport Liaison Officer the 2 Daks got airborne for Srinagar with about platoon strength of 1st Sikh Rgt troops and the CO Lt Col Rai. As soon as the airport was secured a steam of Dakotas already circling overhead started landing. 4 Kumaon with Maj Som nath, 2nd Punjab, 1st Kumaon, Total 3500 troops airlifted in day & night operations,thanks to the Mounting Base Organization established by Army Air Transport Support School Agra
Maj Gen Kulwant Singh was made CinC of J&K. 4 x Army Battalions maintained by Dakota air drops. Razakars were defeated and pushed out beyond Uri, Muzffrabad Domel within reach of Army. 1st Kumaon under CO, Col Pritam Singh, (later Brig) crossed HaiPir, reached Poonch. Gp Capt later Air Cmde Baba Mehar Singh was made AOC 1 Operational Group. Code for Srinagar was No 1 Wing, Pune supplying Fighters as 2 Wing, Palam as staging post 3 Wing, Agra Transport base for Daks as 4 Wing. Some civil Daks were placed under IAF and also used.
Part 3. Daks Heroic Ops to save Poonch & Leh 1947-48.
We learn from others experience and mistakes.
Poonch was one of the most prosperous regions of J&K with 50,000 population out of which 40.000 were Hindu/Sikhs. Appx 3000 Razakars/Raiders overran Rajouri to Sunderban, Mendher, Jhangar & Poonch and laid a siege. Brig. Pritam with 2 Punjab & 4 Kumaon reached Poonch on foot with almost nil ammo & no rations. SOS was sent to IAF. Baba Mehar Singh did aerial recce, landed at Basanter Nallah river bed in 500 yds with Ltd ammo & rations, flew out casualities to Jammu. His Cojo was P/O Pushong. Army and locals extended landing area to 1000 yds. In 7 days Daks airlifted 215,000 Kg rations/ammo/guns to Poonch. Daks also did aerial bombing by arming and manually pushing bombs thru dropping door. Tide was turned, Pakis were on the run, lost areas were regained plus more up to Kotli, Potha, Dwarandi, Hajira & 8000 ft peaks etc. Pushong was cleared as Capt along with KL Bhatia Majithia & others. India lost appx 3,000 miilitary cum civilian personnel. Daks saved the Poonch areas from the JAWS of Paki Razakars. Cheers!! Baba soom thereafter with Lau Grewal, Gadioak shifted flying to high altitudes of Kargil. Leh, Skardu etc.
Part 4. Daks saved the day every time :
Razakars/Raiders under control of Paki army had made 3 prong attacks e.g. Poonch – Rajauri – Mandhar Siege, 2nd over running of Muzzarabad, Uri, Baramula, Pattan, Badgam & 3rd prong was from Chitral, Gilgit, Skardu. Besides 2 other prongs, first from Skardu to Dras, Zojila, Kargil, Khalsi, Leh and second from Skardu to Turtok, Thoise, Khardungla to Leh.
Paki Plans were superb and we almost lost Ladhak.
Daks saved the day everytime. Poonch air ops under Bhatia, Pushong, Barty & others were doing great. Harry Dewan also came, 1st sortie nosed over, was sent back by Bab Mehar Singh, AOC No 1 Ops Group.
MG Thimayya specially requested Baba Mehar for immediate IAF help in high altitude area. Daks swung into further actions with limited serviceable a/c. Baba landed his Dak on a sandy river bed at Leh with MG Thimayya & some ammo, food. Dismantled tank parts were para dropped at Baltal, near Zojilla. Zojilla, Dras Khalsi were regained. Skardu with a Coy force under Maj Sher Jung Thapa fought gallantly for 40 days. They were air maintained by Daks. Daks did Day & Night bombing & as Air Borne FAC directed fighter a/c fire on to the Paki targets besides aerial photography for Army requirements. Pakis made many gains but Indian Kashmir is courtesy Daks, Daks, Daks alone & brave aircrew who flew Hookah Oxygen. Hats Off to those Veterans.
In 1971 war, we regained Chalunka, Turtak (Maj Richi story for not grabbing Skardu), Thang, Gorkhha Ridge I Shyok Valley & about 200 posts in Kargil sectors. Shifted LOC by 32 Km.
Jai Hind.
Part 5 – TEZU 1962 – 63
Tezu was a small 700 yds sandy river bed ALG. ATC was on tree with on GU 734 set. 49 Sqn Daks & 59 Sqn Others did a yeoman service. Army was withdrawing from Kibitoo, Wallong, Hayliong, Chaklagaon, Lohitpur etc. S/L Gursewak Singh Sidhu — CO 59 Sqn was an Air Force by himself. He was the Boss at Tezu. There used to be 6 to 8 Daks 4 to 6 Otters on ground at any time at Tezu. ATCO Sgt was also a Boss. Parking was tip to tip (10-12”). New AOC-jetting on to R/W. C-in-C lands in an Otter at Tezu to Inspect and parks his ‘Otter’ with a wing jetting on to R/W. C-in-C comes to ATC tree where Sindhu was standing. C-in-C is upset with tip to tip parking & rude instructions of ATCO. Sidhu told him that ATCO is flying. My Orders you are to leave immediately, Just now & stop blocking my R/W, a Dak is O/H. C-in-C left immediately without uttering a word.
Commanders are Commanders, and they lead from the front.
Part 6 – Forgotton Frontiers Vijay Nagar:
Area on map looks like the foot of an English Lady sitting on a Bar Stool.
Hot spring valley is close end with hells ranging to 15000 – 17000 ft. Escape route is to climb overhead to 18000ft, head East into Burma, hit 1st broad river, turn right southerly, descend, look for crashed tempest (aircraft) on top of a hill (5000ft), head West to Dnjnan/Chabua/Johrat.
During 1963-64, a Dak of 49 sqn followed escape route, noticed large number s of Bashas/tents in an open valley flew over them, found them different. On landing reported to higher authorities. Canberra did PR missions, Army/Govt was alerted. It was a case of forgotten frontier.
Maj (Later Lt Gen) Goraya of Assam Rifles was detailed to recce. Track was most treacherous with thick bamboo growth & wild Tigers. Team reached valley mouth, stopped due monsoons, named this spot as FIRM BASE. Next year moved forward established 2nd base, named it Gandhi Gram. Moved forward reached open valley, evicted the Chinese intruders. The place had no name. The CO decided it is to be called ‘Vijay Nagar’ as his wife’s name is Vijay. A big lake named Preet Lake as CO’s daughter is Preet. Team was air maintained by Daks of 49. Up 49! – Name given to an ALG, Vijay Nagar was made, PM Nehru flew in a Dak to reclaim Forgottten Frontiers of Vijay Naga!! Wonderful Gooney Bird!!
Part 7 – (Wingco Mullinex)
Jorhat R/W was placed under repairs during 1964-65. 17 Sqn Hunters with Anglo CO, S/Ls Bawa, PP Singh, coeloh, Indru Shahai & others moved to Hasimara. 49 under Wingco TW Mullinex moved to Chabua. Chabua had 37 Sqn Hunters, 24 Sqn Vamps, 105 Mi4s and Dett of Otter 59 Sqn. In short we were about 300 officers in tents & bashes. Stn Cdr was G/C Dhatigara. Flying took place Day and ight. Bar was the best, opening at 6 pm as Sun set was at 1630h. Bar was small; drinks had to be passed over each other’s head – taking a sip in between. Mullinex always occupied a Commanding spot. Bar man Bahadur used to announce, 9pm Sirs LAST drink. Mullinex or 2i/c used to shout 49 Large Drinks”. “UP 49” Mullinex was Anglo Pathan and his War Cry in Pushto used to be “ Saptlore Di, Peer Di, Maan Di, Kus Di, Ghaee Maan” “UP 49.” All drinks used to be Chagluck. Next Morning 0330 Brfg, get airborne by 0430h, gooey Birds & their JOCKs did wonder fully well. God bless!
Part 8. VP Kala
I was Cojo to F/O VP Kala in a Dak sortie from Dinhan for a fresh supply dropping at Taliha, Nacho, Limking & Taksing – 2 parachuted each post. At 300 ft after off, Kala handed over controls to me & he opened AP 129 to study. On finals at Taliha he took over controls, did a perfect drop on ‘T’ and repeated the same for Nacho, Limiking & Taksing. While returning, we got a message to land at Daprijo for casualty evacuation. A perfect landing picked up 10 casualities for Johrat MH, back to Dinjan for another forward area sortie. That is Kala. He is QFI cat A1. Flew Vampires, Hunters, Migs, much against the wishes of many CMs (Course Mates), got selected for ETPS, UK. He is the ONLY Test Pilot I the world who became a Test Pilot (TP) without flying, as his ankle was in plaster. As a pupil he took classes at ETPS & Commandant said “If you ever leave IAF join us at ETPS”. Kala Retd as AVM, a great professional, wonderful soul, most honest & most helpful, is doing social service. God bless Ved Prakash Kala !!!
Jai Hind.
Part 9 – Gooney Bird at Hot Spring, Vijay Nagar Discovery :
During 1966-67 S/L Buster Kaul, an ace Dak QFI from TTW had joined Kalingas, operating ex Dinjan/Mohannbari. They generally did fig of 8 drop to earn more.
Beyound Hayliong is Namtalai, Walong, Kibitoo (400m fm LAC), and 1 Km short trun right for Hot Spring DZ of Army post at appx 9000 ft.
After 1100h winds become very strong. 43 had just started a detachment at Mohanbari, Sqn Ldr Desai with over 5000h went for a 1st drop at Hot Springs after mid-day. Head wind drop was perfect, turned around for fig of 8 drop. Very strong tail wind, fully loaded, and opened Full throttles, could not hold height, crashed into the DZ. All 9 died. Really sad and Sqn was shaken up. I did evacuation of bodies in Alouette helicopter with P/O Budhiraja as cojo. Sad. I knew the area well with over 3000 Hrs in NEFA & appx 18 yrs in 6 postings.
Part 10 – THOISE and LEH Landing by Dakotas
Leh ALG was 1200 yds and under extension. Landings & T/O from hill side into Indus River. 1st 300m was PSP & rest ‘kutcha’ sandy to be watered & rolled level after every Ldg/ T/O. It was risky, no mistakes permitted. USAF C 130 landed bounced again broke nose u/c. No more landings for C 130 (OPS finished).
THOISE was dangerous. I was cojo to CO 43, called Bulldog Dhillon, approached from Trech- Chalunka side, rounded off, 3 pointer, touched, stick into stomach, braked, whole sand moved fwd camel ride, finally stopped. My heart was beating 3 times faster. Ground recce showed 3-5 ft deep furrows. Army Engrs swung in action to prepare ALG for T/O of Gooney Bird which was the life line in subzero temperatures.
Wonderful Gooney Birds & Superb Fliers.
Jai Hind – Manjit Sekhon (09313997627) in praise of the wonderful Dakotas
Millions & millions of men are born every day
A few lucky ones become Pilots.
“Among them only a few are fortunate to have been Gooney Bird Pilots”
