Kumar, Bharat
The Indian air force in the 1971 Indo-Pak war - U.S.I Journal - 151(626), Oct-Dec, 2021: p. 571-583
The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a decisive role in the Indo-Pak War of 1971. In line with their strategy, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) deployed only one F-86 squadron in East Pakistan. Resultantly, the IAF was able to attain air supremacy by 06 December 1971 in the Eastern Sector and could meet ground operations requirements, projected by the army, fully and even exceeded them wherever and whenever the situation so demanded. In the West, India made deliberate attempts to lure the PAF into aerial combat in Pakistani Territory but the PAF did not bite the bait. The article covers all types of missions carried out by the IAF, with greater stress on the operations in the Eastern Sector. It also covers the innovations done and flexibility shown by the IAF in the 1971 war. – Reproduced
Indian air force, 1971 Indo-Pak war
The Indian air force in the 1971 Indo-Pak war - U.S.I Journal - 151(626), Oct-Dec, 2021: p. 571-583
The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a decisive role in the Indo-Pak War of 1971. In line with their strategy, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) deployed only one F-86 squadron in East Pakistan. Resultantly, the IAF was able to attain air supremacy by 06 December 1971 in the Eastern Sector and could meet ground operations requirements, projected by the army, fully and even exceeded them wherever and whenever the situation so demanded. In the West, India made deliberate attempts to lure the PAF into aerial combat in Pakistani Territory but the PAF did not bite the bait. The article covers all types of missions carried out by the IAF, with greater stress on the operations in the Eastern Sector. It also covers the innovations done and flexibility shown by the IAF in the 1971 war. – Reproduced
Indian air force, 1971 Indo-Pak war