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IAF Operations in the West
Heavy damage inflicted on PAF

Dec 08, NEW DELHI: The IAF mounted air offensive has in the past two days shifted its focus to ground support and economic targets. The IAF had sucessfully attacked and destroyed the Hydro-Electric powerstation at the Mangla dam yesterday.

The raid was carried out by aircraft of No.20 Squadron flying Hawker Hunters. Sqn Ldr R N Bharadwaj led the four shipper raid against the Power station and sucessfully attacked it.

No.20 also conducted a raid on Murid today in which heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy. Gun camera evidence reveals atleast One C-130 Transport and two fighters of the F-6 Type were destroyed on the ground. Radio intercepts however reveal that atleast five fighters were destroyed at Murid.

Another attack on Karachi was undertaken by No.35 Squadron towards nightfall. The raid was led by Wg Cdr S K Badhwar, the CO.

There were no losses for the IAF in the Eastern Sector. However on the Western Sector, the IAF lost a MiG-21 in the Chamb sector. A Su-7 from TACDE has failed to return from its mission against Risalawala.

In the Fazilka area, a Hunter of No.7 Squadron was shot down by AA fire . The pilot Wg Cdr B A Coelho, the CO of the squadron ejected and came down in No Mans land. Frantic efforts by our ground troops to retrive the pilot came to naught. Even though a patrol was sent to retrive him, by the time they reached the area, the enemy has already taken the pilot as a POW and whisked him away.

Also lost in the Fazilka area is a Mystere Recce aircraft. The aircraft was shot down by AA fire at Amruka.

Meanwhile AA on our side too has made its presence felt. An F-86 Sabre flying over Chamb was hit by our AA fire. The damage resulted in a bomb exploading and the aircraft dissappeared in a flash of fire. The second PAF aircraft accompanying this immediately scampered away.

Pakistani sources have admitted that one of thier Army Aviation Alloutte III Choppers has crashed in Chamb area killing the GOC of that area, Maj Gen Ifthikar Khan.

Also admitted was the destruction of a B-57 bomber at Mianwali in a "accident on ground".