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22nd Nov : Calcutta: The Indian Air Force in a dramatic combat  intercepted three Pakistani Sabrejets that were intruding over Indian Territory and shot them down in aircombat. The Information released by the Ministry of Defence is follows.

At appproximately 1500 Hours, Four  Pakistani Air Force F-86 Sabres began attacking Indian Army Forces at the Boyra Peninsula. Acting on a radar warning, Four Gnats from No.22 Squadron based at Barrackpore near Dum Dum were scrambled to intercept this formation. 

Flt Lt R A Massey leading the formation gave the order to strike just as the enemy planes were attacking Indian Army Positions. Two of the Sabres were shot down by Massey's formation members, Flt Lt M A Ganapathy and Fg Off D Lazarus. The wreckages of both the aircraft fell in Indian territory.

Flt Lt Massey himself shot down a third Sabre which managed to fly across into East Pakistani Territory and crashland in Chaguacha Lake. 

In an exclusive interview with The Liberation Times, Flt Lt Massey narrated the airbattle:

"We scrambled from Dum Dum and belted to the border at 450 kts 3000 feet altitude.  My No.2 made contact at 2'O Clock , level, 4 miles. I pulled up over my No.3 and No.4 and latched onto one. He did a hard turn and reversed. I took a High- Angle off burst and missed.  Meanwhile another Sabre passed by us and my No.3 took him on. I took another burst at 700 yards , but my starboard gun had stopped by then. I finally got him with a third burst on the port wing."

The AOC in C Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal H C Dewan was not available for comment.