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The day the sky fell down (in Gwalior)

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Category: The Last Quarter: 1972-99
Last Updated: Friday, 18 October 2019 13:32
Written by Gp Capt N A Moitra
Hits: 4120

Back in the year 1989, a leading newspaper published a sensational story about a Hangar Collapse in Gwalior and how that resulted in half a dozen Mirage 2000 fighters being badly damaged or written off. The story created a furor and the Ministry of Defence was forced to issue a rejoinder discreditng the news report.  Gp Capt Noel A Moitra 12931 F(P) VM was at Gwalior at that time.  For the first time in thirty years, he writes about the 'incident' in detail.

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Jodhpur and the 1965 War

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Category: The India-Pakistan War 1965
Last Updated: Wednesday, 16 October 2019 03:41
Written by Flt Lt K Ahmed Shah (Retd)
Hits: 1974

Jodhpur was the most bombed Indian City of the Indo-Pak 1965 war. More than two hundred thousand pounds of bombs were dropped in and around the Air Force Base. Though the targets were military installations there was no direct hit on any building or runway. Bomb shrapnel broke into the main offices and Hangars causing minor damage. Most of the glass panes in the HQ building were shattered and some ear-drums damaged.  Flt Lt K Ahmed Shah writes... 

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The BR-IAF Chrome Browser Extension

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Category: Uncategorised
Last Updated: Thursday, 19 September 2019 04:11
Written by Webmaster
Hits: 8644

The BharatRakshak - Indian Air Force Site Databases Chrome Browser Extension

This extension will let you query the Databases on the Bharat Rakshak Indian Air Force site. The database consists of over 30,000 individual officer details, 4800 awards, 2000 accidents and 5000+ serials. And more coming every day! Simply visit this link to install the extension.

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The Atlantique Shoot Down - 20 Years Since

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Category: Kargil War 1999
Last Updated: Saturday, 10 August 2019 16:23
Written by Gp Capt V S Sharma (Retd)
Hits: 2445

Group Captain V S Sharma 14490 ADM (Retd) was the Fighter Controller at Naliya on 10th August 1999. This is his story of the eventful day that resulted in the first air to air interception and shoot down in over 28 years. 

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Jugaad with the Foxbats

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Category: Kargil War 1999
Last Updated: Saturday, 10 August 2019 16:54
Written by Air Marshal Vinod Kumar Bhatia
Hits: 3634

Air Marshal Vinod Kumar "Jimmy" Bhatia, PVSM AVSM VrC Bar , 6497 F(P) was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief during the Kargil conflict. A veteran of two wars against Pakistan - he was one of the few senior ranking officers to fly operational missions during the Kargil Conflict in 1999. This is his story of how Central Air Command utilized the MiG-25 Foxbat in a photo recce role at a profile for which the aircraft was not designed for. 

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Jaisalmer Diary - The story of 14 C&MU

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Category: The Bangladesh War 1971
Last Updated: Sunday, 26 May 2019 15:47
Written by Air Marshal Minhi S Bawa
Hits: 6324

This is an account of the operations at 14 C&MU Jaisalmer.  The IAF's victory at Longewala was achieved from Jaisalmer Air Force Base during the 1971 War under the leadership of then Wg Cdr M S Bawa (4494) F(P). This article provides a "War Diary" style narration of the day by day events as they unfolded. 

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Balakot Raid, Naushera battle and beyond

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Category: Opinions
Last Updated: Thursday, 21 March 2019 03:03
Written by Webmaster
Hits: 26719

 The recent air strikes on Balakot and the subsequent air battle near Naushera will be fodder for discussions for years to come.  Lost in the hyperbole of claims and counter-claims on both sides are some glaring issues on which questions should be asked. And the lessons should be recorded for future conficts. Air Marshal Harish Masand shares his thoughts on various aspects of the recent events.

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The saving of Chander

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Category: The Bangladesh War 1971
Last Updated: Friday, 08 February 2019 03:19
Written by AVM C V Parker (Retd)
Hits: 4266

In this short piece, Air Vice Marshal C V Parker MVC VM (4346 F(P)) narrates the last mission of his squadron - No.20 "Lightnings" - that could not beat the ceasefire clock!

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Old soldiers look after old comrades : P D Jeyasingh

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Category: The Bangladesh War 1971
Last Updated: Wednesday, 26 December 2018 13:58
Written by K S Nair
Hits: 4252

Air Cmde PD 'Jeya' Jeyasingh 10923 F(N) passed away at 2330 hrs on 18 Oct 2018 at the Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore. He was admitted on 05 October after being diagnosed with pneumonia and other complications.  He was veteran of the 1971 war, who flew on bombing sorties with the Canberra bombers.  He was also known as an old comrade who refuses to let the nation forget about his comrades.  K S Nair writes about the annual commemoration that  Air Commodore Jeyasingh started - and which continues today even in his absence.  

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