Four examples of the Bell 47G-2 helicopter were received by the IAF in early '54 followed by a last batch of six in Aug '62 bringing the total operated to 15. The helicopter was used extensively along side Sikorsky S-55s and Mil MI-4s from Nepal to Ceylon in CASEVAC and SAR tasks. The last Bell 47s faded out from the Helicopter Training School at Jodhpur in 1978.
The Bells were used actively in the Indo China war of 1962 evacuating wounded from the battlefront under enemy shelling. In fact this ac, BZ 542, the second received from the USA was hit by Chinese shelling whilst landing to evacuate wounded in Oct 62. The pilot Sqn Ldr VK Sehgal is still listed missing.
Initially all choppers were received in overall white and then painted olive sometime on 1965. This is the simple Italeri kit, which was easy, and a pleasure to build.
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