Nagpur: About 65 Air veterans who participated in the 1965 war against Pakistan took the air warriors of HQ Maintenance Command on a nostalgic flight down the memory lane today.
The veterans were felicitated by Air Marshal Jagjeet Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command, IAF at the Command.
Air Vice-Marshal Praveen Bhatt, the Senior Air and Administrative Staff Officer, Maintenance Command in his welcome address declared that the best way to go ahead with the event was to have an interactive session so that the gathering would get an opportunity to listen to the heroic tales of war from the persons who had been on the battle field there.
Recalling memories, veteran Gp Capt SV Pathak, reminisced the time where his Vampire aircraft was shot down after he had taken off from Pathankot.
When veteran Gp Capt SD Bhave narrated his tales of compass failure and how his five missions were conducted successfully over Pakistan territory overcoming all the surprises the war offered, all present listened in rapt attention and admiration.
The wit and succinct humour of octogenarian navigator won the hearts of all. One of the veterans recounted stories of capture of Pak “Chhate Waale” (Paratoopers). Wg Cdr JB Contractor thanked the Command for excellent maintenance support provided to the forward Squadrons in 1965 which ensured fine performance of IAF during the war.
All the 65 Veterans, the figures coincided with the ’65 war, expressed their desire to see similar interactions.
Air Marshal Jagjeet Singh felicitated the eldest of the veterans present Gp Capt SD Bhave as a mark of respect for him and wished world becomes war free.
