VP905 flip book

DAKOTA DC3
VP 905 Parashurama
A GIFT OF HERTITAGE TO THE
INDIAN AIR FORCE
On 13 February 2018 Rajeev
Chandrasekhar gifted a Dakota
DC 3 aircraft to the Indian Air
Force on behalf of his father Air
Commodore M K Chandrasekhar,
VM, VSM (Retd). It was indeed a
historic day for the IAF and the
Nation.
The signing of the gift deed took place at a
ceremony at New Delhi with Air Chief Marshal B
S Dhanoa, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VM, ADC in the
presence of many veterans and their families who
had flown the Dakota while in service and had
travelled from across the country to be a part of
this momentous occasion.
In 2011 Rajeev bought the Dakota and over a
period of six years restored it to full fly worthy
condition. He wrote to the Government in 2011
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expressing his desire to gift the restored DC 3 to preserve a slice of Indian aviation
and IAF history, but they turned it down. However, in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar gave a green signal and agreed
to add DC 3 Dakota painted in the IAF colours to be part of its Vintage Flight.
For Rajeev, the Dakota revives memories of his father Air Commodore M K
Chandrasekhar who commanded a
Dakota squadron. He remembers
often standing on the periphery of
the Mohanbari runway, watching
his father climb into a Dakota in his
overalls and take off.
after the Eternal warrior saint- the 6 th avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Rajeev has dedicated the Dakota aircraft VP
905 Parashurama all Air Warriors and their
families who served and flew Dakotas in
various IAF operations in remotest parts of
India from 1947-1971. He believes the
Dakota is a symbol of pride of the Indian Air
Force and its story will surely inspire the future
generations.
VP 905 Parashurama embarked on its
journey home to India on 17 April 2018 from
Coventry, UK and landed at Air Force Station
Hindan, UP after a 9-day ferry across 8
countries on 26 April 2018.
With the induction of VP 905 Parashurama
into the Vintage Flight of the IAF on 04 th of
May 2018 at the Air Force Station Hindan,
Uttar Pradesh, the Dakota will once again
find its place of pride in the glorious IAF heritage.
The Dakota bears Tail No VP 905
to commemorate the first Dakota
aircraft that landed in Srinagar with
troops of 1 Sikh Regt in the 1947
Jammu & Kashmir Operations. It
has been named Parashurama
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ABOUT AIR COMMODORE M K CHANDRASEKHAR, VM, VSM (Retd)
Commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 17 July 1954, Air Commodore Chandrasekhar
has clocked nearly 13, 000 flying hours in the Air Force.
Most of his qualifications passed in the Indian Air Force have been in Operations of the
Dakota. He retired from the Indian Air Force on 25 December 1986
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DAKOTA DC3
VP 905 Parashurama
THE JOURNEY HOME
THE FERRY:
On 17 April 2018 VP 905
Parashurama embarked on its
journey home flying a total
distance of 5265 N Miles/ 9751
kms across 8 countries in 8 days.
From crossing the English Channel
to flying through a sand storm, the
Dakota landed home on Indian
soil at Jamnagar on 25 April 2018
THE CREW: Anthony Smith, Benjamin Cox, Gp Capt B Satish, Wg Cdr Ajay
Menon, John Dodd, Alex Woodeson, Benjamin Reeve
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16 APRIL 2018:
Route planning - Wg Cdr Menon & Gp Capt B Satish
The Dakota develops a bad oil leak on the left engine.
Ben fixes the leak. The source is a
missing screw from one of the
cylinders
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DAY 1: 17 APRIL’18 Coventry, UK to Orleans Armée De l’air, France
DAY 2: 18 APRIL’ 18 Orleans Armée De l’air France to Aeroporto Militare Mario de
Bernardi, Rome, Italy
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DAY 3: 19 APRIL’18 - Aeroporto Militare Mario de Bernardi, Rome, Italy to Diagoras
International Airport Rhodes, Greece
DAY 4: 20 APRIL’18 - Rhodes Intl Airport Greece to Aqaba Royal Jordanian Air Force
base, Jordan
DAY 5: 21 APRIL’18 - A day of rest!
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DAY 6: 22 APRIL’18 - Aqaba Royal Jordanian Air Force base, Jordan to Bahrain
International Airport Bahrain
Day 7: 23 APRIL’18 - Bahrain International Airport to Muscat International Airport Oman
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Day 8: 24 April’ 18 - Preparatory Day at Muscat
Day 9: 25 APRIL’18 - Muscat International Airport, Oman to Air Force Station Jamnagar,
Gujarat
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VP 905 Parashurama received a grand welcome at Air Force Station Jamnagar.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Air Commodore M K Chandrasekhar (Retd), VM, VSM
were there to welcome the crew on the successful ferry to India
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Day 10: 26 APRIL’18 - Homecoming – from Jamnagar Air Force Station, Gujarat
to Hindan Air Force Station, UP
The last leg to Hindan was special as the veteran Air Warrior Air Cmde Chandrasekhar
joined the crew to fly VP 905 Parashurama home
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An Air Warrior father’s wish fulfilled by his son – the gift of heritage comes home
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The crew that landed VP 905 Parashurama at Air Force Station Hindan Anthony
Smith, Benjamin Cox, Gp Capt B Satish, Air Cmde M K Chandrasekhar (Retd) VM,
VSM, Wg Cdr Ajay Menon, John Dodd, Alex Woodeson, Benjamin Reeve
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VP 905
PARASHURAMA
DC-3 DAKOTA
SIGNIFICANCE OF TAIL NO. VP 905
The aircraft being gifted to the Indian Air Force by Rajeev Chandrasekhar on
behalf of his father Air Commodore M K Chandrasekhar, VM, VSM (Retd) bears
Tail No. VP 905 - this holds special significance for the Dakota and the Indian
Air Force.
On 27 October 1947, three Dakotas of No. 12 Sqn took off from Wellingdon
airfield (Safdarjung) at 0500 hours for Srinagar signalling the start of the IAF
operations in the 1947-48 Indo Pak War. Before the end of the day, 28 Dakota
sorties were flown (including 6 civilian sorties.)
The first Dakota Aircraft to take off and land at Srinagar piloted by Wing
Commander K L Bhatia and carrying the first batch of troops of 1 Sikh Regiment
under command of Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai bore the Tail No VP 905.
The name Parashurama too has been chosen to signify the eternal warrior –
after Saint Parashurama - the sixth avatar of Vishnu. Like other avatars of Vishnu,
he appears at a time when overwhelming evil prevailed on earth to correct the
cosmic equilibrium by destroying the evil forces.
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THE DAKOTAS OF No.12 SQN
1947-48 Jammu & Kashmir Operations
No.12 Squadron, RIAF was the only Squadron at the time of Independence
operating transport aircraft. Equipped with the venerable Dakota, the
Squadron had the distinction of flying many of the legendary flights that saved
Kashmir for India. The Squadron was initially under the command of Wg Cdr K
L Bhatia. From April 1948 onwards, Wg Cdr J D Acquino was the CO of the
unit. Additionally, several Dakotas of civil operators also helped in the war
effort
NO.12 SQUADRON, RIAF the Squadron was the only one from the start to
have its full complement of aircraft at 10 Dakotas. It lost at least two aircraft
during the course of operations.
THE AIRLIFT THAT SAVED KASHMIR
A timeline of events involving Dakotas in the 1947-48 War
27 Oct 47 Three Dakotas of 12 Sqn took off from Wellingdon airfield (Safdarjung) at
0500 hours for Srinagar signalling start of the IAF operations in the 1947-
48 War. Before the end of the day, 28 Dakota sorties are flown (including
6 civilian sorties).
‣ Operational Order issued to 1 Sikh:
Flight A from Wellingdon, due to take off at 0500 hrs, included 6
civil Dakotas (to transport a Coy of 1 Sikh).
Flight B from Palam would also leave at 0500 hrs, comprising 3
RIAF Dakotas (ferrying the 1 Sikh's Tac HQ).
Flight C from Palam was scheduled for 1100 hrs comprising 8
Dakotas (Patiala Mountain Battery)
Flight D also from Palam would follow at 1300 hrs comprising 11
Dakotas (second coy of 1 Sikh).
The civil Dakotas were to carry 15 men plus 500 lbs while the RIAF
Dakotas had a capacity of 17 men along with the additional 500
lbs. 'Men' included personal arms, equipment and bedrolls.
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31 Oct 47 Dakota MA965 of 12 Sqn goes missing in a valley NE of Srinagar at
around 15000 feet altitude. Aircraft believed to have been in a forced
landing. Flt Lt CJ Mendoza with four crew members, along with 22
passengers from Ambala perish in cold weather. The wreckage and
remains of the crew and passengers is not located till many months later.
09 Nov 47 Pandit Nehru visits Srinagar in IAF Dakota. Mehar Singh flies in Maharaja
Hari Singh from Jammu.
12 Dec 47 Dakota of 12 Sqn lands at Poonch. flown by Fg Offr Des Pushong, Menon,
Roy and WO Nanu
13 Dec 47 A section of a 4 FF (Hazara) Mountain Battery airlifted into Poonch by 12
Sqn Dakotas. Flown by Des Pushong and Lal Singh Grewal
15 Mar 48 Dakota "M" (HJ 20?), piloted by Wg Cdr Shiv Dev Singh nosed over
landing on the grass strip in Jammu
17 Mar 48 Dakota (VP 924) crewed by Wg Cdr K L Bhatia, Fg Offr D Pushong, Flt Lt
Dordi, W/O Hill carries out Night bombing sortie over Poonch. Six 250lb
bombs dropped.
21 Mar 48 Three Dakotas of 12 Squadron flew with 25 Pounder guns as Cargo into
Poonch. Led by Air Cmde Mehar Singh in a Harvard along with Maj Gen
Kalwant Singh. The first Dakota flown by Wg Cdr KL Bhatia was hit by
gunfire as soon as it landed at Poonch . Aircraft (VP 924) written off.
Operation postponed.
21 Mar 48 Four Dakotas of 12 Squadron took off at Dusk and landed at Poonch in
the night. Air Cmde Mehar Singh landed the first Dakota.
23 Mar 48 Dakota (VP 912) crewed by Wg Cdr K L Bhatia, Flt Lt L S Grewal, Fg Offr
Barua, P/O Gill with AVM Subroto Mukerjee carries out Night bombing
sortie over Poonch. Twelve 250lb bombs dropped.
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24 May 48 Dakota of 12 Sqn landed at Leh airfield at 11554 feet altitude by Air Cmde
Mehar Singh. Passengers include Maj Gen Thimayya.
19 Jun 48 Fg Offr D Barty lands Dakota on small airstrip to evacuate casualties at
Poonch.
19 Aug 48 Dakota crewed by Flt Lt Ghadiok and Flt Lt Grewal carries out a bombing
sortie over Murree. 12 bombs dropped.
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THE HISTORY OF THE DC-3 DAKOTA
WITH THE INDIAN AIR FORCE
The Dakota – popularly known as the Gooney Bird was the first major transport aircraft
inducted into the fledgling Indian Air Force (IAF). Remembered by IAF pilot veterans
as one of the finest and most forgiving aircrafts in the world, the DC 3 Dakota airplane
has played a sterling role in the history of the IAF. As a transport aircraft used to move
troops to Kashmir in 1947 to being used in the famous Tangail drop during the
Bangladesh War in 1971.
The Dakota was at the forefront of operations from 1947 to 1971 and played an
indispensable role in logistics and transportation during its flying years in the IAF.
No.12 Squadron was the first unit to reequip with this aircraft in 1946 and the Dakota
was at the forefront of operations for the next four decades.
THE SELECTION OF THE DAKOTA
The Douglas DC 3 and its military variant the C47was selected for the transport
squadron of the IAF. The basic version was the DC -3 also called the Dakota. The
plane was powered by 2 piston engines and could seat 28 fully armed troops. It had
a top speed of 150 MPH and a range of a thousand miles. More important the aircraft
had a very low accident rate and in a way, at that time it was the best plane for the
IAF.
INDUCTION INTO NO 12 SQUADRON
In 1946 No 12 Squadron was created at Karachi and was allotted 10 Dakotas. While
being ferried to Karachi, one DC-3 was damaged beyond repair in a storm.
The other 9 aircraft weathered the storm and the training schedule of the IAF pilots
commenced on them. With partition looming over the sub-continent and the chance
that British rule would end No 12 Squadron was moved out of Karachi to India
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FIRST MILITARY USE OF THE DAKOTA BY IAF
India achieved freedom on 15 August 1947 and immediately the Pakistan army aided
by an irregular militia consisting of tribesmen from the frontier invaded Kashmir. The
Maharajah of Kashmir Hari Singh immediately acceded to India and signed the
instrument of accession. He also requested for Indian troops to fight the invaders who
had neared the capital Srinagar.
On 27 October 1947, three Dakotas of No.12 Sqn took off from Wellingdon Airfield
(Safdarjung) at 0500 hours for Srinagar signalling start of the IAF operations in the
1947-48 War. Before the end of the day, 28 Dakota sorties were flown (including 6
civilian sorties).
The Dakotas rose to the task and gave yeoman’s service in this air bridge to the valley.
Not a single DC 3 was lost and the aircraft proved itself as a hardy plane. Later It was
also used to ferry supplies to Leh, the highest airfield in the world at a height of 12000
ft. The first aviator who flew a Dakota and landed at Leh airfield was Air Commodore
Mehar Singh. He landed at an improvised strip on 24 November 1948. The Dakota
handled very well even at that height and is a testimony to its designer and
manufacturer
FURTHER USE OF THE DAKOTA
After the end of the Kashmir operations, more Dakotas were procured by the IAF and
the main supply lines in the North and East of India were handed to the Dakotas. Two
squadrons no 43 and 49 were incorporated in the east specifically for supply
forwarding troops. This was just the beginning and after this, the Dakota became a
standard transport aircraft of the IAF. The Dakota squadrons were based at Jorhat and
Kumbhigran and became the lifeline of the Indian army forward troops.
DAKOTA IN THE SINO – INDIA WAR OF 1962
The Dakota was put to good use during the Indo China war of 1962. The aircraft
Dakota played a logistical role - transportation of men and material and supplydropping
with large transport planes and helicopters. In NEFA an area of high
mountain ranges, thick tropical jungles and few roads, flying was the mode of quick
communication.
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The Dakota became a standard transport aircraft of the IAF. It did a commendable
job. But its greatest use was in the East in transporting troops and supplies to
inaccessible regions in Assam and Nagaland.
The capability of the Dakota to take off from underprepared strips and hardy frame
and engine was a bonus and troops and supplies were ferried without any attrition.
Detachments of Dakotas from No. 43 Squadron and IL 14s from No. 42 were
engaged in these logistic support operations. Enormous quantities of PSP (Perforated
Steel Plates) were carried to the important forward bases to construct runways. When
China announced the construction of their road through the Aksai Chin region in
1957, India was taken by surprise. Therefore, the Army immediately directed to set up
forward posts and required men and supplies to be airlifted, which was fulfilled by
Dakota.
ROLE OF DAKOTA IN THE INDO - PAK WAR 1971
In the 1971 Indo – Pak War, the Dakota contributed significantly to the liberation
of Bangladesh.
Primarily, a civil passenger plane, the Dakota was converted into a war plane
which the soldiers used for a crucial para drop operations in central Tangail on
11 December 1971 four days ahead of Pakistan military’s historic surrender to
the India-Bangladesh Joint Command on December 16.
The main objective of the Tangail drop ( the biggest and most ambitious air
drop operation since WW II ), was the capture of Poongli Bridge on the Jamuna
River which would cut off the Pakistani 93rd Brigade which was retreating from
the north to defend Dhaka and its approaches. The Tangail Airdrop and the
subsequent capture of the Poongli bridge gave the advancing Indian Army the
manoeuvrability to side-step the strongly held Tongi-Dacca Road to take the
undefended Manikganj-Dacca Road right up to Mirpur Bridge at the gates of
Dacca.
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The capability of the Dakota to take off from underprepared strips and hardy frame
and engine was a bonus and troops and supplies were ferried without any attrition.
One of the Dakotas was gifted to the Mufti Bahini and became known as the ‘kilo
squadron’. It was a modified Dakota and the start of the BAF (Bangladesh Air Force)
can be traced to this Dakota.
THE DAKOTA FADES AWAY
After 1971, the Dakota was replaced by the Avro HS-748. The Dakotas were then
phased out and some of them were handed to the Border Security Force who used the
plane up to 1987. The Dakota thus ended its tenure of close to 50 years but remains
an unforgettable chapter in history of the Indian Air Force.
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THE DAKOTA & 1 SIKH REGT IN 1947
"The Dakota is the reason why Poonch
is still with us," says Pushpindar Singh,
military historian and author of Aircraft
of the Indian Air Force: 1933-73.
In the early morning of 27 October
1947, 1 SIKH with two company
strength of men and equipment took
off from Wellingdon airport
(Safdarjung) at 0500 hrs in a Dakota
aircraft.
After a three-hour and 55-minutes
flight, at about 8:15 am, the first
Dakota piloted by Wg Cdr K L Bhatia
carrying Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai and
others circled Srinagar Air-field. It
was a historic moment when the first
DC-3 aircraft landed on the dusty
airstrip of just 600 mts. The first
aircraft was closely followed by six
other DC-3 aircrafts.
It was the first Indian Army Unit to
land in Srinagar. Never in the history
of warfare was such an airlift
undertaken with so little notice and
planning
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LT COL DEWAN RANJIT RAI, MVC (P)
THE FIRST COMMANDING OFFICER
“Two tricks of fortune conspired to cheat the Quaid-I-Azam (Jinnah) of Kashmir Gaddi:
the loss of a day and a half in pillaging at Baramula, and reckless bravery of an Indian
officer, who with no reserve of men and ammunition made an attack on the invading
forces as if he had the whole Army Division at his support.” - A Pakistani Historian
That Indian Officer was Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai, the first Commanding officer of 1
Sikh who had set the pace for the victory in the first war, which Indian Army had fought
after Independence.
The 1st Battalion the Sikh Regiment (1SIKH) which was deployed around Gurgaon in
aid to civil authorities for enforcement of law and order and regulating the refugees
from Pakistan, was chosen to be inducted by air into the burning Kashmir Valley, to
save whatever was possible the very next day. On the same day that the Instrument of
Accession was signed, the Commanding Officer (CO) of 1 SIKH, Lt Col Ranjit Ray was
called to the Army Headquarters at New Delhi.
He was given a sketchy briefing and was ordered to take his Battalion from Gurgaon
to Srinagar the next morning by hired Dakota aircrafts from civil aviation. A lot about
his task was left to his intuition. Clearly, it was a situation wherein, he had to select his
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task and method of executing it. This was a challenge. But, for the CO of 1 SIKH this
was not something out of ordinary. His predecessors were the legends of Battle of
Saragarhi. They always remembered the credo ‘difficult will be done and impossible
will be attempted to’.
Early morning on 27 October 1947, 1 SIKH with two-company strengths of men and
equipment landed in Srinagar Airport, in 30 Dakota aircrafts. It was the first Indian
Army Unit to land in Srinagar. Never in history of warfare was such an airlift undertaken
with so little notice and planning.
In the absence of reliable communication or intelligence set up, the CO could not get
a clear picture of the enemy activities in the Valley. However, he had decided to fight
the battle as far away from the airfield as possible with a view to seek the enemy and
destroy them in and around Baramula.
He left behind adequate troops to protect the airfield and moved the rest of his
Battalion towards Baramula by early morning 28 October. They came under attack
even before the unit could reach Baramula. Therefore, the CO decided to occupy a
delaying position, at a dominating high ground in the area of Mile Stone 32(MS32)
between Patan and Baramula with a view to prevent the raiders from advancing
towards Srinagar on Baramula Srinagar Road.
Even before the defenses could be prepared fully and coordinated at MS 32 Position,
the Raiders attacked it. It was estimated that though they were unorganised; they were
over one thousand Raiders moving in small groups from Baramula towards Patan.
The 1 Sikh troops inflicted heavy casualties. The Raiders number increased manifold.
Numerically superior Raiders were firing at the Sikhs from close range wildly.
The CO with his men prevented the Raiders from maintaining contact with the rest of
the men and helped them to break contact with the Raiders. With total disregard to
their safety, they engaged the Raiders and further delayed the enemy. The battalion
was able to occupy the intended delaying position at Patan. However, during this
melee, presumably, the Raiders had spotted the CO’s Party and brought down heavy
volume of fire on them. During this fire fight the CO and a few others were killed.
Thus, Lt Col Dewan became the first CO to die in battlefield in the Independent India
in 1947. For this act of conspicuous bravery in the face of enemy, exemplary
leadership and devotion beyond the call of duty, he was awarded Maha Vir Chakra.
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The brave Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai, inspired his men to give their best even at the risk
of being exposed to enemy fire in the thick of the battle and attained martyrdom. In
his glorious death, he achieved many FIRSTS to his credit. The valiant Lt Col Dewan
Ranjit Rai was the first commanding officer to achieve martyrdom in Kashmir after J&K
joined with India, the first commanding officer to be decorated with Maha Vir Chakra.
His sacrifice inspired all ranks of the Battalion and they achieved many more glory and
honours in this operation to be true to their Regimental motto:
‘Nischay Kar Apni Jeet Karun’ (With determination, I will be triumphant).
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