The Times of India
TNN, Dec 6, 2010
JAISALMER: Air force fighter jets and combat helicopters blasted mock enemy targets in the dusty, desert landscape of the Thar desert during a dazzling display of might commemorating the 40th anniversary of the famous Battle of Longewala on Sunday .
The event was attended by senior officials of the forces and war veterans, where the battle scene from the 1971 war was recreated. The programme was inaugurated by south western command chief Air Marshal P S Bhagu. The veterans reminisced their heroic acts during the special programme.
Air Marshal (Retd) M S Bawa, under whose leadership the counter operation were launched, said, on December 4 he received information that Pakistani tanks were on the way to Longewala.
Before dawn, four Hunters had launched attack on the Pakistani tanks. Indian fighter planes destroyed over 50 tanks in the two-day long combat operation. This is the second highest after the World War II when such a large number of tanks were distroyed in air combat operations, said Bawa.
Longewala, situated about 30 km from Ramgarh, was originally a BSF post and a strategic point on the western border in Jaisalmer district. Pakistani president Ayub Khan, realising that defending East Pakistan was an impossible task, decided to occupy the Indian land on the western front as a bargaining tool.
Pakistani tanks rolled into the Thar desert on December 5 hoping to outnumber BSF posts. However, the Indian airforce not only repulsed the attack but caused huge damage to the Pak Army.
The programme kicked-off with hellebore operations. Garuda commanders disembarked from the MI 17 fighter helicopters and destroyed dummy terror targets. Following this, MIG 21 fighter planes, flying at a daringly low-level, saluted war veterans.
The programme ended with the victory formation by three MIG 21 fighter planes.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/War-veterans-re-live-Battle-of-Longewala/articleshow/7050137.cms#ixzz17PzqReiz
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