Central Air Command speaks volume of valour, professionalism and service

Prayagraj: With the Central Air Command (CAC) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrating its Diamond Jubilee (December 2 to 18) on completion of 60 years, the Command takes pride in its rich tradition of valour, readiness, professionalism and service to the nation.
Throwing light on the 60th year of the formation of CAC, Defence PRO, Group Captain Samir Gangakhedkar informed TOI that CAC was formed on June 10, 1963 at Rani Kutir, Kolkata, with the purpose of keeping vigil along the Indo-Nepal border. It was in post Chinese aggression of 1962, the operational group was bifurcated in two separate commands i.e. the Central Air Command (CAC) but the location of Kolkata was found too skewed towards East and therefore, in February 1966, HQ CAC was shifted to Bamrauli, Prayagraj (erstwhile Allahabad).
“Prayagraj was more strategically located than Calcutta and is equidistant from the units in the West, as well as in the East, and sufficiently in depth from the international borders. Air Force Station Bamrauli, which is co-located with HQ CAC, was earlier a civil airfield. After shifting of HQ CAC to Prayagraj, this airfield became a transport base of IAF, housing a Squadron of Packet aircraft. Bamrauli is not only one of the oldest airfields in the country, but also has a couple of firsts in aviation history”, said Gp Cpt Gangakhedkar. Within eight years of the first historic flight by Wright brothers on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, Prayagraj also carved for itself a place in world aviation history when on February 18, 1911 Henry Piquet, a French pilot, took off in his de Havilland Humber bi-plane from this base carrying the first airmail of the world, he added.
Presently, the area covered by CAC ranges from the snow peaked mountains in the North to the Gangetic planes and centre highlands and stations of the CAC are located at Agra, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Gwalior and Bamraulli and the units are also located at Bihta, Darbhanga, Bakshi-ka-Talab, Nagpur, Nainital, Memaura and Varanasi.
The Central Air Command with its motto of ‘Damniyah Atmashatravah’ (Vanquish the enemy) has an enviable and exemplary record during war and peace time services to the nation.
During the 1965 war, a total of 163 bombing and 33 close air support sorties were carried out by Canberras against PAF in the western sector, raiding the airbases at Sargodha, Peshawar, Multan, Chaklala and Mauripur. Squadron Leader Charanjit Singh and Flt Lt Mangat Singh of No 5 Squdron made the furthest penetration on the night of 13-14 September 1965, when they carried out a ‘raid’ on a major air base at Peshawar. Three Mahavir Chakras were awarded to the members of Canberra Squadrons. The decisive victory of the Indian Forces in the 1971 war against Pakistan and the liberation of Bangladesh is a proud chapter in the history of CAC too.