Eastern Air Command -- Sentinel of the Eastern Skies

Eastern Air Command, which had its seeds in the developments ahead of Chinese aggression of 1962, has today grown into a very significant command of the Indian Air Force. During its journey till date, it has written and re-written chapters of glory. In 1971, during the war for liberation of Bangladesh, EAC dealt deadly blows to not only the defence infrastructure but also the morale of the Pakistani forces holding ground in the then East Pakistan. At present, it guards the eastern skies above the areas bordering mainly China, Myanmar, Bangladesh.
‘The Hitavada’ Chief Reporter Kartik Lokhande visited the EAC areas recently to get a closer look at the past and present significance of the EAC.


It was 11.29 hours on December 14, 1971.
A formation of four Mig-21 aircraft, equipped with gallant men and high explosive rockets, took off from Guwahati air-base. Wg Cdr Bhupendra Kumar Bishnoi, the Formation Leader, and Flt Lt Vinod Bhatia led one team and another team comprised Flt Lt K S Raghavachari, the Formation Leader, and Flt Lt N S Malhi.
They were on a special mission. Their target was Governor’s House in Dacca in East Pakistan. Zeroing in on the target after entering the air-space of East Pakistan, the formation of Mig-21 aircraft fired 128 rockets. The formation led by Wg Cdr B K Bishnoi made the first strike at 11.50 hours, 21 minutes after taking off from Guwahati air-base.
Despite intense ground fire and charting into hostile territory, Mig-21s of the Indian Air Force effected the historic precision attack that decided the war in favour of liberation of Bangladesh. The attack had a greater impact on the psyche of the Pakistani forces to the extent that the Commander of the Pakistan Military in East Pakistan surrendered to India with 93,000 troops.
The Mig-21 flown by Wg Cdr Bishnoi made a number of sorties earlier also during the first day of the war. The aircraft was flown at low level with a speed of 900 kmph and fired 57 mm rockets into the Tezgaon air field damaging one medium-sized transport aircraft and other vital installations in the then East Pakistan. Wg Cdr Bishnoi was then Commanding Officer of the first squadron (No 28 Squadron at Tezpur, Assam) equipped with supersonic aircraft. 

V FOR VICTORY: This Mig-21 aircraft flown by Wg Cdr B K Bishnoi made that decisive air strike targetting Governor’s House in Dacca in the then East Pakistan, following which Pakistani forces surrendered to India, and paved way for liberation of Bangladesh in the year 1971. The aircraft is preserved as ‘Victory Memorial’ in Guwahati Air Force Station premises of the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force. (Pic by: Kartik Lokhande)

Wg Cdr B K Bishnoi got the first VrC after 1965 war while flying Hunters and moved on to Mig-21 earning a Bar in 1971. He retired as Air Vice Marshal from the IAF. He led the first strike on Dacca, and the raid on the Governor’s House in Dacca, leading to ignominious surrender of Pakistani forces at East Pakistan, followed by liberation of Bangladesh. Today also, the Mig-21 flown by Wg Cdr B K Bishnoi stands in nose-up position at Air Force Station, Guwahati (Assam), as Victory Memorial of 1971 war.

That, was the high point in the military history of India and the Eastern Air Command, which was formed at the time of Chinese aggression of 1962, a low point in Indian political and military history.
And, what a turn-around it had been for the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force. In 1962, it was engaged mostly in transport role. Within nine years, learning wonderfully from the 1962 experience, the Eastern Air Command played a key and decisive combat role in 1971 war that led to creation of Bangladesh.
Eastern Air Command (EAC) has its roots in the ambitious expansion programme launched by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the year 1957. The IAF took up the expansion to raise the force level to world standards. Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1958 and the subsequent activities of Chinese forces in 1959 on Indo-Tibet border were becoming increasingly worrying. Against this backdrop -- on December 1, 1959 --- the ‘No. 1 Operational Group’ was upgraded to the status of a command and rechristened as Eastern Air Command. Initially, EAC was raised at Ranikutir in Kolkata.  

On assumption of the status of a command with Air Vice Marshal K L Sondhi as its Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, the formation shifted its Headquarters to fortified East India Company Complex of Fort William in Central Kolkata to co-locate itself with the Army Command on the same day. Soon, some new Squadrons were raised and new aircraft were inducted. The formation of EAC also coincided with the IAF switching over from piston-engined planes to jet aircraft. 

The EAC performed exceedingly well during 1971 war, and hit lethally the Pakistani forces in the then East Pakistan. This picture shows airfield at Kurmitola damaged by the IAF. (File photo)

As per the records with the EAC, at the time of its origin in 1959, it had Air Force Stations at Kalaikunda and Barrackpore (West Bengal) and at Jorhat (Assam), No. 1 Aircraft Staging Post at Car Nicobar, No.3 Tactical Centre at Siliguri (West Bengal), and No. 5 Air Force Hospital at Jorhat. The EAC grew steadily between December 1959 and October 1962, when China flooded the border with her troops, forcing India to feel the need to strengthen its defence, especially to increase the airlift capability of the IAF.
To strengthen the Indian position in North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA), as Arunachal Pradesh was then called, the No. 1 Group was formed again at Tezpur on October 25, 1962. This formation was assigned the complete responsibility of NEFA sector. Then, Air Vice Marshal Shivdev Singh was the Air Officer Commanding of the group. To achieve its objectives, the Group immediately increased its war potential, inducted a few more operational units and strategically located them in its area of responsibility. 

The necessity of increased transport support requirement in the East was felt after 1962 Sino-Indian conflict. At the same time, IAF felt inevitable formation of a few other Commands in other parts of the country. EAC Headquarters set-up of Kolkata was shifted to Allahabad on June 10, 1963 by redesignating it as Central Air Command. On the same day, No. 1 Group moved from Tezpur to Shillong and was upgraded as Headquarters of Eastern Air Command. Then, it started functioning as a full-fledged Air Command from a few old World War-II barracks at Nonglyer village in Upper Shillong, opposite Elephant Falls on Shillong-Cherapunji National Highway.
As the legend goes, Khasi clan of Meghalaya once inhabited Nonglyer village. During World War-II, it was taken over by the Bristish to develop a military base. It came under the possession of Indian Army after the Bristish left in 1947, and was occupied by No 58 Gorkha Regiment. The Regiment moved out for an operation at China border in 1962 and did not return to their cherished abode of Upper Shillong. As a result, the 31.33 acre tom-shaded location with helipad was available for the EAC. 

Today, the EAC Headquarters premises at Shillong are worth an independent visit for anybody interested in glorious military history of India in this sector. Apart from being naturally blessed with a beautiful location, EAC Headquarters has a wonderfully developed premises. The building architected by M/s Bengal Trading Syndicate consists of 270 rooms and four halls with central heating system. In fact, as one officer said, with modesty it could be claimed that the Headquarters EAC building is the most beautiful outfit in all over Indian Air Force today.
Close to the entrance gate, there is a museum showcasing the history of the IAF, evolution of EAC, miniature models and photographs of various aircraft used in different era. Of course, there are rare photographs adorning the walls of the museum. And, outside the museum are placed the actual aircraft that were used in the past. EAC Headquarters has become a sparkling jewel in the crown of the town of Shillong. 

Lt Gen A A K Niazi of Pakistan signing the ‘Instrument of Surrender’ in 1971, with Lt Gen J S Arora of India by his side. Air Marshal H C Dewan, AOC-in-C of the EAC, at that time, also is seen standing behind (second from left). (File photo)

Apart from playing its role of an agile strike force in the Eastern skies, the EAC has been playing the role of a good samaritan by way of extending help to civilians in remote and far-flung areas like Anini and Vijoyanagar. 

Air Marshal S B Deo, a leader par excellence

Air Marshal S B Deo

In its long journey, EAC has been raising the bar of its performance in military and civil support roles under the able leadership of Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief, who were and are men of merit with excellent vision for future.
Air Marshal S B Deo, who hails from Nagpur, is the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the EAC currently. He is a proud successor of glorious traditions set by his predecessors, and a man with a vision to set certain traditions himself. An innovator, Air Warrior, task-master, decorated officer, Air Marshal S B Deo is a leader par excellence. 

Air Marshal Deo is a fighter Combat Leader and an ‘A2 Qualified Flying Instructor’. He has been a Directing Staff at TACDE and an Instructor at the Flying Instructors School, Air Force Station, Tambaram. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
Air Marshal S B Deo was Air Officer Commanding of 32 Wing. He has commanded 15 Squadron and a Signal Unit, besides being the Chief Operations Officer of a front-line forward base. As Station Commander of the Signal Unit, he was actively involved in the induction of modern assets and sensors in IAF. Prior to taking over as AOC-in-C of Eastern Air Command, he was Director General Air (Ops), AOC COBRA Group, AD Commander and Air-I at HQ CAC. He is a recipient of the Presidential awards of Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal, and Vishist Seva Medal.
Air Marshal S B Deo is an avid reader and interested in creative writing and technology. His interest in technology could be realised from the fact that he has developed his own workshop in the premises of his official residence. In fact, he loves talking to titans in the field on development of new technology. He is a man who every Nagpurian should be proud of.
Air Marshal S B Deo is married to Anjna, and the happy couple has a son, who is a fighter pilot in the IAF. Air Marshal S B Deo is elder brother of Adv Rohit Deo, Assistant Solicitor General, working from Nagpur.  

Sino-Indian War of 1962
Though little is said about the role played by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the Chinese aggresion of 1962, the fact is that the IAF and particularly the Eastern Air Command played a significant role.
As is known, China launched a surprise and massive offensive on India on October 20, 1962 simultaneously at NEFA and Ladakh. “The time was too short, the terrain most forbidding and resources were inadequate for our forces to withstand the massive and well-planned Chinese thrust,” states an EAC document. The EAC rose to the occasion to support the Indian Army by way of undertaking Air Maintenance support including induction of troops in forward areas using helicopter and transport aircraft. Regular air drops were carried out at Tsanghar dropping zone. A helicopter flown by Sqn Ldr V K Sehgal with Major Ram Singh was lost during this operation along with the crew. They were the first martyrs of 1962 war, stated an EAC backgrounder. The skills and endurance of the transport and helicopter pilots were tested to the limits in the absence of proper landing grounds and unpredictable weather, it added.
The aircraft like C-119G Packets, Dakotas, IL-14s and Mi-4 flew much above their ceiling limits over the mountain ranges with heavy loads. In fact, this did not go unnoticed. D R Mankekar, an eminent journalist of the time, had commented, “...perhaps the only aspect of the hostilities, where one had no cause to be ashamed of, was the magnificent role played by the helicopter pilots and that too mostly of EAC.”

Indo-Pak War of 1965 EAC’s performance raised its bar from one occasion to another. Within three years since 1962, Pakistan launched its ‘Operation Gibraltar’. EAC received an order from the Air Headquarters on September 1, 1965 about it. Immediately, EAC dispatched a detachment of Hunters and Toofanis for augmenting operations in the Western sector within a week. Pakistani forces did not launch any air offensive operations from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) against the Indian forces during this war, except scattered attacks on Bagdogra airfield and the civil aerodrome at Agartala. EAC effectively maintained high operational alertness at all bases and adopted adequate air defence and ground defence measures and provided extensive support to the Army.  

(19-05-2015) 

(Full page article published in 'Sunday Forum' of The Hitavada, all editions)