Maintenance Command, 44 Squadron played critical role in 1965 war

By Kartik Lokhande 

When one talks of 1965 war and the role played by Indian Air Force (IAF), the critical technical support of Maintenance Command headquartered in Nagpur finds just a mention. However, very few know about the significance of the support of the Maintenance Command and its various units as well as 44 Squadron. 

Indian Air Force came into being in 1932 and is today regarded as one of the most formidable fourth largest Air Forces in the world. But this kind of air supremacy could not have been achieved without a strong maintenance support provided by Maintenance Command. Of course, different wars and conflicts contributed to evolution of the Maintenance Command also. And, one of these events was 1965 war with Pakistan. 

Maintenance Command was set up at Kanpur on January 26, 1955, with Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh MBE (Most Excellent Order of British Empire), PVSM (Param Vishishth Seva Medal) as its first Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C). Since 1955, overhaul and logistics support to the magnificent flying machines and to varied arsenal of a versatile IAF have been the formal responsibility of Maintenance Command. Later, Nagpur -- with its strategic position in Central Indian region -- was selected as new site for setting up Maintenance Command Headquarters. 

Air Vice Marshal O P Mehra PVSM, the second AOC-in-C of Maintenance Command and also founder father of Maintenance Command Headquarters at Nagpur, dug the first pod of earth at the site where the Headquarters Maintenance Command building stands today in all its splendor.  The Headquarters building came up on the site on August 15, 1965. However, it could not be formally inaugurated due to Indo-Pak war of 1965. 

And, 1965 war saw another development. As recalled by Air Cmde (Retd) S Nair and published in Maintenance Command’s golden jubilee year publication ‘Eklavya’, involvement in the 1965 conflict with Pakistan was ‘the most memorable event’. On September 1, 1965, after the IAF’s ‘effective intervention’ in Chhamb sector to halt the Pakistan advance towards Jurian, the IAF officers were informed that 44 Squadron comprising AN-12 aircraft would move to Nagpur immediately. 

“Our infrastructure at the airfield was too negligible to meet the exacting demands of AN-12 Squadron operation. A reasonable degree of readiness was essential before the squadron flew in. We had to convert the civilian airfield to full-fledged Air Force activities. We rose to the occasion and it was all work, day and night, for command and unit personnel. Many of the buildings at the airfield were taken over. The airfield became a sprawling tented complex. The civil authorities came to our aid and gave a fleet of buses, lorries, MLAs’ quarters, special armed policeman for security duties at airfield. Then, No. 44 Squadron, under Wg Cdr Anderson, carried out bombing operations every night during the 22 days of the war. The AN-12 Squadron flew back to its original base at Chandigarh towards the end of October 1965. As the last aircraft disappeared in the horizon, I sat in my office tent with a deep sense of satisfaction and shared a cup of hot tea with the Adjutant, Pilot Officer Unnithan, and SWO, Flt Sgt Ganguly,” recalled Air Cmde (Retd) S Nair in the said article. 

Apart from the Maintenance Command, its units also performed quite well during 1965 war. The 26 Equipment Depot provided essential logistics support to the frontline operating wings. The Depot undertook loading and off-loading of ‘critical consignments’ round-the-clock. A large number of aero-engines pertaining to Canberra, Hunter, Dakota, Caribou, and Gnat aircraft were received, overhauled and despatched to operating wings, apart from meeting ‘priority demands’. As an article put it, “Close liaison was maintained with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore, which enabled the Depot to meet the requirements of the operating units.” 

Men worked, machines flew, and the country scored over the enemy. Apart from the men who flew the machines, the men who worked tirelessly to maintain the aircraft also deserve equal praise and admiration. For, maintenance has a different connotation in IAF. Maintenance is not limited to merely breakdown repairs and preventive maintenance. It involves training, servicing, equipment up-gradation, managing transition to different technologies to ensure training, compatibility and interoperability etc, says Wg Cdr Samir Gangakhedkar, Public Relations Officer (Defence), Nagpur. 

While sharing with ‘The Hitavada’ the immense contribution of the Maintenance Command in 1965 war, Wg Cdr Samir Gangakhedkar said that the dedication of technicians exhibited during the hour of need in ensuring that aircraft kept flying and equipment remained serviceable, is the hallmark of tenacity and versatility of IAF technicians, well emulated over the years. It is now an attribute of an Air Warrior donning the technician’s overall. Maintenance Command with its motto ‘Sarvada Gagane Charet’ (Always Flying in the Sky) is committed to the task of enabling the IAF to ‘Nabha Sprusham Deeptam’ (Touch the Sky With Glory). 

Today, adds Wg Cdr Gangakhedkar, Maintenance Command is a hub of activity providing guidance, and monitoring maintenance activities of a large number of Base Repair Depots, Equipment Depots, and Air Store Parks spread out over the length and breadth of the country.  Air Marshal Jagjeet Singh, Vishisth Seva Medal, ADC is at present the AOC-in-C of the Maintenance Command. 

(18-09-15)