Vintage Dakota Aircraft in Republic Day
Within a year of the induction of the Dakotas in 1946, war broke out in Kashmir between Indian and Pakistan. The Pakistan raiders soon converged on Srinagar and the Indian government pressed the Dakotas into service. The first batch of Dakotas with troops of the Sikh Regiment took off for Srinagar on October 27, 1947. It was a risky operation as it was not clear whether the airfield was in the hands of the raiders or not. The Dakotas rose to the task and regularly ferried troops into the Valley and the safety of Srinagar was secured. Similarly, in Poonch, but for the bombings carried out by the Dakotas followed by the first ever landing at a manually-levelled, short 600-yard strip, that tract would have been lost to Pakistan.
Rafale
Rafale action on Republic Day
