Title: The Battle of Boyra: When Indian Air Force’s Gnat Jets Shot Down 3 Pakistani Sabres in 1971
In a significant turn of events during the crisis in East Pakistan, the Indian armed forces engaged in a war that ultimately led to the creation of Bangladesh and the splitting of Pakistan. The conflict was sparked by the Pakistani army’s genocide in East Pakistan, which resulted in a massive influx of refugees into India. For the first time since independence, the Indian armed forces were prepared to fight a war to establish a new country.
Even before the official declaration of war on December 3, 1971, Indian tanks launched a preemptive strike known as the Battle of Garibpur. This strike aimed to neutralize enemy guns in East Pakistan following continuous air space violations and artillery shelling on Indian villages in the east.
During the Battle of Garibpur, the Indian Air Force’s 22 Squadron, known as the ‘Swifts,’ intercepted four Pakistani F-86 Sabre jets on November 22. This interception, which took place before the war was officially declared, resulted in the Indian Air Force’s first kill. The Pakistani Sabres belonged to the 14 Squadron, called the ‘Tail Choppers,’ and were providing air support to troops in Garibpur.
The Indian radars picked up the Sabres near Jessore in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), prompting the Indian Air Force to scramble their Gnats from the Dum Dum airbase in West Bengal under the call sign ‘Cocktail.’ The Gnats, which hold a special place in the Indian Air Force’s history, had previously shot down F-86 Sabres in 1965, marking the IAF’s first-ever kill post-independence.
The battle unfolded as Flight Lieutenant Ganapathy, Flight Lieutenant Massey, Flying Officer Soares, and Flying Officer Lazarus, piloting the Gnats, engaged the Sabres. After approximately 17 minutes and 150×30 mm Cannon rounds, the Indian Air Force successfully shot down a Sabre. Flt Lt Ganapathy radioed, “Murder, Murder, Murder!” after the first kill. The Indian Air Force released a montage of images capturing the moment the Gnat shot down the Sabre.
In total, two Sabres were shot down, and one managed to limp towards Dacca (now Dhaka). Thousands of people witnessed the air battle of Boyra, and the four Indian Air Force pilots involved were hailed as heroes. Defence Minister Jagjivan Ram even garlanded the Gnat pilots for their successful mission.
The Battle of Garibpur lasted for over seven hours, resulting in the destruction of 11 M-24 Chaffee tanks and the abandonment of three in good condition. Unfortunately, the victory came at the cost of two PT-76 tanks and the life of Major DS Narang, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.
Brigadier Balram Mehta, who was a captain at the time, has written a detailed account of the Battle of Garibpur in his book “The Burning Chaffees.” This book has now been adapted into a motion picture named “Pippa,” which was released earlier this month.
Overall, the Battle of Boyra stands as a significant moment in history, showcasing the courage and skill of the Indian Air Force’s Gnat pilots in defending their nation against enemy forces.
