Bhubaneswar: War historian and researcher Anil Dhir has claimed that contrary to the reports on former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik in the aftermath of the Jammu and Kashmir action by the Centre, the legendary leader had no role in the first landing of warplane during the October 27, 1947 invasion of Kashmir and also in the Maharaja Hari Singh signing the Instrument of Accession.
Dhir lamented that the biographies, including the official hagiographic “The Tall Man”, are replete with untrue information on Bijubabu’s bravery and the attempt to demand Bharat Ratna for him on the basis of the falsehood. On the contrary, he said the highest civilian award should be demanded by highlighting the truth about Bijubabu.
Citing from his own book on Biju Patnaik which is yet to be published, which he claimed to be based on his research and documentary evidences from the IAF Archives, Dhir said the legendary leader was nowhere near Srinagar or Jammu and Kashmir on the fateful day.
“In fact, he did do many landings in later, the first being on the November 10, 1947, and a good fourteen days after the invasion,” said Dhir, further claiming that the first landing was done by Wing Commander Karori Lal Bhatia of the Indian Air Force, flying a DC-3 Dakota.
“Three Dakotas of 12 Sqn took off from Wellingdon airfield at Delhi at 0500 hours for Srinagar signalling the start of the IAF operations in the 1947-48 war. Before the end of the day, 28 Dakota sorties were flown,” he said.
Immediately after the Maharaja of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession on the October 26, 1947, No 12 Sqn, under the command of Wing Commander Bhatia was deputed for operations. He piloted the very first aircraft, into the Kashmir Valley on October 27, 1947, carrying troops of 1st Sikh Regiment under Lt Col DR Rai. In the following weeks, the squadron also conducted bombing sorties in support of the army with the bombs being rolled out of the cargo bay by the aircrew. The fledgling Indian Air Force committed almost its entire resources to the 1947-48 Kashmir operations, said Dhir.
09/08/19 Pioneer
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Dhir lamented that the biographies, including the official hagiographic “The Tall Man”, are replete with untrue information on Bijubabu’s bravery and the attempt to demand Bharat Ratna for him on the basis of the falsehood. On the contrary, he said the highest civilian award should be demanded by highlighting the truth about Bijubabu.
Citing from his own book on Biju Patnaik which is yet to be published, which he claimed to be based on his research and documentary evidences from the IAF Archives, Dhir said the legendary leader was nowhere near Srinagar or Jammu and Kashmir on the fateful day.
“In fact, he did do many landings in later, the first being on the November 10, 1947, and a good fourteen days after the invasion,” said Dhir, further claiming that the first landing was done by Wing Commander Karori Lal Bhatia of the Indian Air Force, flying a DC-3 Dakota.
“Three Dakotas of 12 Sqn took off from Wellingdon airfield at Delhi at 0500 hours for Srinagar signalling the start of the IAF operations in the 1947-48 war. Before the end of the day, 28 Dakota sorties were flown,” he said.
Immediately after the Maharaja of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession on the October 26, 1947, No 12 Sqn, under the command of Wing Commander Bhatia was deputed for operations. He piloted the very first aircraft, into the Kashmir Valley on October 27, 1947, carrying troops of 1st Sikh Regiment under Lt Col DR Rai. In the following weeks, the squadron also conducted bombing sorties in support of the army with the bombs being rolled out of the cargo bay by the aircrew. The fledgling Indian Air Force committed almost its entire resources to the 1947-48 Kashmir operations, said Dhir.
09/08/19 Pioneer
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