The Crest of the Indian Air Force.

The Crest of the Pakistani Air Force.

East Pakistan Air Operations incorporate the interdiction, air defence, ground support, and logistics missions flown by the Indian Air Force in support of the advancing Indian Army and the Mitro Bahini in the eastern theatre during the Indo-Pakistani conflict of 1971. Although the first of the engagements between the opposing airpowers occurred before the formal declaration of hostillities, the events described below include only those conducted after the declaration of war. The crest of the indian air firce This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... The crest of the indian air firce This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. ... The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) (Pakistan Fizaya in Urdu) is the Aviation branch of the Pakistan armed forces. ... Air interdiction is the use of aircraft to attack tactical ground targets that are not in close proximity to friendly ground forces. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging military aircraft in combat from the ground. ... An Apache attack helicopter provides close air support to United States Army soldiers patrolling the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad, Iraq during the Iraq War. ... Look up Logistics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. ... Indian soldiers are known as Jawans in Hindi. ... Mitro Bahini (meaning Allied forces in Bangla) was a military force composed of Bangladesh Army (as part of Mukti Bahini) and the Indian Army in December 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War. ... East Pakistan was a former province of Pakistan which existed between 1955 and 1971. ... The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. ... A HAL Ajeet fighter . ... A part of the Pakistani Air Forces strike aircrafts in 1971, an F-104 Starfighter, a Shenyang F-6 and a Mirage-IIIEP. The F-6 squadrons did not fly in the first strikes. ...

Back Ground

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 will be noted in History as one of the defining conflicts which led to the Birth of the new nation of Bangladesh. The engagements between the Indian Army against the Pakistani Army lasted a short but intense 14 days, between 3 December and 16 December 1971. Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora A. A. K. Niazi Strength 500,000+ troops[citation needed] 400,000+ troops[citation needed] Casualties 1,426 killed 3,611 wounded 2,149 missing c. ... Indian soldiers are known as Jawans in Hindi. ... Pakistan Army Coat of Arms Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistan Military responsible for land based military operations. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

The speedy conclusion was only possible because the objectives set by the Indian Forces in the east were achieved in that time. This was only possible due to excellent co-ordination between the Indian Army, Air Force, and the Navy. Indian soldiers are known as Jawans in Hindi. ... The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. ... The crest of the Indian navy with the motto Shano Varuna - meaning May the Lord of the Oceans be Auspicious Unto Us. The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Armed Forces of India. ...

Although the Western theatre saw engagements that have defined the rules of 20th century Warare, including the Battle of Longewala, Operation Trident, as well as Battle of the bases between the two rival Air Forces, the eastern theatre would be marked by a near total domination by the Indian Forces and the Mitro Bahini. Two major reasons stand out, the first and major was the fact that the Bengalee population and the Awami League led resistance had already greatly weakened the Pakistani Forces. The second, and possibly equally important, is the total air supremacy that the IAF came to achieve within the opening days of the war. The article tries to bring forth a balanced description of the efforts that the IAF took to achieve this situation of superiority. Combatants Indian Army and later Indian Air Force Pakistan Army Commanders Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri Brigadier Tariq Mir Strength 120 troops 2 Recoilless rifles 2000+ troops 50-60 Tanks 5 Field guns 3 Anti-aircraft guns 138 Military vehicles Casualties  ? 100 soldiers. ... Combatants India Pakistan Strength 3 Missile boats, 2 Anti-submarine patrol vessels Casualties None Heavy Operation Trident and its follow up Operation Python were naval attacks launched on Pakistans port city of Karachi by the Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ... Mitro Bahini (meaning Allied forces in Bangla) was a military force composed of Bangladesh Army (as part of Mukti Bahini) and the Indian Army in December 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War. ... The Bangladesh Awami League (বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ Bāŋlādeś Āowāmī Līg) or the Bangadesh Peoples League is the main opposition party in Bangladesh. ... Air supremacy is defined in the NATO Glossary as That degree of air superiority wherein the opposing air force is incapable of effective interference. ...

IAF Operations in 1971

A Su-7 returns from a sortie during ops, 1971.

Mig 21FLs of No. 28 Sqn at Guwahati AFB immediately after start of war.

The IAF had engaged with the enemy earlier in the east than the it did in the west, having clashed with PAF over the Salient of Boyra in West Bengal on 22 November Between then and 3 December, 1971, there were no engagements of the two airforces. However,following the preemptive strike by the PAF on its airfields in the western sector, the IAF went into action on the midnight of 3 December of 1971. However, the western air campaign was, at least in the initial days, limited to striking PAF forward bases and providing ground support, but was not aimed at achieving air supremacy. In the east, however, faced with only the No. 14 squadron defending the whole sector, the Eastern Air Command was given the task to achieve total air dominance, which ultimately it did. Image File history File links Su-7_no221sqn. ... Image File history File links Su-7_no221sqn. ... The Sukhoi Su-7 (NATO designation Fitter) was a swept wing, turbojet-powered fighter-bomber used by the Soviet Union and its allies. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1016x331, 55 KB) Summary Indian Airforce,www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1016x331, 55 KB) Summary Indian Airforce,www. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... Guwahati is a city in India, often considered to be the gateway to the north-east part of the country. ... The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. ... Military manpower Military age 16 years of age Availability 39,028,014 (2005) Males ages 16-49 Reaching military age males: 1,969,055 (2005) Active troops 620,000 (Ranked 7th) Military expenditures Dollar figure $3. ... A HAL Ajeet fighter . ... West Bengal   (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, Pōshchimbäŋgō) is a state in eastern India. ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A part of the Pakistani Air Forces strike aircrafts in 1971, an F-104 Starfighter, a Shenyang F-6 and a Mirage-IIIEP. The F-6 squadrons did not fly in the first strikes. ... Military manpower Military age 16 years of age Availability 39,028,014 (2005) Males ages 16-49 Reaching military age males: 1,969,055 (2005) Active troops 620,000 (Ranked 7th) Military expenditures Dollar figure $3. ... The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... An Apache attack helicopter provides close air support to United States Army soldiers patrolling the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad, Iraq during the Iraq War. ... Air supremacy is defined in the NATO Glossary as That degree of air superiority wherein the opposing air force is incapable of effective interference. ... The crest of the IAF. Eastern Air Command forms one of the five operational commands. ...

3-4 December

Destroyed hangars of Tejgaon airfield, pictured after the Surrender of Dhaka.

Cratered runway of Kurmitola AFB. following strikes by the IAF . The strikes were carried out by Mig 21s of the No 28 Sqn flying from Gauhati

Canberra bombers struck Tejgaon repeatedly on the night of 3 December. The PAF No. 14 operated only sabres which lacked night fighting capabillity. The first strikes were therefore unchallenged. By the morning of 4 December, however, strike missions against Tejgaon were assigned to Hunters of the No. 7, No. 14 sqn, No. 17 sqn and No.37 sqn, Su-7s (No. 221 Sqn) and MiG-21s (No. 28 sqn). The first raids in East Pakistan were flown by Hunters of No.17 Sqn and these were given top cover by four MiG-21s from No.4 Sqn. It proved unnecessary, the Hunters shot down one Sabre when intercepted before the rendezvous took place. No. 14 sqn also struck Kurmitola AFB, htting the Hangars and Installations with rockets. By the afternoon, Hunter's would strike Narayangunj fuel depots. Hunters from No. 14 Sqn also struck Chittagong Harbour on the morning of 4th December. In an afternoon strike on Tezgaon by Migs from 28 Sqn, a Twin otter was destroyed on the ground. Image File history File links Tejgaon. ... Image File history File links Tejgaon. ... Image File history File links Kurmitola. ... Image File history File links Kurmitola. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... The English Electric Canberra was a first-generation jet bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s, and as of 2006 some still remain in service. ... Tejgaon is the name of a large area in the centre of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. ... The North American F-86 Sabre was a subsonic combat aircraft developed for the US Air Force. ... December 4 is the 338th day (339th on leap years) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sixteen Hunters of the RAF Black Arrows perform aerobatics at the Farnborough Air Show, England. ... The crest of the IAF. No. ... The Sukhoi Su-7 (NATO designation Fitter) was a swept wing, turbojet-powered fighter-bomber used by the Soviet Union and its allies. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... A West Coast Air Twin Otter rigged as a floatplane Air Labrador Super Twin Otter The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a 20-seat STOL feederliner and utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. ...

For the interceptors sent up to challenge the strikes, PAF was to suffer the loss of three sabres in dog fights over Dhaka, two to Hunters striking Kumitola. Of these, Wg Cdr S M Ahmed and Flt. Lt. Saeed ejected safely over the village of Ghazipur, but were not found by search parties and were listed as "missing" for the duration of the war. Later reports would suggest that both pilots were killed by hostile local populace ^[1]. The last of the Sabres lost that day was to an afternoon strike on Narayangunj, Fg Off Sajjad Noor was shot down while attempting to engage a strike by Hunters from No. 14Sqn. Noor ejected safely over the village of Zinjira and was later rescued.^[1] Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bangla: ঢাকা Ḍhākā), population 12,560,000[1] (2005 UN projection for statistical metropolitan area), is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. ...

The IAF also suffered some of its heaviest losses on these missions, losing six hunters and one Su-7. No. 7 sqn, on a strike mission against an ammunition train at Lal Munir Hat, would suffer one Pilot- Flt Lt A R Da Costa KIA, along with the loss of two Hunters- both hit by fierce ground fire and crashing in Indian territory. One of the pilots of the stricken planes, Sqn Ldr S K Gupta safely ejected at Bagdogra^[2] . No. 14 Sqn also lost two Hunters on the day to ack ack. Both the pilots, Sqn Ldr K D Mehra and Flt Lt K C Tremenhere, ejected safely^[2] . Tremenhere was taken POW while Mehra managed to evade capture and get back to Indian territory. The highest price of the day was however, paid by No. 37 Sqn, which suffered the death of two pilots- Sqn Ldr S B Samanta and Fg Off S G Khonde^[2] . No. 221 Sqn was to suffer one Su-7 shot down with the pilot, Sqn Ldr V. Bhutani taken POW.^[2] Militaries use the term killed in action (KIA) as a casualty classification. ... Bagdogra airport is a civilian airport at a distance of about eighteen kilometres from the city of Siliguri in northern West Bengal, India. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging military aircraft in combat from the ground. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ...

5-7 December

A Sea Hawk takes off from the deck of INS Vikrant during the 1971 operations

People of Dhaka witnessed thrilling low-level dogfight throughout 4 and 5 December. The IAF concentrated in attacking the aircraft on the ground. However, for the dear price paid, it failed to cause significant damage to the PAF assets in well-dispersed and camouflaged locations. By the evening of 5 December, the IAF realised that a change of tactic was necessary. On the morning of 6 December four MiG-21s (No. 28 Sqn), flying from Gauhati hit Tejgaon with 1000lber, scoring several hits on the runway. However, Kurmitola was to remain operational till the morning of 7 December, when Mig-21s of No. 28 Sqn again hit the runway. No. 7 Sqn was pulled out of the eastern ops on the 6 December to help the army in the west. Repeated attack by MiG-21s and Hunters of No. 14 and No.28 however, kept the runway cratered. The Air Combat and Information Group Website, at http://www.acig.org, notes : "A notable fact remains that the MiG-21FL was neither as easy to fly nor to operate in combat under conditions the IAF had to expect in the case of a new war with Pakistan. It was designed as simple point-defence fighter-interceptor that was to operate under close GCI-control and attack its targets from the rear hemisphere with R-3S (ASCC-Code AA-2 Atoll) heat-seeking missiles. However, pleased with the speed and handling of the MiGs during operational conversions, Indian pilots trained intensively and gained not only considerable confidence, but also expertise. The Indians were to use it as an air superiority fighter as well as fighter bomber over extended ranges and well inside the enemy airspace, with minimal or no GCI-support at all." ^[3] Image File history File links Vikrant_Hawker. ... Image File history File links Vikrant_Hawker. ... The Hawker Sea Hawk was a single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), the air branch of the Royal Navy (RN), built by the Hawker company. ... The INS Vikrant (formerly the HMS Hercules (R49)) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. ... Anolis caroliensis showing blending camouflage and counter-shading. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Guwahati is the commercial capital of Assam and the gateway to the seven northeastern states of India. ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Indian soldiers are known as Jawans in Hindi. ...

The results of the IAF's assault was that by 7 December, the PAF in the East was effectively grounded. The IAF also bombed other airfields including the abandoned WWII airfields of Comilla, Lal munir hat and Shamsher Nagar through the war, denying their use to PAF planes that may be moved by road, as well as to any external aerial reinforcement. Comilla (3085. ...

Operations in Support of Ground Forces

Dacca Govt. House, seat of the East Pakistan Civilian administration, after a strike by Mig 21s of No. 28 Sqn on the morning of 14th December.

With the PAF in the east effectively neutralised, the IAF could now concentrate in supporting their advancing army. Movements of Pakistani troops during day time came to a virtual halt due to relentless IAF air attack. Ferries across major river crossings were sunk by the IAF thus denying the Pak army its line of retreat to Dhaka. On 7 December, INS Vikrant, the navy's sole aircraft carrier at the time, joined the operation.Sea Hawks operating from the deck of Vikrant struck Chittagong harbour, Cox's Bazar and Barisal. Whatever remained of the Pakistani Navy was destroyed or sunk. The airfields in Cox's Bazar, Chiringa and Feni were made inoperative. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (955x784, 66 KB)Indian Air force, iaf. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (955x784, 66 KB)Indian Air force, iaf. ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The INS Vikrant (formerly the HMS Hercules (R49)) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. ... The crest of the Indian navy with the motto Shano Varuna - meaning May the Lord of the Oceans be Auspicious Unto Us. The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Armed Forces of India. ... An aircraft carrier is a warship designed to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. ... The Hawker Sea Hawk was a single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), the air branch of the Royal Navy (RN), built by the Hawker company. ... Chittagong (Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম, Chôţţogram) is the major seaport and second largest city of Bangladesh. ... Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh is the worlds longest natural beach (120 km). ... Barisal is a district in southern Bangladesh. ... The Pakistan Navy, is the naval wing of the Pakistan military. ...

On 10 December IAF helilifted troops of the IV Corps from Ashuganj to Raipura and Narsingi in what came to be termed the Operation Cactus-Lilly (also known as the Helibridge over Meghna). Entire Brigade strengths were lifted over the River Meghna, allowing the Indian Army to continue their advance in-spite of stiff resistance at Ashuganj, where the retreating Pakistani Army also blew up the Bridge. December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Meghna River is an important river in South Asia, one of the three rivers responsible for creating the largest delta on earth, most of which is in Bangladesh. ...

On 11 December, India airdropped Para Bn Gp 130 in the now famous Tangail airdrop. The operation involved An-12, C-119s, 2 Caribous and Dakotas from 11 sqn and 48 Sn. In total, about 1000 troops were airdropped. The only hitch was one paratrooper who a static line hangup. December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A C-130 Hercules airdropping a light tank. ... The Tangail airdrop was an operation mounted on 11 December 1971 by the 2nd Parachute Battalion of the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ... The Antonov An-12 (NATO reporting name: Cub) is a four-engined turboprop transport aircraft. ... The C-119 was a U.S. military transport aircraft developed from the World War II Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute. ... The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (known in the US military as the C-7 Caribou) was designed as a specialized transport for STOL (short takeoff and landing). ... The Douglas DC-3 is a fixed-wing, propeller-driven aircraft which revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s, and is generally regarded as one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made (also see Boeing 707 and Boeing 747). ... SasquatchTC 06:40, July 22, 2005 (UTC) Categories: Possible copyright violations ...

C-119 aircraft dropping Paratroops near Tangail, about 150 km from Dhaka.

Gnats from No. 22 sqn provided top cover for the operation, which ultimately went unhindered. Also on the 11th of December three converted An-12s from the No.44 Squadron struck the Jaydebpur Ordnance factory in East Pakistan. Image File history File links Tangail_Airdrop. ... Image File history File links Tangail_Airdrop. ... The C-119 was a U.S. military transport aircraft developed from the World War II Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute. ... Folland Gnat The Folland Gnat was an exceptionally small swept-wing subsonic jet trainer and light fighter aircraft designed by W. E. W. Petter that first flew in 1955. ... The crest of the IAF. No. ...

On the morning of 14 December, a message was intercepted by Indian Intelligence of a high-level meeting of the civilian administration in East Pakistan and a decision was made to mount an attack. Within 15 minutes interception of the message, a strike was launched against Dhaka . Armed with tourist guide maps of the city, a four Mig 21s of No. 28 Sqn hit the Government House with 57mm rockets, ripping the massive roof of the main hall and turning the building into a smouldering wreck. The Governor of East Pakistan, Mr. A H Malik, resigned then and there renouncing all ties with the West Pakistani administration , to take refuge at the Red Cross Center in Dhaka. December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bangla: ঢাকা Ḍhākā), population 12,560,000[1] (2005 UN projection for statistical metropolitan area), is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... The Anarchist Black Cross was originally called the Anarchist Red Cross. The band Redd Kross was originally called Red Cross. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

The IAF was to continue flying interdiction missions for the remainder of the war in, shooting up ammunition dumps and other fixed installations. Gnats and Sukhoi Su-7s flew many missions in support of army units as they moved swiftly towards Dhaka, delivering ordnance such as iron bombs to take out enemy bunkers which occasionally posed an obstacle to advancing infantry. Canberras repeatedly struck Jessore forcing the enemy to abandon this strategic city. The IAF also was prepared to hit any Chinese incursions into Indian territory in the eastern Himalayas. As it turned out, the Chinese did not stir.

See also

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Hindi: , pronunciation: ) (November 19, 1917 – October 31, 1984) was Prime Minister of India from January 19, 1966 to March 24, 1977, and again from January 14, 1980 until her assassination on October 31, 1984. ... Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw (born April 3, 1914) was the Indian Army Chief of Staff who led the Indian forces during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ... K.P. Candeth (October 23, 1916 – May 19, 2003) was a senior Indian army officer who led operations to liberate Goa from Portugese control and served briefly as the military governor of the place. ... Lt-Gen Jagjit Singh Arora (February 13, 1916 - May 3, 2005) was the Indian commander whose comprehensive defeat of Pakistan in 1971 led to the creation of Bangladesh. ... Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Urdu: ذوالفقار علی بھٹو) (Sindhi: ذوالفقار علي ڀُٽو) (January 5, 1928 – April 4, 1979) was a Pakistani politician and a statesman of international repute. ... Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan (February 4, 1917 – August 10, 1980) was the President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, following the resignation of Ayub Khan. ... Lt. ... Major General Abu Bakr Osman Mitha (1923–December 1999) was the pioneer of the stay behind concept and founder of Pakistans Special Services Group (SSG), an independent Commando Brigade of the Pakistan Army. ... General Gul Hassan Khan was the Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan. ... Major General (R) Rao Farman Ali Maj Gen Rao Farman Ali Khan (1923 - January 21, 2004). ... Sahabzada Yaqub Ali Khan Sahabzada Yaqub Khan (born 1920) was the International Face of Pakistan for many years. ... Tikka Khan (1915–2002) was Pakistans Chief of Army Staff from March 1972–March 1976). ... Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; known as Bangabandhu (Friend of Bangladesh) to his people in Bangladesh. ... Tajuddin Ahmed was the first prime minister of Bangladesh from 11 April 1971 until 13 January 1972. ... Abul Hasnat Muhammad Qamaruzzaman was a Bangladeshi politician, a senior leader of the Awami League and a close confidante of the countrys founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. ... Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani, better known by General M.A.G. Osmani (1 September 1918-16 February 1984)was the supreme commander of Mukti Bahini and Bangladesh Armed Forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War. ... Ziaur Rahman (Bangla: জিয়াউর রহমান) (January 19, 1936 – May 30, 1981) was Bangladeshs President. ... Khaled Mosharraf Bir Uttom, was a Bangladeshi army officer and war hero. ...

Notes

1. ^ ^a b Group Captain Sultan M. Hali(PAF).The Air War of '71 Revisited.Journal of the Pakistan Institute of defence studies

   Though not programmed or required to fly, Ahmad had insisted - in keeping with the PAF's tradition of its seniors leading in combat - and was soon in the thick of battle with 4 Hunters, joined minutes later by some MiG-21s and Su-7s. In the melee, the Hunters' leader shot down Ahmad’s F-86, forcing him to eject 5 miles from Kurmitola; despite an air and ground search he was never found. Rashidi, in the meanwhile, successfully extricated himself from the 'one-versus-several' situation just as another pair of PAF F-86s, comprising Sdn. Ldr. Afzaal and Flt. Lt. Saeed, was engaging 3 Hunters, a few miles away. Both Afzaal and Saeed were immediately set upon by another Hunter and was himself shot down. Only minutes later Afzaal had avenged this loss by chasing a MiG-21 and shooting it down. Although Saeed had ejected safely, he too was never found; reportedly both Saeed and Ahmad were taken away by Mukti supporters.

   URL accessed on 13 Aug 06
2. ^ ^a b c d Indian Air Force losses in the 1971 War (HTML). www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-23.
3. ^ India - Pakistan War, 1971; Introduction (HTML). Tom Cooper $ Shais Ali. www.acig.org. Retrieved on 2006-08-23.