Air Vice Marshal Chandan Singh Rathore - Whose Successful Airborne Operation Contributed Significantly to the Fall of Dacca During 1971 War
Among the most highly decorated officers in the Indian Air Force, Chandan Singh Rathore, who was born on December 3, 1925 in Bagawas near Jodhpur, began his military career in 1941 (at the age of 16) as a Lieutenant in the famous Jodhpur Lancer division, once commanded by his father Colonel Bahadur Singhji. He fought in the Second World War with his regiment in Iraq, Persia, Egypt and Palestine and towards the end of the war, on the advice of Maharaja Umed Singh, he moved to the Royal Indian Air Force.
He began flying the Spitfire fighters but after an accident in 1949 was shifted to the transport stream. He pioneered the procedures for transport aircraft to fly into the Himalayan valleys on supply missions to remote army posts. The operating procedures that he introduced are now followed by air forces the world over when operating in similar conditions. Chandan Singh was awarded an Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) as a Squadron Leader, normally given to officers of two star rank and above.
Chandan Singh's daring operations during the Sino-Indian War
Regarded as one of the IAF's most talented officers, on 20 October 1962, Squadron Leader Chandan Singh was tasked with a supply drop in the Chip Chap area in Ladakh, during the Sino-Indian war. Having arrived at the drop zone, Singh noticed that the Indian outposts were under heavy fire from Chinese forces. With no regard for his own safety, Singh successfully managed to replenish the vital supplies of the Indian garrison despite his aircraft being struck 19 times by Chinese ground attacks. He also dropped AMX-13 tanks at Chushul in eastern Ladakh despite they being heavier than the carrying capacity of the AN-12 aircraft which slowed the advance of Chinese troops. Singh's bravery earned him the Vir Chakra, but it was not to be the last time the IAF would be witness to it.
During the 1965 war, AVM Singh flew several missions over Pakistan where the AN-12 a transport aircraft was used in an offensive role, a task for which it was not designed. These missions still remain classified. After the 1962 war, AVM Singh helped raise the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) at Charbatia in Odisha from where secret missions were flown to Tibet.
Chandan Singh's inspirational leadership during the India-Pakistan War
Group Captain Chandan Singh was in the forefront of the air operations conducted for the liberation of Bangladesh. He and Lt Gen. Sagat Singh were responsible for the planning and execution of the special helicopter operations to airlift two companies of troops to the Sylhet area. When it became necessary to overcome the obstacles in the advance of the Army towards Dacca, he planned and executed the move of nearly 3,000 troops and 40 tons of equipment and heavy guns with the extremely limited helicopter force at his disposal. This operation entailed landing the troops and equipment very near heavily defended areas by night. Prior to each mission, he personally carried out reconnaissance in the face of heavy enemy fire. On the night of December 7-8, he flew eight missions, deep into enemy territory, to supervise the progress of the helicopter airlift and to guide and inspire his pilots who were facing heavy ground fire. Later, he undertook a further 18 missions in the same operation, always leading the landings at new places.
On many occasions, his helicopter was hit by ground fire but this did not deter him from further missions. On December 6, 1971, Chandan Singh himself took the Allouette helicopter and flew over the Sylhet airstrip. He was just about to land when he was hit by ground fire. He got away and landed at Shamshernagar where he met Sagat Singh and the two planned the airborne operation. The success of this major airborne operation contributed significantly to the fall of Dacca and the capitulation of the Pakistan armed forces in Bangladesh.
Throughout, Group Captain Chandan Singh displayed conspicuous gallantry, organising ability, determination and professional skill. The heliborne operation became a part of military history and Chandan Singh, along with Sagat Singh, would always be remembered for their heroics. Chandan Singh was awarded Maha Vir Chakra, his second decoration that made him a legend as an air warrior.
In fact, Lieutenant General Shammi Mehta, as quoted in Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam's book, India's Wars: A Military History, 1947 – 1971, quite categorically credits the fall of Dacca to the efforts of Lieutenant General Sagat Singh and Air Vice Marshal Chandan Singh when he says, “If there was no Sagat Singh and no Chandan Singh, there would have been no Dacca.”
Chandan Singh breathed his last on 29th March 2020.
“JAI HIND”
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