20 Squadron IAF, Hunters, Pathankot 1971 | AVM Cecil V Parker | @BrainsTrustIndia

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Serial No. 87 Season 5 Episode No. 20

Air Vice Marshal Cecil Parker Maha Vir Chakra

Stories from the Battlefield 20 Squadron, Hunters, IAF in Pathankot

The operations of 20 Squadron Indian Air Force, flying Hawker Hunters on the Western Front of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, narrated by their Commanding Officer of the time.

The squadron accomplished strikes at ranges previously thought impossible for single-seater aircraft; carried out a spectacularly successful attack on an oil refinery which was left in flames; executed multiple attacks on Pakistani airbases, destroying several Pakistani aircraft on the ground; and during close-support to the Army shot down a pursuing Pakistan Air Force Sabre.



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[ArunPotdarLeo]

Many memories of 20 Squadron. The last Hunter, which my team and I, had dismantled was in 1979 at Hindon Airbase. In my entire career of 8 years, I spent on the Hunter FB aircraft doing specialized operations, including one with Army - Navy Salvage of 20 squadron's Aircraft near Hindon at Gadh Ganga.
In 1965 war I led team to Halwara Air Base from where 7 and 27 squadrons of Hunters operated. During that war highly trained experts of my team from the 41Repair & Salvage Unit, was attached to the Operation Wing at Halwara. During the 28 day war, we changed entire damaged wings in 12 hours by puling one intact wing from another damaged aircraft to keep the planes flying. In all, over 20 such cannibalising operations were completed and a record was created. Some of the officers including AVM Parker, I had encountered in my peacetime operations at Hinden. Thanks for showing this Video. I left service in 1970 and was waiting for the recall notice when 1971 war broke out. It ended before my rejoining.

[sharifalamkhan]

I too was in IAF in Jamnagar in 1971.Our Commanding Officer was Group Captain Willson.

[satyajitlall]

Air Vice Marchal Cecil Vivian Parker is a legend and an inspiration to pilots for generations to come.

[SUDHIRJEC]

Sir your voice and way of narration closely resembles that of Field marshal Sam Manekshaw

[rawdyrider]

One Indian Hunter was shot down near Bara with a Sikh pilot . Another was shot down by an F86 air cap over Peshawar with the 86s swooping down on them .Poor chaps didnt know what hit them. Paf has always s\hown better performance than a larger enemy with better a/c at the time. Better training better skills and guts.