"आकाशे शत्रुन् जहि"

A STORY OF LEGEND UNKNOWN AWARDED VIR CHAKRA FOR GALLANT ACTION IN 1971WAR, TAKING DOWN FIRST FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ON 2ND DAY OF WAR AND CAME BACK TO LIFE FROM THE DEAD

After he passed away, 26AD (Indian Army's oldest Air Defence Regiment) on its Platinum Jubilee, installed his bust in Pathankot IIRC.

Legendary Shreepati Singh was then a Lance Naik in 26th Air Defence Rgt. He was a radar operator and commander of a troop of the Rgt, which was deployed with the 27th AD in Amritsar sector and from such legends are unit traditions created, and in the next conflict, others will strive to emulate him.

It was time when widespread genocide by the West Pakistani military forces, targeting Bengalis and Hindus in East Pakistan, led to a huge number of refugees, as much as 10 million, taking shelter in India. On 27th March, the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi decided that war with Pakistan would be more economical and in April, General Manekshaw was asked to ‘Go into East Pakistan’. By November, thousands of West Pakistan forces marched towards the border, and the massive Indian forces responded to this threat.On 3rd December, eleven airfields in north-western India were the targets of a massive pre-emptive air strike by the Pakistani Air Force, marking the declaration of war. The Indian military mobilized troops immediately and that very night, the Indian Air Force retaliated with an initial air strike.

On 3rd December, eleven airfields in north-western India were the targets of a massive pre-emptive air strike by the Pakistani Air Force, marking the declaration of war. On 03 Dec 1971 at 1747 hours, PAF launched simultaneous attacks on a number of forward IAF bases at Srinagar, Amritsar & Pathankot.

Four of the attacking PAF aircraft were hit by Indian Air Defence, one each over Pathankot, Halwara, Amritsar & a B-57 near Agra. The Indian military mobilized troops immediately and that very night, the Indian Air Force retaliated with an initial air strike.

A Supersonic F-I04A Starfighter was the deadliest aircraft in Pakistan Air Force’s fighter fleet

The F-104 Starfighters remained in service with Pakistan Air Force for twelve years

During the 1965 Pakistan-India War, the F-104s flew a total of 246 hours and 45 minutes while during the 1971 war, the F-104s flew only a total of 103 hours and 45 minutes.

Of the fourteen aircraft, two were officially lost in the 1965 War.

Another two (plus a RJAF F-104A) were lost to Indian AAA fire and MiGs respectively in the 1971 conflict.

Only three of the aircraft has a combat history as far as we know.

- 56-0874 preserved at Peshawar had a Canberra night kill in the 1965 war and strafed a HF-24 on the ground at Uttarlai in the 1971 operations.

- 56-0879 preserved at Masroor shot down a Indian Su-7 Fitter on December 4, 1971 over Amritsar.

- 56-0804 shot down a Indian Folland Gnat F.1 on December 4, 1971 over Amritsar.

On the first day of the war it self, the unit was seeing a good amount of action due to PAF's pre-emptive strike idea.

With his radar was apparently located and a F..... F104 tried to strafe his position. when other move for cover, he stayed with the radar to track The F104 did manage to strafe him with its 20mm M61 Vulcan canon, but the radar track supposedly brought down the aircraft too. That would be the first F104 down on the 4 Dec 1971, 2nd day of the 1971 war.

His official citation

When his body was recovered, he was pronounced dead, and his body kept in the dead pile. But a young army doctor saw a little movement, and rushed to save him. he put his hand inside him (i was told), and tried to save him. He later recovered in hospital He was injured by three 20mm bullets, when Indira Gandhi visited injured soldiers in Jalandhar hospital. She asked him,

"Upar chale gaye the, wapas kaise aaye?",

he apparently replied,

"bhagwan ne danda maar ke bhagaya to wapas aa gaya"

The bravery of the such legends, exemplary skill, determination and above all, love for the country brought this historic victory, which changed the course of history for the Indian subcontinent forever. It is the duty of every Indian to remember such brave hearts, who made their supreme sacrifice for our safe and brighter tomorrow.

Jai Hind

Credits - Shwetabh Singh Rajput ( Grandson )

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