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The airfields of West Bengal along with
those in Present day Bangladesh and the North Eastern states were the mainstay for the
Allied air war effort during the Second World War. From the numerous airfields that dotted
the area, a myriad types of transport, fighter and bomber aircraft led the airwar
against the Japanese airforces. At the end of the second world war, a few airfields were
still active. The IAF decided to keep only one main base, stationed at Kalaikunda. The
Eastern Air Command was formed in Calcutta in the 60s. Till its eventual shifting to
Shillong, EAC was responsible for meeting all air threats from China and East Pakistan.
It maintained airbases at Calcutta (Dum-Dum), Panagarh, Kalaikunda, Hashimara,
Barrackpore and Baghdogra all of which are in West Bengal.
Bagdogra
Bagdogra is located in the narrow corridor
of land that connects the North Eastern states to the Rest of India. It is a very crucial
airfield and saw much action during both the 1965 and 1971 wars. Bagdogra today is home to
MiG-21s.
A Gnat is maintained as a gate guardian at
the airfield at Bagdogra, while a Sukhoi-7 was also seen recently. Mr. Joydeep Sircar
writes that both aircraft do not have any visible serial numbers.
| Aircraft
Type |
Serial
No |
Remarks |
| HAL Gnat II |
-NA- |
Gate Gaurdian at Baghdogra AFS |
| Sukhoi-7BMK |
-NA- |
near Main Gate |
Kharagpur
The Indian Institute of Technology at
Kharagpur is located in Midnapore District, about 110km from Kolkatta. The IIT Kharagpur
is the oldest of the IIT's in India and it provided a grand spectacle for the students
when Flt Lt Alfred Cooke shot down an attacking PAF Sabre in full view of the cheering
students during the 1965 War. Apparently the Sabre was broken up for souvenirs by students
from the IIT, and nothing much was left. Over the years, nothing much has been found of
the wreckage of the Pakistani aircraft.
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The
Hijli Detention Center now converted into a Museum. The Hunter can be seen in the right
corner of the picture (Pic © IIT
Kharagpur Alumni Network.) |
One of the buildings in the IIT, the
erstwhile Hijli detention camp (renamed as the Hijli Shaheed Building) now houses
the Nehru technology museum. On view outside the museum building is an Hawker Hunter
donated by the IAF. Transported and set up by personnel from the Kalaikunda Air Force
Station, this Hunter represents its long association of the Kalaikunda Air base. The
Museum also houses a Jet Engine for display.
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