Warbirds of India

Kalaikunda's most striking and unique warbird display is in front of the ATC Tower. Two Gnats E-232 and DJ-1992 are displayed vertically resting on their tail pipe and fin/elevators pointing straight up, with a small memorial in between. Pic © Simon Watson.

In the Midnapore District in the state of West Bengal, about 130 km from Calcutta is the Major Airbase of Kalaikunda. Established way back during the Second World War, this desolate village turned airstrip is now a major establishment on the IAF's Orbat.

The ATC Tower at Kalaikunda has one of the most unique displays of multiple warbirds in a single display. Perhaps next in uniqueness only to the tri-Gnat display at Vayu Bhawan. Bang opposite the ATC, two Gnat airframes have been erected vertically resting on their tail pipes. The aircraft had been secured by outrigger cables and point nosewards vertically towards the sky.

The ATC Tower Gnats display at Kalaikunda. The aircraft on the left is a Gnat , while that on the right is an Ajeet.	A Close up of the tower and the Gnats display shows the small obelisk in between the two Gnats which is the Kalaikunda memorial.

The De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter was a rugged and tested light transport aircraft that was inducted into the IAF in 1962. The aircraft, a single engined tail dragger was the last piston engined transport to be operated by the Indian Air Force. When in service, it was flown by two squadrons in the Indian Air Force. The first squadron to be raised on them took on their name and were known as No.41 'Otters' Squadron. About forty or so aircraft had been procured by the IAF and had been used extensively in the North Eastern states for supply duties.

The De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter IM-1057 seen outside the Diamond Jubilee Museum in Kalaikunda Air Force Station.

The aircraft were phased out in the early 90s, with both the squadrons reequipping with the Dornier 228 Light transport aircraft. Since the DHC-3 Otter was a very much sought aircraft in Canada and other parts of the world, most of the phased out aircraft were sold by auction.

 

The Banners emblem and the faded camouflage paint is most prominent on the Hunter displayed outside at the Kalaikunda gate. Pic Courtesy: Simon Watson

Kalaikunda has been throughout the early 90s been the home of the Hunters. A Hunter Operational Flying Training Unit (HOFTU) Operated here with aircraft belonging to No.20 "Lightnings" Squadron. With the disbandment of the HOFTU and No.20 requipping with the MiG-27s, most of the Hunters were passed on to the No.2 Target Tug Flight "The Banners". Which operated about eight Hunters till Oct 2001. Many of the other Hunters were disposed off to various locations around the country as Gate Guardians.

Ajeet [E-1956] is displayed on a platform outside the Hangar where No.2 Squadrons MiG-27s are based.

No.2 Squadron, IAF, the "Winged Daggers" had a long period of association with Kalaikunda that goes back to the late 70s. No.2 Squadron was in the Punjab area around Adampur and Halwara during the 1965 and 71 wars. The Squadron moved to Kalaikunda in the late 70s and flew its Gnats till 1977 or so when it started requipping with the upgraded version - the Ajeet. It flew the Ajeet till 1991, when the last example was flown to the IAF Museum in Palam, New Delhi.