Battle of Boyra

After months of internal tensions in East Pakistan (current day Bangladesh) leading up to the 1971 Bangladesh genocide, and a clampdown on Bengali nationalists, many independence fighters had organised themselves into a guerilla army. Called the Mukti Bahini, these rebels were aided by India in their struggle. After initial success over Pakistani troops there had been some relative calm in the region and further Indian assistance was sought to turn the tide. Economically burdened by close to 10 Million Bangladeshi refugees,[2][3][4] India thus started to involve itself deeper into the conflict brewing in the east and stationed its troops near the border.[5]

The Boyra Salient located inside the North West part of East Pakistan consisting of Garibpur village was at an important crossroads for both nations. Its control was thus vital as it included a highway to Jessore from India.

On 21 November, the 14 Punjab Battalion – supported by PT-76 tanks from 45 Cavalry and Mukti Bahini moved in to capture the areas around Garibpur inside the Pakistani territory. The move was supposed to be a surprise, but following a skirmish with patrol troops of both armies the previous day, Pakistan was alerted to this impending attack. Pakistan immediately retaliated with its infantry battalion supported by 3rd Independent Armoured Squadron, equipped with M24 Chaffee light tanks was launched.[6] Retaining the Infantry and the Recoilless rifles in a defensive position, the tanks were sent forward to ambush the oncoming Pakistani charge. In the next couple of hours Indian troops resisted the Pakistani attack who couldn't pinpoint the source of attacks due to poor visibility on account of fog. Undeterred, Pakistan tanks and infantry were thrown into an offensive against Indian defensive positions in a Frontal Assault.[1] The resulting battle is now famous as the Battle of Garibpur.

As Pakistani troops were unable to dislodge entrenched enemy, the Mitro Bahini and the Indian Army, the Pakistani Army called in close air support.[1][7] The Pakistani Air Force Contingent in Dhakka responded by launching several sorties of Canadair Sabre Mk6s beginning on the morning of 22 November 1971. This set the stage for the Battle of Boyra.[7]

The PAF unit involved was No 14. Squadron Tail-choppers,[8] which had on strength 20 Canadair Sabre Mk6s. These were the Canadair built versions of the F-86 Sabre which were upgraded with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and powered by the more powerful Avro Canada Orenda engine. These Sabres were smuggled into Pakistan through a clandestine deal organized between Germany and Iran[9][10] This Squadron was commanded by Flight Lieutenant Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi who later rose to become the CAS a role in which he was famous for his forthright and straight-faced dealings where he looked after the interests of the PAF[11]

The reason why the relatively junior Flight Lieutenant Qureshi was appointed to command a squadron (usually commanded by a Squadron Leader) is unknown. But as it was common for Bengalis in the Pakistani Armed Forces to defect and join the Mukti Bahini or to be grounded or removed from positions of authority during the 71' war due to suspected loyalty,[5] it is a likely possibility that this was the reason.

The Indian Air Force unit involved was No. 22 Squadron IAF Swifts which was equipped with the diminutive Folland Gnat. This squadron was based in Kalaikunda Air Force Station and tasked with the Air Defence of the Calcutta Sector. A detachment was stationed at Dum Dum Airfield in Calcutta. The unit was under the command of Wing Commander BS Sikand (who later rose to the rank of Air Marshal).

Although the Canadair Sabre Mk 6 was widely regarded as the best dogfighter of its era,[12] tactics called for Gnats taking on the Sabres in the vertical arena, where the Sabres were at a disadvantage. Moreover, because the Gnat was lightweight and compact in shape, it was hard to see, especially at the low levels where most of the dogfights took place.[13]

The PAF aircraft were providing support the Pakistan Army ground units close to the border area in Garibpur. While providing support, the PAF aircraft ended up crossing the Indian border. The first intrusion of four Sabres were picked up in the Jessore area on Indian radar at 0811 hours. No.22 Squadron scrambled four Gnats from Dum Dum. However the Sabres had flown back to their territory by the time the Gnats could make it to Boyra. A second raid by the Pakistanis followed at 1028 hours. An interception again could not be carried out in time and the Sabres were able to escape to safety.

At around 1448 hours, the radar picked up the three Sabres as they pulled up in a north westerly direction to about 2,000 ft (610 m) above ground level. Within a minute, the ORP at Dum Dum was scrambled. Four Gnats took off by 1451 hours led by the formation leader Flt Lt Roy Andrew Massey. It was less than three minutes from the time the Sabres were detected by the radar.[14]

The Fighter controller in the sector was Flying Officer KB Bagchi who vectored the gnats to the sabres and directed the interception. The Sabres already having carried out several attack runs in the eight minutes it took the Gnats to reach the Boyra Sailent, were commencing to start another dive – they were at about 1,800 feet (550 m) altitude and diving down to 500 feet (150 m) in an attack run.

The four Gnats separated into two sections and dived into the attack to bounce the Sabres. The first section of Gnats was of Massey and Fg Offr SF Soarez as his wingman. The second section consisted of Flt Lt M A Ganapathy and Fg Offr D Lazarus. As the Gnats dived in, a section of two Sabres pulled out of the attack and placed themselves in an awkward position, just in front of Ganapathy and Lazarus. Both the pilots opened fire with 20mm Cannon fire, and both the Sabres were badly damaged. Ganapathy called out on the R/T the Brevity code "Murder Murder Murder". The Pakistani pilots Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi and Khaleel Ahmed ejected over Boyra and parachuted down safely but were taken POW. The wreckage of the abandoned Sabres fell near the village of Bongaon in India.[14][15]

Simultaneously Massey pulled up over Ganapathy and Lazarus to latch onto another Sabre. The Sabre pilot, Wg. Cdr Chaudhury – in a skillful dogfighting move – broke into Massey's attack forcing him to take a high angle-off burst which missed his target. After maneuvering back into firing position and taking aim, Massey let off another burst at 700 yards (640 m) and hit him in the port wing. By that time, Massey's starboard cannon had stopped firing, but the Sabre streaked back into Pakistani territory billowing smoke and fire. Massey realizing that he was well over East Pakistani airspace in his chase, turned around and regrouped with the rest of his formation which then proceeded back to base. Early on it was thought that the badly damaged Sabre must have crashed soon after but after the war reports confirmed that Massey's victim, Wg. Cdr Chaudhury, showing considerable courage, had managed to fly his badly damaged Sabre back to Tezgaon Airfield outside Dhaka. Chaudhury himself claimed to have shot down one of the Gnats, however Indian officials claimed that no aircraft were lost in the battle.[7][16]

This action which took place in front of thousands of people became one of the most enduring moments of the Bangladesh Liberation War and made all four Indian Pilots instant celebrities in India and Bangladesh overnight. Their pictures, Gun camera Images (see external images) of the flaming sabres and those of the PAF pow's being widely circulated by the media the world over.[17]

• The Indian pilots were each awarded the Vir Chakra. The Fighter Controller Fg Offr KB Bagchi was awarded Vayusena Medal. Wg. Cdr. Sikand was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).
• Roy Andrew Massey would later command No. 224 Squadron of the IAF which operated MiG-23MF he died in a Mig-23 Crash due to bird strike in Nov 1983 almost exactly 12 years later.[16][18]
• Donald Lazarus went on to become the commanding officer of the No. 102 Squadron of the IAF- The Trisonics- which operated India's top secret Mig-25s Mach 3 Reconnaissance aircraft. He attained the final rank of Group Captain (colonel)[19] He later gave up his career and opted for early retirement to answer the call of God and served as a Councillor and later director of Christian Mission Service (CMS), based in Coonoor, which mainly cares for destitute and orphaned children.[20]
• MA Ganapathy died in service—beset with personal family problems, he committed suicide.[16]
• Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi would later go on to be the CAS of PAF a role in which he was famous for his forthright and straight-faced dealings he looked after the interests of the PAF.[11] As CoAS of the PAF he prevented the PAF from getting drawn into the Kargil War according to the wishes of Gen.Pervez Musharraf and thus prevented that conflict from escalating, which may have resulted in Nuclear War.
• Tezgaon airfield was subjected to a severe Offensive campaign by the Indian Airforce and was rendered inoperable by the third day after the formal declaration of war on 3 December 1971.
• PAF No.14 Squadron defied orders to destroy their aircraft at the time of surrender on 14 December. These were captured by the Indian Army Mitrobahini and donated to the nascent Bangladesh Air Force.

In 1996, Air Chief Marshal Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi was appointed as the Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force. When the news was reported in India, Donald Lazarus who shot him down wrote a letter congratulating Qureshi for his achievement in becoming CAS and mentioned that Qureshi may not recall his earlier meeting with Lazarus which was in the air. Perhaps Lazarus did not expect a reply to the letter, but it seemed the right thing to do to wish someone well whom he had met in battle a couple of decades back.

Don Lazarus received a surprise, when a letter came signed by the Pakistani CAS himself. Air Chief Marshal Qureshi expressed his thanks to Lazarus for his wishes and complimented on the 'fight' shown by the Indian Pilots on the occasion. Group Captain Lazarus still preserves the letter quite carefully, which serves as a reminder that despite the hostility left behind by the war, chivalry is still alive among fighter pilots and as a testament to the characters of both men.[16]

• Air Chief Marshal Lal (retd), PC (1 May 1986). My Years with the Iaf. Lancer Publishers. ISBN 978-8170620082.
• Air Vice Marshal Tiwary (retd), Arun Kumar. Indian Air Force in Wars. Lancer Publishers. ISBN 9781935501794.
• Spick, Mike (2002). Illustrated Directory of Fighters. Osceola, Wisconsin: Zenith Press. ISBN 0-7603-1343-1.
• Islam, Mohammed Rafiqul (1981). A Tale of Millions: Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971. Bangladesh Books International.