Jaisalmer.
The Indian Air Force is organizing a marathon in Jaisalmer on December 13-14 to
celebrate the grit displayed by the Indian armed forces personnel in the Battle
of Longewala, one of the first major contests between the armies of India and
Pakistan during the 1971 war and an inspiring tale of courage in the face of
insurmountable odds.
The Battle of Longewala (4–7 December 1971) was one of the first major
engagements in the Western Sector during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, fought
between assaulting Pakistani forces and Indian defenders at the Indian border
post of Longewala, in the Thar Desert of
the Rajasthan state in India. In spite of the heavy attack from by
armored regiment of Pakistan, a small number of Indian soldiers successfully
held the post until they got air support and reinforcement. This victory of
Indian Army and Air Force foiled the enemy plan to capture Jaisalmer Airbase
and then the city of Jodhpur. During the battle Indian Air Force
played a decisive role under the leadership of Wing Commander MinhiBawa (Later
Air Marshal) and decimated the tank regiment.
Jaisalmer Station Commander Air Commodore Chandramoli said that as a tribute to the martyrs of the battle the ‘Longewala Victory Day Run’ will be
flagged off from Poonam Stadium, Jaisalmer on 13
December. The run would be organized
in five categories for easy participation of people of all ages, i.e. City Run
(05 KM), City Run (10 KM), Half marathon (21 Km), Full marathon (42 KM) and Run
from Jaisalmer to Longewala (110 KM). The route for city run (5KM/10KM) will be
within city limits. Water points will be set up en-route and refreshments would
also be provided to all the participants. The run is likely to finish at around
1200 hrs on 14 December at Longewala.
"IAF, Army, BSF and police
personnel, local representatives and common peoples will participate in the
run. A grand function will be organized at Poonam stadium on December 13 where
IAF equipment will be displayed," the Station Commander said.
*Pre-Battle Situation*
Longewala is situated nearly 6 Kilo
Meters inside from the international border. Before the battle took place, the
post was under control of Border Security Force, but when tensions started
between India and Pakistan, a company of 23rd Battalion of Punjab Regiment of
Indian army took the possession of the post. As Indian army wanted to
concentrate on its activities in Eastern Front, it stayed defensive on Western
front. The commanding officers were not expecting any major attack on this
post, so they deployed a company of 120 soldiers with a M40 Jeep mounted
Recoilless Gun. They were accompanied by 3 soldiers of BSF as they knew field details
of surrounding area.
At evening of 4th December 1971,
Pakistan Air Force launched air strikes on several air bases of western India.
Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri
immediately sent a patrol team towards the borderline, which heard noises of
armored vehicles. This was confirmed by army’s air observation aircraft. A 20
Kilo Metrs long column of armored vehicles of Pakistan was leading directly
towards Longewala post. Major Chandpuri immediately requested urgent
reinforcement with artillery and armor support from his battalion Head
Quarters. As it was not possible to reinforce the post immediately, the Head
Quarter gave two options: Leave the post or hold it as much time as possible.
The brave major choose the second option.
*The Battle Begins*
Pakistani armored regiment reached
Longewala post at midnight and started shelling it. In response, Indian
infantry used their Anti Tank Gun. The Jeep mounted Gun destroyed 2 Pakistani
tanks. As Pakistani forces misinterpreted the compound wire as minefield, it
stopped its further advancement towards the post. On the other hand it became
easy for Indian infantrymen to locate Pakistani tanks in the light of flames of
burning tanks and vehicles. The biggest advantage of Indians was they were at
elevated position, as the post was on a small hill. Further they were very safe
in the bunkers on the post. The Indian infantrymen were successful in
destroying 12 tanks until dawn, but they lost their jeep and two men. On the
other hand, Pakistani tanks and vehicles were unable to move faster because of
the sandy land.
*Entry of IAF Fighter Planes*
Meanwhile, the situation was informed to
the Airbase. The nearest airbase was Jaisalmer. There were four Hunter Hawkers
on the base. Two of them took flights towards Longewala. The fighter pilots
found that the post was surrounded by Pakistani tanks. They were shelling the
post. The pilots started to fire rockets to the tanks which were closest to the
post. Both the pilots were successful in destroying or damaging some tanks, but
had to return to the base to refuel. The enemy got a relief for a while but saw
another pair of Hunter Hawkers arrived and started bombarding. They too
destroyed and damaged some tanks. This continued for a long time. 4 Hunter Hawkers and 6 fighter pilots took part
in this mission and destroyed or damaged enemy tanks and many of the vehicles.
 |
Indian soldiers doing Bhangara at top of
a captured Pakistani tank in Longewala.
|
By noon of 5th December the battle was
over as the enemy went back, losing its 36+ tanks and about one hundred other
vehicles. The Pakistani regiment lost 200 hundred of its soldiers and many
others were wounded. On Indian side, two soldiers lost their lives and a Jeep
was destroyed. A Hunter Hawker plane was slightly damaged, but not because of
the enemy fire. The pilots lose control of his fighter plane for few seconds
and its tail was bumped on a sand mound. But the pilot was successful in
returning to the base safely.
