Battle of Longewala...

In the annals of Military History, Battle of Longewala would go down as one of the unique events, where the most significant part in totally thwarting designs of the enemy, was played by Air Power. The battle is a glorious chapter in the history of the Indian Air Force (IAF), where a small number of pilots and their Hunter aircraft not only blunted but also decimated a determined Pakistani Armour Thrust across the Thar Desert. One can be justifiably proud of the fact that IAF demonstrated, as to how effective use of Air Power could decisively change the course of the land war. That Longewala is a precursor to the Gulf War, is clear to any student of military history. The Longewala battle from the 1971 War with Pakistan is an iconic victory in recent Indian Military History. What should have been a thumping victory for a Pakistani armoured offensive in the Rajasthan sector was turned into a complete rout. All this by a force of no more than a company of Indian troops on the ground, four Hunter aircraft from the Indian Air Force and two light aircraft flown by Army AOP Pilots...The plausibility of an entire Pakistani tank regiment crossing the line of control and driving into Indian territory was not one that military strategists had been willing to entertain in their war games scenario. On the contrary, India’s brass hats had laboured over an extensive counter-offensive plan, according to which they were going to cross the line of control and go all the way up to Rahimyar Khan in Pakistan.That the opposite happened is well documented. That India snatched victory from the jaws of defeat is a story oft told. The badges of honour were distributed soon enough: the army picked up a Maha Vir Chakra and six Vir Chakras; the Indian Air Force, which targeted Pakistani tanks with deadly precision, earned its medals too, picking up an AVSM and 10 Vir Chakras.
Brigadier Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, died yesterday on 17 Nov 2018 morning in a private hospital in Mohali. Chandpuri was the recipient of country’s second highest gallantry award, Mahavir Chakra (MVC) for defending the Longewala sector from Pakistani mechanised infantry. Chandpuri’s 120 men faced 2000 Pak soldiers and one armoured regiment courageously and halted the Pakistani infiltration in the Indian border post of Longewala.
You can see me in the attached picture with Group Captain DK Dass ( Flt Lt DK Dass...during battle of Longewala ) who inspired the role of Jacky shroff in the movie Border...
And the picture of Battle of Longewala Hero Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri who inspired Sunny Deol's role in 'Border' who passed away at 78...yesterday ( 17 Nov 2018 )... RIP dear sir...Col Pendyala Pradeep, Anaesthesiologist.