The MiGs in the 1971 War - The Western Sector

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This Unusually Camouflaged MiG  [C992] takes off for a sortie during the  71 War. Armed with K-13 AAMs and a 23 mm Cannon, MiGs took out  Six Air  to Air Kills during the war, losing only One MiG in Air to Air combat. The IAF lost Six MiGs on the Western Front and Two in the East. All but one to Ack Ack fire.

 Air Marshal M M Engineer, MVC, DFC, AOC-in-C ,WAC looks at the sky before taking  spin in a MiG-21FL. Notice the unusual Single piece Windshield-Canopy which provided better visibility.

 

Air Chief Marshal P C Lal, CAS, visits the convalescing Sqn Ldr Denzil Keelor, VrC, dettachment commander of No.45 Sqn at Pathankot, who punched out of his stricken MiG-21 over Chamb, in the process injuring his back. Keelor, a hero of the 65 War went on to become a Air Marshal in the IAF with a Kirti Chakra to boot as well! Flt Lt Apramjeet Singh VrC , was the Wingman to Denzil Keelor, during the flight, His MiG too was caught up in the flak and hit badly. He did a commendable job flying the Damaged MiG back to base. Picture shows the badly damaged wingroot of the aircraft.

 
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Flt Lt Bharat Bhushan Soni, poses by his MiG-21. flying in a dettachment of No.47 Squadron based at Jamnagar, Soni bought down a   Starfighter flown by Sqn Ldr Mervyn Middlecoat of the PAF (Below). Soni was awarded the Vir Chakra for bringing down the aircraft. Middlecoat was last seen ejecting in the waters off Kutch. and was never found.

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An Early MiG-21FL [C520] takes off. IAF roundels were painted  aft of the wings unlike later when they were put near the nose.

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