GANESHA'S FLYBOYS THE INDIAN AIR FORCE IN THE CONGO 1960-62

In August 1960, within a few days of the United Nations resolution authorising their participation, an Indian Air Force C-119G Packet landed at N'Djili airport in the Congo, bringing three crews and about 35 ground personnel from No 12 Squadron, Indian Air Force, to operate UN transport aircraft in that country. These young men were the pioneers of Indian Air Force (and indeed of Indian military) involvement in UN peace-keeping operations in Africa.

Within the same UN mission, a year or so later, the scope of the IAF's involvement had grown to include the deployment of a larger detachment, this time of IAF aircraft as well as personnel: half a dozen English Electric Canberras, and their air and ground crews, from No 5 Squadron, Indian Air Force, flying in the interdictor role alongside Ethiopian and Swedish fighters. India's engagement, within 13 years of its own Independence, in the thankless task of supporting a particularly complex nation-building attempt, is surprisingly thinly-documented; particularly since it followed the death of the iconic Patrice Lumumba. But Indian involvement in UN missions in Africa has continued, on and off, since then, and has included long deployments and demanding operations till very recently.

This book is a first draft (it can only be a first draft) attempt to describe the first such UN mission undertaken by the Indian Air Force. That first mission concluded, technically, almost exactly fifty years ago, in October 1962. Some of its veterans are still with us, and their memories are still thankfully clear. This book is a compilation of their memories, and a tribute to their spirit.

OVER DE AUTEUR 

K S Nair is a long-standing aviation, maritime and military history writer from India. Once a schoolboy enthusiast, he now exercises a more serious interest in the role of aviation and the armed forces in India's history and the development of her identity. He has written two books, The Forgotten Few (HarperCollins India 2019) and Ganesha's Flyboys (Anveshan 2012), and over fifty articles in Indian, British, Japanese and US publications. He tweets at @TheBrownBeagle.

(Source : amazon.com)