IAF's Canberras Retire After 50 yrs of Glorious Service

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) The Indian Air Force today phased out its Canberra bomber aircraft after fifty years of its glorious service.

The phasing out ceremony -- at Air Force Station Agra -- was presided over by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Mshl FH Major.

The ceremony comprised a flypast by the mighty bombers and concluded with the handing over of 'Form 700' to the Air Chief by Wing Commander SK Mathur, the Commanding Officer of the Canberra Squadron.

For over fifty years, the Canberra has been a familiar sight the world over, both in war and peace. Designed in 1944 to meet the specifications for a jet bomber, the Canberra has had an unrivalled history in the world of military aviation.

During its lifetime, the Canberra equipped over sixty RAF squadrons plus a number of special flights. It was licence-built both in Australia and the USA -- in the latter as the B-57 of which some 400 were built.

It also proved a best-seller overseas -- operated by 17 air forces and seeing active service with many of them.

No. 5 Squadron IAF was the first to equip with the Canberra Bomber in May 1957 -- and by 1959 two more squadrons-- No 16 and 35 -- had become operational.

The eight PR-57s were operated by 106 SR Squadron, while the T-54s were formed into a jet bomber Operational conversion Unit -- namely JBCU.

The Canberras were mostly based at Agra where the target-towing version was added to the inventory of the IAF in 1975.

An aircraft of British origin, the twin-engine jet bomber -- in fact, the only bomber of the IAF untill the late seventies -- has been a proud possession of the Indian Air Force.

The high-altitude bomber was a force to reckon with in the then prevailing war scenario in the Indian subcontinent.

Cruising at four-fifths the speed of sound at 40,000 feet, the Canberra was the right weapon carrier then -- to carry the battle well beyond the frontiers deep into enemy territory.

The Canberra got the first taste of operations on december 18, 1961 when 16 Squadron and 35 squadron were tasked to carry out reconnaissance and bombing of the Dabolim airfield as part of the operation to liberate Goa from Portuguese rule.

Canberras of No 35 Squadron were the first jet aircraft of the IAF to bear their arsenal on an enemy. On December 18, 1961 the squadron dropped 60,000 lbs bombs over Dabolim airfield against the Portuguese.

The highly accurate bombing damaged only the target with no civilian causalities and the ATC and the aircraft on the dispersal were deliberately not targeted. By December 20, Goa had been liberated.

The Belgian Congo broke out in political turmoil in 1961 and the UN was called in for help. When the situation in Katanga (UHHQ) and the capital Leopoldsville worsened, India was requested to send strike aircraft on behalf of the United Nations.

Earmarked for this task was the proud No 5 squadron.

On October 9, 1961, under the command of Wg Cdr A Suares and with twelve aircrew and ninety support personnel, six Canberra aircraft took off from Agra for Ndjili airport, Leopoldsville over 6,000 km away via Jamnagar and Nairobi as the first ever Indian Fighter bomber contingent to take part in UN operations.

The Canberras were a major contributor in the UN efforts to establish peace in Congo.

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