Chandigarh: Veterans of the Indian Air Force (IAF) converged in Chandigarh to celebrate the legacy of the C-119G Fairchild Packet aircraft. The reunion, held after a two-year hiatus since the last gathering in Agra, brought together the "Fairchild family" from across India, USA and New Zealand. At present, the "Fairchild family" has around 112 members.
The event, scheduled from Feb 6 to 8, is a tribute to the "workhorse" of the airpower generation — the Fairchild Packet — often affectionately referred to as the "Leopard" or the "Aasmaan se Aayaa farishta" (Angel from the Sky) by civilians for its critical role in disaster relief and national defence.
The US made transport aircraft, Packet, served the IAF from Feb 1954 to 1986. The transport aircraft is also recognised for the significant role it played on Dec 11, 1971, for airdropping of troops in Tangail,Bangladesh during the Bangladesh liberation war or the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The operation shattered the will of the Pakistani Army to defend Dhaka and led to the collapse of Dhaka's defences and an expeditious end to the war.
The reunion saw the participation of veterans from Nos 12, 19, 48, and Paratroopers Training School (PTS) squadrons, units that operated the Packet until its retirement in March 1986. Many described the return to ground zero in Chandigarh as a "spiritual experience," allowing former air warriors to reconnect with their younger selves in uniform.
The "Packet" was later replaced by Russian AN-32 aircraft. It is also known for its decisive role in April 1984, during Siachen Glacier operations and later helped in conversion of pilots from Packet to AN-32 in that tough terrain.
"Nostalgia is to revive some old memories while making newer ones," said Wing Commander Charanjit Singh Grewal (Retd), one of the organisers of the event. The atmosphere at the lawns of the city's upscale club was one of deep bonhomie, as former course mates and squadron buddies shared stories of their days flying for the country.
The attendees paid tribute to colleagues, honouring those lost in service or to time. Around 80 veterans and their families, who have been staying in the city for the past two days, visited various tourist places in the city for an outing.
Wing Commander N J D Conceicao (retd), the oldest veteran among the batch, shared how he had a narrow escape while flying Dalai Lama in Leh. Interestingly, Conceicao after quitting IAF, joined the Singapore air force. After 15 years of service, he came back to live in Goa. "Almost a spiritual experience, one re-lives one's entire life on touching ground zero," he said about the reunion.
Leading the gathering were distinguished veterans including Air Marshal B K Pandey, Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, Air Vice Marshal H P Singh, Air Commodore R P S Garcha, Air Commodore J V Singh, Air Commodore G T Joshi, and Air Commodore Peter K Pinto.
"We are a family of C-119 G Fairchild happy years. A family of joys and tears. We have so much to share and this get-together shows how much we care," said another veteran, Air Vice Marshal H P Singh.
Group Capt Alvinder Chand (Retd), who had come from the US, said, "Today we have veterans from Nos 12, 19, 48 and PTS squadron who were operating Packets till they were laid to rest in March 1986, when we shifted to flying the Russian workhorse AN-32." Chand also served as ADC to former President V V Giri.
"Every reunion is connected with the lad in uniform, the lovely life we lived to the fullest. So, this reunion makes it a special time to remember, a time to laugh, a time to celebrate, a time to share old stories and make new memories," said Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak (Retd).
Start a Conversation
Post comment