GUWAHATI: The Indian Air Force has conducted a large aerial display over the air force station in Dibrugarh's Mohanbari to commemorate India's victory in the 1971 war.
The event highlighted the operations undertaken during the conflict and marked the anniversary of the surrender that led to the formation of Bangladesh.
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The commemoration on Wednesday, December 10, was attended by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, senior officials, veterans, and a significant number of youth from Assam. Air assets including Su-30 MKI, C-130, Dornier, An-32, Chinook, Mi-17, ALH and Cheetah aircraft recreated missions such as the Tangail Airdrop, the Meghna River Crossing, and the attack on the Governor’s House in Dhaka. A display underscored the operational readiness of the force.
Air Chief Marshal Singh spoke on the IAF’s contribution to the 13-day conflict and noted the importance of coordination among the services. He stated that joint operations had played a central role in the campaign and that the force continued to prepare itself based on lessons from the war. The display, organised by the Eastern Air Command, ran from morning to afternoon and received strong response from attendees.
The programme also included a seminar on air operations carried out during the 1971 war. Veterans shared accounts from their missions, giving participants insight into the scenarios faced during the conflict. An exhibition containing archival photographs and a replica of the Swarnim Vijay Mashal further documented the events of the period.
The event further featured a special film on the 1971 war and highlighted the Eastern Air Command’s role in supporting the armed forces.