The author claims that the PAF outflew the IAF despite the latter's stock of Mig-19s, Mig21s and Mig23s. That statement summarizes the ignorance, lies and propaganda behind this bizarre attempt at writing history. The Indian Air Force never had Mig 19s. During the 1965 war, Mig 21s were rarely used. The IAF acquired the Mig 23 well after the '65 war. Also, the mainstay of the IAF was the antiquated Mystere - markedly inferior to the F-86 Sabres. Hunters and Gnats were also used with the former mostly in a fighter bomber role to supplement the aging Canberras. There were still relatively few fighter squadrons with the versatile Gnat - that came later in the 1971 war. It is time rediff stopped publishing rubbbish with attempt at verifying facts.
RE:IAF
by Guest on Jul 19, 2008 08:56 PM Permalink
Waht a sundar plan, IAF thrashed PAF, my question is than why Inia did not take lahore or sialkot, An attacking force od the magnitude in suprise mode did not do didley aquat, so Indians think big but fail to deliver.
Hi, IAF had obsolete planes like Vampires, Toofanis and Mysteres in 1965, no Mig-21s and Mig-23s (even USSR did not have Mig-23s then!!). India never used Mig-19s. India also had a training aircraft from RAF called Gnat which was deemed useless by RAF. We had Hunters though. India paid for all these aircraft. PAF had an airforce of 280 all of which paid by NATO, CEATO & Americans. They had top of line Sabres which were called Mig-killers by Americans. They had F-104s which were best in world then. Actually, USAF promised India 36 F-104s which never came. IAF used their obsolete aircraft to great success. Gnat became renowned as Sabre-killer. Even old Myseteres went up against F-104s and came back triumphant. In some cases, even IAF did not know of their feats. Fl Lt. Subbayya winning the medal for 1965 war posthumously in 1987.
PAF always maintained they lost few planes. After the war, PAf invited Air Chief Marshall Arjan Singh to inspect PAF losses. Of course what they failed to mention that Iran just loaned them 90 Sabres to make up the losses. regards Pranshu B Saxena
Its suprising that Rediff is printing a article which appeared in a Pakistani News Paper. Can we expect the Author to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. Impossible. Its a feel good story for the Pakistani People with more loopholes in the story than the Potholes of Bangalore.
Age and amnesia have got the better of Brigadier (retd) Shaukat Qadir. Do I have to remind him that not even the soviets had the MiG-23 way back in 1965 bcos this aircraft entered service with the soviets in 1971. This means that whatever Brigadier (retd) Shaukat Qadir has written in his articles so far is all gibberish and I am surprised about the fact that rediff has gone ahead and published all this gibberish there by helping the pakistani officer to spread a false propoganda of the 1965 war. No matter how hard you try to conceal from the world your defeat in the 1965 war, Brigadier (retd) Shaukat Qadir, you conscience knows the true outcome of the war. YOU PAKISTANIS SUFFERED A HUMILIATING DEFEAT AT OUR HANDS, Brigadier (retd) Shaukat Qadir.
This is a very strange fact that rediff is publishing the article of a Pakistani officer. Pakistani military/politicians/scientists are famous for their corruption and fraudulence. Nobody in the world believe an iota of their statement. Then why to publish some self claimed glory, imaginary story of a pakistani?
It was nice to have someone recount the views from the other side. I think it's totally debatable who won the air war, but at least some facts presented are questionable. The author has mentioned MIG-19, 21 and 23 in the IAF during 1965 war. well, i think India never had any MIG-19 (also called F-6, which ironically Pakistan bought sometime after 65 war, though was not used in 65'). Also MIG-23 were inducted sometime in 1981..!!! so i think they will have to fly at a speed faster than light to participate in the 1965' war :) ). And as far as MIG-21 is concerned, those were very newly inducted in 63' and India has only 8 or 9 of them to use in the 65' war. So, IAF main warforce was Gnats, mytique and canberra's...which is in noway technologically better than F-84 (around 100) and F-104's (in 10's) which PAF had.
