Recently Indian Army celebrated Infantry Day on 27th October which is celebrated everywhere to pay homage to the brave soldiers of the country who fought against the enemies and laid down their lives in the line of duty. This year the 76th Infantry day was celebrated in which 4 bike rallies from all cardinal directions that are Wellington, Jammu-Kashmir, Shillong, and Ahmedabad were organized.
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The rally began on the 16th of October and traveled across the whole country culminating at the National War Memorial on 27th which is on Infantry Day.
Also read: All Aircraft Operated By The Indian Airforce
Infantry Day is celebrated because on this day the Indian Army thwarted the Pakistani Army from occupying the Indian Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Douglas C-47 ‘Skytrain’ also known as Dakota played a major role by carrying the troops of the Army’s 1 Sikh Regiment to Srinagar on October 27, 1947, during the first India-Pak War, besides carrying supplies and refugees.
Let us know more about the Dacota aircraft.
The 1930s and 1940s saw a change in air travel thanks to the Dakota. It is one of the most important transport aircraft ever produced due to its long-lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II. Only 607 civil DC-3s were manufactured before the production of the aircraft came to an end in 1942.
Yet more than 16,000 of its military derivative, the C-47 Skytrain (known as the Dakota in the Royal Air Force), as well as equivalents made in Russia and Japan, were produced. The aircraft operated from every continent and took part in every significant conflict. The Dakota has made a significant contribution to IAF history. The plane evokes a lot of nostalgia because it was a founding member of the IAF’s transport fleet.
The Royal Indian Air Force saw the need for a transport squadron following World War II. The Dakota was chosen by the RIAF.
Also read: 50 Amazing Pictures Of Indian Air Force Aircrafts That Will Motivate You To Join IAF
“In 1946, a fleet of 10 Dakotas was assembled to form the first transport squadron. The aircraft were delivered to the squadron, which was given the number 12, and training was to start. However, because they were all left outside during a tropical storm, none of the planes could be used. Replacements soon followed, and the IAF’s first transport squadron was launched.
The Dakotas were introduced in 1946, but the war between India and Pakistan in Kashmir broke out a year later. The Indian government ordered the Dakotas into action as the Pakistan raiders quickly approached Srinagar. On October 27, 1947, the first Dakotas carrying Sikh Regiment soldiers departed for Srinagar. Being unsure of whether or not the raiders controlled the airfield made it a difficult operation. The Dakotas were up to the task and frequently transported troops into the Valley, ensuring Srinagar’s safety.
Similarly, the Poonch tract would have been lost to Pakistan had it not been for the Dakotas’ bombing runs and the first-ever landing at a 600-yard manual-leveled runway.
Also read: List Of Helicopters Used By Indian Air Force
“The Dakota evolved into an IAF standard transport aircraft. In the 1962 confrontation with China, the Dakota served as a transport and cargo ship as well. It performed admirably. However, in the East, where it was most useful for delivering troops and supplies to remote areas like Assam and Nagaland,
It made a vital contribution to Bangladesh’s liberation during the war of 1971. It was essential to the successful Tangail drop (the biggest and most ambitious air drop operation since WW II).
The Mukti Bahini received one Dakota, which was later dubbed the “Kilo Squadron.” This Dakota serves as the origin of the BAF. Once more in 2014, one Dakota aircraft from the IAF museum was given to the BAF after analysing the historic linkages and an official request from the BAF. Additionally, the aircraft saw a lot of commercial use in India.
There is still the Dakota. Long into the twenty-first century, a sizable number of people continued to serve in a wide range of specialised roles. Approximately 400 DC-3s and converted C-47s are still in operation today as proof of the design’s robustness; many of these aircraft are more than 70 years old.
Also read: All About C-295 Aircraft Being Manufactured By Tata And Airbus
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