Poonch Airport

Last updated

Poonch Airport

पुंछ हवाई अड्डे
پونچھ ہوائی اڈہ
Summary
Airport typeMilitary/Public
Operator Airports Authority of India
Location Poonch, J&K, India
Coordinates 33°46′13″N074°04′59″E / 33.77028°N 74.08306°E / 33.77028; 74.08306
Map
India Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
Poonch Airport
Location in Jammu & Kashmir, India
India location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
Poonch Airport
Poonch Airport (India)
Refugees awaiting evacuation by air on Poonch airstrip, with a RIAF Dacota in the background. c. December 1947 Dakotas in Poonch 1947.jpg
Refugees awaiting evacuation by air on Poonch airstrip, with a RIAF Dacota in the background. c. December 1947

Poonch Airport (also known as Poonch Airstrip) is an airport located in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. [1] Though no scheduled flights operate from Poonch, in 2005, then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad made a suggestion to Air Deccan that they start flying small aircraft to Poonch. The then Chairman of Air Deccan, Captain Gopinath said that Air Deccan would consider flying helicopters to Poonch. [2]

Contents

History

Poonch is of strategic importance, as via Poonch easy access to the Kashmir Valley can be gained. [3] During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the Pakistan Army had surrounded Poonch on 21 November 1947, thereby cutting off all communications with the rest of India. [4] Then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru insisted that the Poonch must not be surrendered, though British Lieutenant General Russel then Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army thought it was "sheer suicidal" to try and retain Poonch. Though supplies were airdropped, it was not sufficient for the army plus 40,000 refugees. [5]

Lieutenant-Colonel Pritam Singh, commanding the forces in the area decided to build an airstrip in Poonch. [6] 6000 refugees teamed up with army personnel to build a 600-yard dirt strip in 6 days. While the construction activity was taking place, Royal Indian Air Force Spitfire and Tempest aircraft engaged the Pakistani raiders, to make sure they did not intervene in construction efforts. The First RIAF Dakota landed in Poonch on 12 December 1947 carrying in reinforcements and carrying out refugees. [5] The landing was more of a test for the pilot since the area was surrounded by hills on three sides, all of which were occupied by the Pakistani raiders. Many aircraft were hit and damaged in the area. [7] The airstrip was constantly targeted by the Pakistani raiders, especially when an aircraft was about to land. It required courage and piloting skill to land while under enemy fire. [8] Wing Commander Mehar Singh, the first pilot to land in Poonch also became the first pilot to land in Poonch at night, with the help of oil lamps. [9] He did so without any landing aids. [10]

Incidents

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948</span> 1947–48 war between India and Pakistan

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, or the First Kashmir War, was a war fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four Indo-Pakistani wars between the two newly independent nations. Pakistan precipitated the war a few weeks after its independence by launching tribal lashkar (militias) from Waziristan, in an effort to capture Kashmir and to preempt the possibility of its ruler joining India. The inconclusive result of the war still affects the geopolitics of both countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baramulla district</span> District in Jammu and kashmir, India

Baramulla district or Varmul is one of the 20 districts in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Baramulla town is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district covered an area of 4,588 km2 (1,771 sq mi) in 2001, but it was reduced to 4,243 km2 (1,638 sq mi) at the time of 2011 census. In 2016, the district administration said that the area was 4,190 km2 (1,620 sq mi). Muslims constitute about 98% of the population among which Shia Muslims form 30-35% and Sunni Muslims form 65-70%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mirpur, Azad Kashmir</span> City in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Mirpur, officially known as New Mirpur City, is the capital of Mirpur district located in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is the second largest city of Azad Kashmir and 74th largest city in Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jammu and Kashmir Rifles</span> Indian Army regiment

The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. Its origins lay in the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. After the accession of the state to the Indian Union in October 1947, the State Forces came under the command of the Indian Army. They remained in the original form until 1956 when Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly effectively ratified the state's accession to India. Then the State Forces became the Jammu and Kashmir Regiment of the Indian Army. In 1963, the designation was changed to Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. After the conversion, the Ladakh Scouts came under the aegis of the Regiment, where it remained until raised as a separate Regiment in 2002.

The following is a timeline of the Kashmir conflict, a territorial conflict between India, Pakistan and, to a lesser degree, China. India and Pakistan have been involved in four wars and several border skirmishes over the issue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poonch district, India</span> District of Jammu and Kashmir in Jammu & Kashmir, India

Poonch or Punch is a district in the Jammu Division of Jammu and Kashmir, India. With headquarters in the town of Poonch, it is bounded by the Line of Control on three sides. The 1947-48 war between India and Pakistan divided the earlier district into two parts. One went to Pakistan and the other became part of the then Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajouri district</span> District of Jammu and Kashmir in Jammu and Kashmir

Rajouri is a district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Line of Control lies to its west, Poonch to its north, the Reasi district to the east and the Jammu district to its south. Rajouri is famous for its "Kalari". Representing an ancient principality, Rajouri was a joint district, along with Reasi, at the time of princely state's accession to India in 1947. The two tehsils were separated and Rajouri was merged with the Poonch district. Rajouri again became a separate district in 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajouri</span> City in Jammu and Kashmir

Rajouri or Rajauri is a city in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located about 155 kilometres (96 mi) from Srinagar and 150 km (93 mi) from Jammu city on the Poonch Highway. The city is the location of the birthplace of Sikh Rajput General Banda Singh Bahadur. Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University is also situated in this district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poonch (town)</span> Town in Jammu & Kashmir, India

Poonch, is a town and the administrative headquarters of the Poonch district, in the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located near the Line of Control – the de facto border with Pakistan administered Jammu and Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Poonch District</span> Aspect of history

Poonch District was a district of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is currently divided between India and Pakistan. The Pakistani part of the erstwhile district is now the Poonch Division in the Azad Kashmir territory, whilst the Indian part of the district is the Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. The capital of the Pakistan-controlled side is Rawalakot; while the capital of the Indian side is Poonch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janak Singh</span> Indian Politician

Major General Janak Singh CIE, OBI, was an officer of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. After retirement, he briefly served as the prime minister of the state during a crucial period in 1947, which was evidently a temporary appointment while the Maharaja looked for a more permanent candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military operations in Poonch (1948)</span>

Military operations took place in Poonch district, then part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, in 1948 during the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir between the Indian Army and Pakistani and Azad Kashmir rebel forces. Poonch withstood a siege by these forces from November 1947 until relieved by an Indian offensive, Operation Easy on 20 November 1948. The besieged garrison, commanded by Brig. Pritam Singh, was maintained by air supply. Military operations ended with Poonch town and the eastern part of Poonch district in Indian hands and western part of the Poonch district in Pakistani hands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Azad Kashmir</span>

The history of Azad Kashmir, a part of the Kashmir region administered by Pakistan, is related to the history of the Kashmir region during the Dogra rule. Azad Kashmir borders the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the south and west respectively, Gilgit–Baltistan to the north, and the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to the east.

20th Lancers is an armoured regiment in the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army. The regiment distinguished itself in operations with its defence of Chhamb in Jammu and Kashmir during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War and won one Maha Vir Chakra. It has provided one Chief of Army Staff and two Army Commanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tosa Maidan</span> Meadow in Jammu and Kashmir

Tosa Maidan is a tourist destination and a hill station in the Indian administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in Beerwah area of Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. The name also marks the historic Tosa Maidan route into the Kashmir Valley from the Poonch Valley. In fact, the original name of Tosa Maidan appears to have been "Tosa Marg". Mahmud of Ghazni and the Sikh monarch Ranjit Singh attempted to invade the Kashmir Valley via this route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mehar Singh (IAF officer)</span>

Air Commodore Mehar Singh, MVC, DSO, was a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. He was affectionately known as 'Mehar Baba', a sobriquet coined by Aspy Engineer. Considered a Legend of the IAF, he last served as the Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Operational Group.

Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai, MVC was an Indian Army officer who played a key role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. As the Commanding Officer of the 1st battalion, The Sikh Regiment, he was the first recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra, which was awarded posthumously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1947 Jammu massacres</span> Genocidal massacres in Jammu

After the Partition of India, during October–November 1947 in the Jammu region of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, many Muslims were massacred and others driven away to West Punjab. The killings were carried out by extremist Hindus and Sikhs, aided and abetted by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh. The activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) played a key role in planning and executing the riots. An estimated 20,000–100,000 Muslims were massacred. Subsequently, many non-Muslims were massacred by Pakistani tribesmen, in the Mirpur region of today's Pakistani administered Kashmir, and also in the Rajouri area of Jammu division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1947 Poonch rebellion</span> Political rebellion in the Poonch district of Kashmir at the end of British Raj

In spring 1947, an uprising against the Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir broke out in the Poonch jagir, an area bordering the Rawalpindi district of West Punjab and the Hazara district of the North-West Frontier Province in the future Pakistan. The leader of the rebellion, Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, escaped to Lahore by the end of August 1947 and persuaded the Pakistani authorities to back the rebellion. In addition to the backing, Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan authorised an invasion of the state, by the ex-Indian National Army personnel in the south and a force led by Major Khurshid Anwar in the north. These invasions eventually led to the First Kashmir War fought between India and Pakistan, and the formation of Pakistan administered Kashmir. The Poonch jagir has since been divided across Kashmir, administered by Pakistan and the state of Jammu and Kashmir, administered by India.

Jhangar or Jhanger is a village in the Rajouri district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, close to the Line of Control that divides the Indian and Pakistan-administered portions of Kashmir.

References

  1. 1 2 "Poonch airport guard injured in militant attack". The Times of India . 15 May 2003. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  2. ↑ "Air Deccan launches Delhi-Srinagar flight". Outlook (magazine) . 6 December 2005. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  3. ↑ Rao, K. V. Krishna (1991). Prepare or perish: a study of national security. Lancer Publishers. p. 50. ISBN   81-7212-001-X.
  4. ↑ Sen, L. P. (1994). Slender Was the Thread: Kashmir Confrontation 1947–48. Orient Blackswan. p. 289. ISBN   0-86131-692-4.
  5. 1 2 Khan, JA (2004). Air power and challenges to IAF. APH Publishing. p. 179. ISBN   81-7648-593-4.
  6. ↑ Kumar, DP. Kashmir: Pakistan's proxy war. Har-Anand Publications. pp. 26, 42.
  7. ↑ Singh, Gp Capt Ranbir (2009). Major defence operations since 1947. Prabhat Prakashan. p. 50.
  8. ↑ "R.I.A.F Pilots' Skill at Poonch". The Indian Express . 18 October 1948. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  9. ↑ Singh, Jogindar (1993). Behind the scene: an analysis of India's military operations, 1947–1971. Lancer Publishers. p. 225. ISBN   1-897829-20-5.
  10. ↑ Gulati, M. N. (2000). Military plight of Pakistan: Indo-Pak war, 1947–48, Volume 2. Manas Publications. p. 351. ISBN   81-7049-123-1.
  11. ↑ "Poonch airport hit in Pak shelling". The Tribune . 12 June 2002. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.