Operation Cactus Lilly
| East Pakistan Air Operations | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Bangladesh liberation war | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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 Indian Air Force Bangladesh Air Force
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 Pakistan Air Force
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Air Mshl Harish Chandra Dewan Gp.Capt. A.K. Khandkar |
Air Cmde Mohammad Inamul Haq Lt.Col. L.A. Bukhari |
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| Strength | |||||||||
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Bangladesh Air Force: Kilo Flight Indian Air Force Eastern Command: |
Pakistan Air Force: |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 19 aircraft lost by IAF to various causes. | 5 Sabres shot down, 11 Sabers and 2 T-33 scuttled, 1 helicopter shot down or abandoned |
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Bangladesh
India(Joined the war on 3 December 1971)
Bangladesh Air Force: Kilo Flight Indian Air Force Eastern Command:
3 Mig 21FL Squadrons
4 Hawker Hunter Squadrons
3 Folland Gnat Squadrons
2 Canberra Squadron
1 Sukhoi Su-7 BMK Squadron
3 Flights Mi-4
Pakistan Air Force:
East Pakistan Air Operations incorporate the interdiction, air defense, ground support, and logistics missions flown by the Indian Air Force and the Bangladesh Air Force in support of the advancing Mukti Bahini (called Operation Cactus Lily) in the eastern theater of the Indo-Pakistani conflict of 1971. Although the first of the engagements between the opposing airpowers occurred before the formal declaration of hostilities, the events described below include only those conducted after the declaration of war. The Indian Air force also helped the Mukti Bahini organize a formation of light aircraft (called Kilo flight) which were manned and serviced by Bengali pilots and technicians who had defected from the Pakistani Air Force. This unit had launched attacks on targets in Bangladesh on 3 December 1971, prior to the start of formal combat between India and Pakistan.
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Wikipedia