Enjoying a cocktail hour in the battlefield

During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, I was part of an independent air op flight. All pilots, including the officer commanding, were from the army with only the adjutant being from the air force.

The war started on the evening of December 3, 1971, when Pakistan launched pre-emptive air attacks on a number of Indian Air Force bases. Our unit moved to the advance landing ground (ALG) to be ready for our offensive. During the night December 4, Pakistan launched a surprise attack on our flanks at Longewala. Thus, the famous battle of Longewala took place on December 5 and our unit was right in the middle of it.

The first few days were intense with all of us flying two or more two-hour sorties in the combat zone. The day started early when we woke up at 5am to take our turns at the field loo so as to be ready for the morning briefing at 6.30am. The combat day for us ended with sunset when the last aircraft landed back.

Our flight commander was Major Atma Singh (Atom). Other than myself, there were Charlie Maitra, Dabbu Mathur, Natrajan, Khemani and CP Naidu from the IAF. There were two tents for the officers. We went by seniority and Atom’s tent was shared by Charlie and Nat. The other four were in the second tent. After the day’s flying ended, we all had a debriefing session during which the next day’s flying programme was read out. After that, it was our off time. So, after a quick cold water bath, the four-man crew in our tent used to be ready for the cocktail hour.

Our mess waiter, Ramesh, brought rum and snacks in our tent and we forgot all about the war. Shortly thereafter, to relax further, we would play a game of three-card flash (Teen Patti) and soon all the travails of the day were forgotten.

The problem lay with the inhabitants of the other tent. Atom was more or less a Sufi. Charlie and Nat were fond of booze and Teen Patti but found it difficult to escape. Still, after a decent wait, they would slip out one by one and join us for the cocktails and card game. On a normal day, we would meet up in Atom’s tent for dinner by 9pm. As a rule, lights out was imposed by 10pm.

So that was the schedule. We flew combat missions during the day but looked forward to the evening entertainment.

It continued like that for 10 days or so. Atom got suspicious when he found his tent mates slipping out every evening for a couple of hours. So one day while we were in the middle of an intense Teen Patti session, he suddenly appeared in our middle. Like good faujis, we did not hide our deeds and faced the music the next morning when we were given a royal dressing down. That was the end of the Teen Patti sessions but the cocktails continued.

There were lots of benefits of the cocktail hour. We felt relaxed from the tensions of the day. Further, on most nights a Pakistani bomber aircraft used to come on bombing raids at 2am. The bombing was inaccurate but the sound of explosions was there. We never heard any of that thanks to the cocktails.

Atom had different views on the issue but he was too much of a good man to play spoilsport. In fact the cocktail hour gave us a boost as was shown by the performance of the flight that covered itself with glory in the battle of Longewala winning two Vir Chakras.

Atom left for his heavenly abode in the first week of February 2015. Charlie, Dabbu and self were there to bid him farewell as he was consigned to the flames.

A PAKISTANI BOMBER USED TO COME ON RAIDS AT 2AM. THE BOMBING WAS INACCURATE BUT THE SOUND OF EXPLOSIONS WAS THERE. WE NEVER HEARD ANY OF THAT THANKS TO THE COCKTAILS