Reader’s Respond

Mail from Gp Capt CA Dalton of the Canberra Association, Pune

Sir, For your kind information please, there are a few inaccuracies in the Vayu article ‘ Out of Africa’ in your issue (V/2018) which are important enough to be pointed out. Hammarskjld died on 18 September 1961 not 1960. Flt Lt MM Takle was also awarded the VrC along with Wg Cdr Suares Sqn Ldr Wilson (not Flt Lt) was part of the second Canberra detachment, not the first. The term ‘motley’ used for the air element (actually the UNEF : United Nations Expeditionary Force) is needlessly derogatory. The second Canberra Detachment in the Congo has barely been acknowledged.

Thank you Group Captain, points taken ! We quote from ‘Tusker Charge : Illustrated History of No.5

Squadron, IAF : A second detachment from No.5 Squadron, which served with ONUC from February to October 1962, was led by Wing Commander (later Air Marshal) Saroj Jena. There were no “shooting opportunities” for this second detachment, but they provided road and airfield reconnaissance services, both visual and photographic, as well as occasional cover for transport and search-and-rescue missions.

Synonyms for ‘motley’ include “miscellaneous, disparate, diverse, assorted, sundry, varied, mixed, diversified, heterogeneous …” no offence meant !

Also reproduced are some images of No. 5 Squadron’s intrepid personnel and aircraft in the Congo 1961-1962.