Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

1971 WAR VETERAN ANIL BHALLA DIES OF COVID-19 AT 74

- Press Trust Of India

Squadron leader Anil Bhalla (Retd), who as a young flying officer flew MIG-21 sorties during the 1971 Indo-pak war, has died after battling coronaviru­s, people in the family said on Tuesday. The 74-year-old flying ace, a native of Mumbai, died on Monday night at Hyderabad where he had settled after retirement from the Air Force in 1984, people familiar with the developmen­t said.

Sqn Ldr Bhalla, who joined the National Defence Academy’s 32nd course after studying at Sainik School Satara in western Maharashtr­a, was commission­ed into the IAF’S fighter wing in 1968 and operated from the Tezpur-based 28th Squadron, flying the Russian-origin aircraft.

During the 1971 war, he flew several “active attack missions” to heavily defended targets like the Governor House in Dhaka, which became instrument­al in forcing Pakistan’s surrender, a former colleague said.

Dhaka emerged as the free capital of independen­t Bangladesh on December 16, 1971, but two days ahead of the ceremonial surrender, the air raid on the then Governor House marked the dissolutio­n of the Pakistani administra­tion there in a dramatic manner.

Sqn Ldr Bhalla was also the youngest flying officer to get the Master Green IR (instrument rating), awarded to pilots who have displayed superior airmanship. It recognises a higher level of experience and accomplish­ment in instrument flying.

He was also a qualified flying instructor at the fighter training wing at Hakeempet. The air veteran, who had a successful career in the constructi­on business after retirement from the Air Force, is survived by wife, a son and two daughters.

DURING THE 1971 WAR, HE FLEW SEVERAL “ACTIVE ATTACK MISSIONS” TO HEAVILY DEFENDED TARGETS LIKE THE GOVERNOR HOUSE IN DHAKA

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