MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar gifts vintage craft to IAF

A vintage military transport aircraft Dakota that had, in its time in 1947, air-lifted troops from Delhi to Srinagar, is back with the Indian Air Force.

Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar gifted a DC3 Dakota aircraft bearing the Tail Number VP 905 and called "Parashurama" in a signing ceremony to the Air Force as part of its vintage fleet.

The Gift Deed was signed between Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and Air Commodore (Retd) MK Chandrasekhar, the MP's father who was a Dakota pilot himself.

"This is the same as the first Dakota aircraft that transported troops of 1 Sikh regiment to Srinagar on 27 October 1947 in the J&K operations," said a statement sent by the MP's officer.

On 27 October 1947, three Dakotas took off from Wellingdon Airfield, now called Safdarjung, for Srinagar, signalling the start of the IAF operations. Before the end of the day, 28 Dakota sorties were flown (including 6 civilian sorties.)