পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (চতুর্দশ খণ্ড).pdf/৪৫৮

426 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ চতুর্দশ খন্ড The Government information official said at 7 : 30 P m that 31 Indian aircraft were shot down in both wings of Pakistan today, but no one really believes it. Thirteen were brought down in East Pakistan, he said. Reporters saw four shot down over Dacca during the day and three others smoking from hits by anti-aircraft fire. Pakistan Air Force sources claim the capture of nine Indian pilots, including a wing commander. They also say an Indian SU 7, a Soviet-built fighter, was forced to land intact at the airstrip. Two Pakistan F-86 fighters were shot down, they said, one hit by Pakistan ground fire while chasing an Indian MIG 21 "It was quite unfortunate, but at least the Indians did not get it", they added. The raids provided a spectacular show for thousands of Dacca residents. Tiny children in rags scurried out for better views as the Indian MIGs passed on a strafing and rocketing run on their way to the airport from the middle of town. People watched from the tops of buildings ducking sometimes when anti-aircraft shells exploded too close. Hotel residents climbed on the roof, where color-television cameras recorded ballet-like dogfights and raids on the airport. One film crew worked in bathing suits saying they might as well gel a suntan. Others had room service deliver cold drinks and lunch. As a MiG passed over tailed by two Sabres and then flew in low over the airport, a cameraman turned to a waiter to say: "Oh waiter, waiter. Make that a double orderfruit cocktail and iced tea with lime" At 12.30 p.m. journalists were taken to the airport by military officers to see an Indian MiG which had been shot down. They arrived just in time to be strafed by MIG's that destroyed two of three small single-engine United Nations aircraft parked by a hangar only a few yards away. Several television cameramen lay on their backs, filming the Indian aircraft through a blaze of anti-aircraft fire, as they made four passes. One was hit, burst into flames and crashed nearby. The aircraft-MIG's, Gnats and SU 7's-fired rockets and strafed, but did not tomb, according to a Government official. Their targets were the aircraft and hangars. They did not raid the military cantonment nearby or damage the air strip. Officials said the only other town hit by Indian aircraft was Chittagong, the targets there being fuel storage tanks and a refinery At 10.02 p.m. it is quiet again. No air raids yet tonight. A dog is yelping. -New York Times News Service