পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৮৭৩

845 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড on an evacuation mission. The object of the flight was the evacuation of women, children, United Nations staff and as many as possible members of other missions. (b) The time of clearance obtained from the Indian authorities and the authorities of Pakistan was 1030 hours local time Dacca. (c) The aircraft was in contact with Dacca approach control about 45 minutes before reaching it. The time of arrival, given by the Captain, was 1050 local time. The first attack on the airfield, by the Indian Air Force, began at 0930 LT and ended 0942 LT. The second attack lasted for 7 minutes. The bombs were dropped on the runway, hitting it at three points. At 104.1 LT, during another attack, the aircraft was told by the Regional Controller of Civil Aviation that the attack was in full force and that the airfield was being bombed. The aircraft was told by him to return to base in Bangkok. (d) The first attack ended with the runway damaged by the bombs only... The craters were caused by bombs, presumably of the deep penetration type and with delayed fuses. I heard the delayed explosions occurring some time after the impact of the bombs and after the aircraft were clear of the airport. (e) The second bombing attack which did damage to the runway occurred at 1310 LT". 11. Representations were immediately made on behalf of the Secretary-General to the Indian Permanent Mission to the United Nations. The Secretary-General also decided to make new arrangements for the evacuation of the stranded personnel on 7th December using both the Canadian C-130 and the Pan American Boeing 707 aircraft. A cease-fire in and around Dacca from 0830 to 1230 hours EPT and guarantees for the safe flight of the two aircraft in the air corridor from Dacca to Bangkok were requested and obtained from both the Government of India and Pakistan. 12. On 7th December, having been informed by UNEPRO in Dacca that there were reasons to believe that the Dacca airport runway could be made sufficiently serviceable for the landing of both aircraft by 0930 hours EPIX instructions were issued by United Nations Headquarters to proceed with the new evacuation plan. The C-130 aircraft was to proceed first to Dacca and thus would have an opportunity to check the state of the runway before the arrival of the Boeing 707. 13. The C-130 aircraft left Bangkok at 0645 hours local time (2345 hrs. GMT) but had. turn back before reaching Dacca. The report of the aircraft commander may be summarized as follows: (a) The aircraft left Bangkok airport at 2345 GMT and proceeded according to the plan agreed upon by the United Nations. When in the Rangoon area, it was informed by Dacca air control that it would not be permitted to land at Dacca because the runway was not available. After orbiting Rangoon for one hour and twenty-six minutes, permission was finally granted for the aircraft to over-fly Dacca airport to make a visual inspection of the runway but not to land.