Anchit Gupta Profile picture
Jul 8, 2022 25 tweets 10 min read Read on X
Btwn 1954-64, the night skies of Delhi & Bombay were protected by a unique @IAF_MCC fighter aircraft - DeHavilland Vampire NF54 (aka NF10 in @RoyalAirForce). This is the fascinating short-lived journey of the only exclusive night-fighter aircraft in the IAF. #IAFHistory (1/24) Image
Designed as a cheap export ac on the back of an order from the Egyptian Air Force, the NF10 used the wings & tail unit of the Vampire Day-fighter and side-by-side seating of the extant night-fighter Mosquito NF36 – Navigator/ Radar Operator on the right and pilot on the left. 2/ Image
Destiny had other plans, Egypt could not come good on the order due to an embargo and RAF stepped in as the main buyer. RAF was separately looking to replace its Mosquito NF36, but it's choice replacement – Gloster Meteor NF11 was delayed. Vampire NF10 would be the stop gap! 3/ Image
The NF10 had an endurance of 2 hours at 30,000 ft, a Goblin-3 engine, a fuel system suitable for aerobatics, AI Mk10 Radar with IFF Mk3, and 4 20-mm Hispano Guns. A Span of 38 ft, Max wt of 13,100 lb, max speed of 538 mph, and range of 1,220 miles with drop tanks. 4/
It had its limitations too – the lack of ejection seats on a single-engine left aircrew uncomfortable. Electricals were rudimentary for a night role. Mk10 AI radar was obsolete but could work well with Ground Control Interception with a max/min range of 6 miles/300 feet. 5/ Image
In all, 90 production ac were mfged. RAF took 76, & Italian AF took 14. Three RAF sqns served with these ac btwn 1951 and 54, at which point they upgraded, and India stepped in to buy 30 of these in two lots (18 in 1954 & 12 in 1957). The export variant was called NF54. 6/ Image
IAF’s rational to acquire the NFs remains unclear. Three plausible reasons – a) PAF bomber threat from Halifax & newly acquired B-57s, b) IAF’s buildup of the AD network focussed on point defence of major cities & c) Familiarity with Vampire (Day-fighter) - mainstay & HAL mfgd 7/ Image
PAF had acquired the Halifax in 1947 and added 6 more later. While outdated, they did participate in the Kashmir War, dropping supplies at NIGHT and PAF’s attempt to use it at as night bomber/ paradrop might have made IAF look for counter measures. 8/ Image
Secondly, in 1949 IAF had ordered 5 T-13/14/15 Radars from Marconi to be used as Sector Ops Centres for Ground Control interception. 1954 is when the first was setup at Delhi (11 SU) and not surprisingly, the first Night Fighter Sqn was based at Palam (10 Sqn). 9/ Image
IAF crews left for UK in Dec 1953 to convert to the NFs. 10 Sqn was selected, moved from Halwara to Palam in Dec 53. In June 54 S/L David Bouche, returned from UK (RAF Rushton & Leeming) & took over as the first CO of 10 Sqn in its night-fighter role as the first ac arrived. 10/ Image
NF required the pilot to do instrument flying & a Nav/ Radar operator who did the interception requiring great skill & dexterity. Very close co-operation was needed with the ground controller to put them in a favorable position. The best in IAF were selected for the job. 11/ Image
The role of the Navigator was critical. He was expected to navigate at night, operate the onboard radar, communicate with the ground controller & guide the aircraft for gun firing. It is no wonder that Navs in NF Sqn’s were made officiating COs/Flt Cdrs. 12/ Image
IAF operated only 10 Sqn on the NFs till Jan 58, when 37 Sqn was formed with a nucleus of the crew from 10 Sqn at Palam itself. In 1957-58, IAF had taken delivery of a further 12 NFs from RAF and these were used to raise 37 Sqn. 13/ Image
37 Sqn operated the NFs for only 5 years (58-62) but had an eventful time. In 58 it suffered two fatal accidents, the only in the NF fleet ever. Moved to Pune in Feb 60 to defend Bombay and took part in the 61 Goa liberation ops during this period 14/ Image
In May 58, A NF of 37 Sqn caught fire over Delhi and crashed into Safdarjung Airport killing both the pilot & Nav. The consequent fire gutted 12 aircraft of the Flying Club and killed four mechanics. Later in Aug, another NF went missing and was never found, presumed crashed. 15/ Image
37 Sqn had a limited role in the 61 Goa ops. A recce at Dabolim at 300 ft AGL where Ack-ack opened up on them. Later that night same at Daman & finally scrambled to chase of Portuguese Super Connie that took off from Dabolim, & hugging the deck went to Karachi. 16/ Image
Story of NF fleet is incomplete without the “Nosey Dakota”- HJ879. Acquired in 1958 & flown from the UK after modification with radome fitted on its nose, housing radar providing search/ homing facility to airborne targets. The purpose was to use this to train Navs of 10 Sqn. 17/ Image
For the bulk of its active period, the aircraft was singularly flown by HMPS Pannu. The Dakota trained the navigators to get into position (Such that the pilot can use the Gun on target) below at the 6 o'clock of the Harvard that flew as a target. 18/ Image
It was a Dakota Mk IV with two stage superchargers & had the superchargers active - unlike most MK IV which had the second stage blanked off. The aircraft was not easy to fly with reduced visibility due to the bulbous nose. Later it became part of 43 Sqn as a normal Dakota. 19/ Image
AVM KK Jain, was a young Fighter Controller with 11 SU at Najafgarh operating the T-14/15 Marconi Radar in 1961 & controlling the NFs of 10 Sqn and remembers an exercise with Liberators of 6 Sqn & the NFs as a sight to be seen. 20/ Image
In Oct 62, 37 Sqn converted to Hunter ac and in April 64, 10 Sqn was numberplated bringing an end to the service of NFs in IAF. The decision possibly driven by poor serviceability of the fleet & acquisition of the MiG-21 which reduced the need for separate day/night fighters. 21/ Image
The MiG-21s had to wait until 1971 to be effective in a night role. The decision to wind-down NFs left IAF vulnerable in the 1965 war where incidentally the 8-pass Charlie (B-57), in a solo raid destroyed a MiG-21 on the ground at 2200 in the night. An ironical twist. 22/ Image
In the only surviving and befitting picture dedicated to the crew of the IAF Nightriders - seen here is SR Powar as the CO with the entire 10 sqn in attendance. Likely taken between 1957 to 59. 23/ Image
58 years since winding down, the lone surviving Vampire NF54, ID606 still stands vigil over Delhi skies at the Air Force Museum at Palam. (24/24) Image

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More from @AnchitGupta9

May 17
1/
There's growing confusion between two important systems:

👉🏽 Akashteer
👉🏽 IACCS
Both play crucial roles in India’s air defence.
But let’s be clear — they operate at different altitudes — literally and metaphorically.
Here’s how 👇 (1/8)

#IAFHistory Image
But, let’s get some history, geography and law right.

History: The Network Centric Warfare (NCW) concept was first developed by Vice Admiral Arthur Cebrowski (US Navy) and John Garstka in 1998. It envisioned linking forces digitally to enhance situational awareness and increase warfighting effectiveness.

2/Image
📕 Let’s talk law — the Union War Book is India’s master document on war responsibilities.

Until 1993, there was no single agency for air defence.
Each service did its bit, and consequently the Army built up significant frontline/terminal AD assets.
Then came a historic shift:

🛡️ “Air Defence of the country is the responsibility of the IAF.”

3/Image
Read 8 tweets
May 17
As we rightly marvel at the IACCS Air Defence system in action earlier this month…

What many forget is that the trigger for IACCS wasn't war.
It was this:
➡️ The Purulia Arms Drop of 1995.
🛩️ Crates of AKs parachuted into Bengal, and no one saw it coming.
🧵👇

#IAFHistoryImage
17 Dec 1995. A Latvian AN-26 aircraft drops weapons over Purulia.

Undetected. Unchallenged.
India was stunned.
A Group of Ministers review followed—and a national embarrassment turned into a call for reform.

At the heart of it: India’s airspace surveillance. 2/
Among the key recommendations -

✅ Procurement of an Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) for the IAF.
Initial approval: ₹585 Cr for 5 systems.
Approved in principle by Raksha Mantri (1999) & CCS (2001).

But that was just the beginning… 3/
Read 12 tweets
May 12
I promised to be back with the @IAF_MCC and Sargodha love affair.

Yes, @akshaykumar's Sky Force showed 1965 — but let me tell you about 1971.

This time, it was India’s newly formed Top Gun school — TCDTS — that painted the skies above Sargodha.

Buckle up. 🧵👇 Image
What’s TCDTS?
Formed in 1971, the Tactics and Combat Development & Training Squadron was the IAF’s brainchild for fighter combat.
Based at Adampur, it was packed with the crème de la crème — handpicked MiG-21 and Su-7 pilots who’d go on to rewire enemy expectations. Image
Before war broke out, these elite pilots were already tasked with rewriting air combat playbooks.
But in December 1971, they were ordered to do something unheard of:
Fly low-level night strikes on heavily defended PAF bases — including the crown jewel: Sargodha.
Read 10 tweets
May 9
SAVING FISH OIL: THE BATTLE FOR AMRITSAR RADAR, 1965 🇮🇳

29 PAF missions. Napalm. Rockets. Machine guns.

And the first-ever combat use of the now famous L-70 gun— in the world.

Col Mandeep Singh’s riveting account is a must-read. Sharing the highlights 🧵(1/18)

#IAFHistoryImage
During the Indo-Pak war of 1965, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched multiple missions to destroy the Indian Air Force's (IAF) radar installation near Amritsar, codenamed 'Fish Oil'. Here's how the IAF's defenses stood firm. 2/
The Amritsar radar, a Soviet-made P-30(M), was operated by 230 Signal Unit and was crucial for early warning, covering deep into Pakistani territory. Its strategic importance made it a prime target for the PAF. 3/
Read 18 tweets
May 9
No better time to learn the evolution of India’s shield in the skies. #AirDefenceDay

Sharing #IAFHistory deep dives on how @IAF_MCC built a layered defence — radar by radar, missile by missile.

How we rose to meet tech, tactical, and strategic challenges - blunted raids.🧵 Image
This goes back into time from 1944 onwards when Radars came to use by IAF and ends with how we used them effetively in the 1965 and 1971 Wars, after massive struggles.

2/

iafhistory.in/2022/04/07/eye…
After the 1965 war, India’s radar and communication gaps were exposed, especially after losing US assistance. What followed was a remarkable, yet largely untold, story of ingenuity and indigenisation, ADGES as it came to be known!

3/

iafhistory.in/2024/10/12/the…
Read 5 tweets
Apr 6
#OTD in 1993, 25 women aeronautical engineers were inducted into the @IAF_MCC as Pilot Officers. Until then, the only women officers were in the medical branch. Standing tall and resolute, they shattered barriers and paved the way for countless others. (1/7)

#IAFHistory Image
These 25 young women—engineers from across India—joined the Air Force Technical College (AFTC) in Jalahalli, Bangalore.

They had cleared a rigorous selection process from 25,000 applicants. The IAF was serious. The bar was high.

2/ Image
Their training regime mirrored that of male cadets:

🕔 Report by 5:00 AM
🪖 Drill and parade
📚 Aeronautics and engineering classes
🏃‍♀️ Physical training and sports
🍽️ Strict mess discipline
🌙 Lights out at 10:00 PM

3/ Image
Read 7 tweets

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