Them Tezpur Days

TEZPUR IN THEM OLDEN DAYS

I was in Tezpur from January 1973 to end March 74.  A free for all station; anything went. The monthly task was 320 hrs on the T-77 and 60 on the trainer. We had to finish flying by the 20^th of the month so that the station could stand down for 10 full days. With three Sqns of Migs it was a mad rush to get airborne and fly your four details by 1300 hrs. All this with nary an accident. The local menace was CO 4 Sqn, who would taxy out on his own, joining up with any formation carrying out tyre checks, etc., especially a 4 aircraft formation. He would make them run rings with his peccadilloes. 4 Sqn was very good in Chess, as he was very fond of the game. Bad weather? Chess board out. This overly laissez-faire approach told in the end when 4 Sqn had a spate of 5 accidents, all, fortunately ending in safe ejections. Their Flt Cdr and a very senior pilot got lost in very heavy clouding, from 300 feet up to 20,000, as the navigational aids on their aircraft failed. They ejected near Silchar, 325 km away. He himself ejected when burning up fuel in Afterburner after experiencing engine problems (oil pressure failure) warranting immediate landing. He was removed from Command but was reinstated as all his men went into a Hartal. Ironically, he rose to become Inspector General, in charge of Flight Safety!