The retirement of the Seahawk aircraft brings to my mind various memories, during peace and war.
First, it was one of the most excitable moments of my career as a communicator, as I was officiating as the public relations officer to the Navy in the rank of an army captain. I was chosen by Captain Narsingh, a fellow South Canara officer much elder to me, who inducted me as the naval publicity officer to officiate as Naval PRO in his absence. Captain Narsingh was officiating as Director of Public Relations to the Government of Goa.
The offer suited me, as newly married, I could stay on in Delhi where my father-in-law was based, and it also gave me opportunities to visit Bombay (now Mumbai), where I had undergone my post graduation. The INS Vikrant had just joined the fleet then with Sea Harriers and the vertical take-off Breguet Allize aircraft.
During one of my visits to Bombay, I called on Khushwant Singh, the then editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India and asked him whether he would be interested in an article by me on the aircraft carrier. His response was positive.
I requested the Chief Photo Officer, Major G.S. Pablay, and Shri Abnashi Ram of the Films Division to join me. We were airlifted to the aircraft carrier somewhere offshore in the Arabian Sea. I was accommodated in a cabin meant for a Captain of the Navy, which was then equivalent to a senior army colonel. Once allotted, I decided to enjoy my status.
In the evening, I went to the officers' mess, where were joined by a few pilots and naval aviation officers. We had couple of Black Label drinks. I interacted with Navy Flt. Lt. Acharya, who incidentally hailed from South Kanara, as I did. We spoke in Kannada, and both looked forward enthusiastically to the events of the next morning.
Also Read
I got up early and me and my team of Major Pablay and Abnashi Ram were briefed about the operations, shown the Sea Hawks, which were operational and the vertical take-off Breguet Alizes and then taken to the flight deck. We were shown the catapults which helped the Sea Hawks catapult off the carrier.
We took some photographs as the ship sailed into the Arabian Sea. We were waiting to take some pictures of the Sea Hawks being catapulted from and arrested by the carrier.
I had not bargained for the shock that I had witnessed. One of the Seahawks plunged into the sea as soon as it catapulted. All action came to close on board. I thought there would be no flying on board the aircraft carrier that day.
I saw the carrier stop and the naval divers dive into the sea to locate the Seahawk and save the pilot. Soon the search operation was abandoned. The captain of the ship, Captain Krishnan came to his station on board and briefly addressed the sailors on board. He asked us to observe two minutes silence in the memory of Flt. Lt. Acharya, whom I had met the previous evening in the bar. Captain Krishnan then announced: "Operations will recommence. Please go to your stations aboard. "
And the flying activities continued for two more days. I admired the way the officers and sailors continued their activities aboard. Accidents were a part of their lives. Much more challenging would be operations during a war.
My article on the INS Vikrant was accepted and published by the Illustrated Weekly of India. My prestige went up as a public relations officer of the Navy and Admiral Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda offered me the job of PRO (Navy) But I had promised my senior in the service, Lt. Commander U. Narsingh that I would vacate the seat when he returned.
I was promoted in the army and moved to the north east Incidentally, the Sea Hawks played an important role in the war with Pakistan in 1971, and conducted air raid on Cox Bazar and Chittagong. East Pakistan harbors were completely neutralized by INS Vikrant.
The brother of Flt. Lt. Acharya, became the Chief of Naval Aviation. One of the pilots of Sea Hawks, Ram Tahiliani became the Chief of Naval Staff.
Mr. I. Ramamohan Rao is a former Principal Information Officer of the Government of India. He can be reached at raoramamohan@hotmail.com.