India gifts vintage Dakota aircraft to Bangladesh

NEW DELHI: Seeking to revive historical ties, the Indian Air Force has gifted a vintage Dakota aircraft from its museum to the Bangladesh Air Force.

"On a formal request from the Bangladesh Air Force and reviewing the historic ties, one Dakota aircraft from the IAF museum was gifted to the Bangladesh Air Force and was received by its chief Air Marshal Muhammad Enamul Bari at Palam here," an IAF release said.

The Dakota aircraft played a crucial role in the liberation of Bangladesh and formation of Bangladesh Air Force and was used for air dropping Army troops in Bangladesh's Tangail during the 1971 war.

It was also the first transport aircraft that landed at heights of 11,500 feet in Leh by legendary pilot Wg Cdr Mehar Singh.

The aircraft was used for transporting troops in Srinagar during 1947-48 war with Pakistan for protecting Kashmir Valley from raiders from across the border.