Poonch Airport पुंछ हवाई अड्डे پونچھ ہوائی اڈہ | |
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| Summary | |
| Airport type | Military/Public |
| Operator | Airports Authority of India |
| Location | Poonch,J&K, India |
| Coordinates | 33°46′13″N074°04′59″E / 33.77028°N 74.08306°E /33.77028; 74.08306 |
| Map | |
  Poonch Airport Poonch Airport (India) Show map of India | |
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Poonch Airport (also known asPoonch Airstrip) is an airport located in thePoonch district ofJammu and Kashmir, India.[1] Though no scheduled flights operate from Poonch, in 2005, thenChief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir,Ghulam Nabi Azad made a suggestion toAir Deccan that they start flying small aircraft to Poonch. The then Chairman ofAir Deccan,Captain Gopinath said that Air Deccan would consider flying helicopters to Poonch.[2]
Poonch is of strategic importance, as via Poonch easy access to theKashmir Valley can be gained.[3] During theIndo-Pakistani War of 1947, thePakistan Army had surrounded Poonch on 21 November 1947, thereby cutting off all communications with the rest ofIndia.[4] ThenPrime Minister of India,Jawaharlal Nehru insisted that the Poonch must not be surrendered, though British Lieutenant General Russel then Commander-in-Chief of theIndian Army thought it was "sheer suicidal" to try and retain Poonch. Though supplies were airdropped, it was not sufficient for the army plus 40,000 refugees.[5]
Lieutenant-Colonel Pritam Singh, commanding the forces in the area decided to build an airstrip in Poonch.[6] 6000 refugees teamed up with army personnel to build a 600-yard dirt strip in 6 days. While the construction activity was taking place,Royal Indian Air ForceSpitfire andTempest aircraft engaged the Pakistani raiders, to make sure they did not intervene in construction efforts. The First RIAFDakota landed in Poonch on 12 December 1947 carrying in reinforcements and carrying out refugees.[5] The landing was more of a test for the pilot since the area was surrounded by hills on three sides, all of which were occupied by the Pakistani raiders. Many aircraft were hit and damaged in the area.[7] The airstrip was constantly targeted by the Pakistani raiders, especially when an aircraft was about to land. It required courage and piloting skill to land while under enemy fire.[8] Wing CommanderMehar Singh, the first pilot to land in Poonch also became the first pilot to land in Poonch at night, with the help of oil lamps.[9] He did so without any landing aids.[10]
