Why did India not use Air Force during 1962 war with China?

October 2022 is 60th year since 1962 war happened. Before discussing role of IAF in 1962, let’s see some battles where IAF made huge impact in more recent 1971 and 1965 war.

During 1971 India-Pak war, Sikh Regiment of Indian Army at Longewala Rajasthan border faced one brigade of 5000 Pakistani army soldiers with battle tanks and armoured vehicles with just 120 men with few light jeep mounted guns and other light weapons. These 120 men was able to hold the enemy brigade for the whole night with their light weapons and next day morning, IAF fighter jets came to the rescue and bombed the enemy tanks and formations. The Pakistani plan was grand, with breakfast at Longewala, lunch at Jaisalmer and dinner at Delhi!

IAF used Marut jets in Longewala battle which had a problem of underpower engine and subsequently retired. But they were effective in air-to-ground attack in a relatively safer zone as proved in Longewala. Just imagine what would have happened in absence of IAF response. Longewala battle was depicted in a Bollywood Hindi movie ‘Border’ with actor Sunny Deol played the lead role of Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri who later became Brigadier.

Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri getting Maha Vir Chakra award

In 1964 Arjan Singh became the youngest Chief of Air Staff at the age of 44. During 1965 war, when Pakistan launched Operation Grandslam to cut-off J&K from India, the then Defence minister Y. B. Chavan asked him about the time required by Indian Air Force to launch counter attack. Arjan Singh was ready within an hour.

He later recounted ‘Pakistan had a qualitatively superior force that included modern fighters such as F-86 Sabres and F-104 Star fighters. The Indian Air Force had vintage WW-II era Mysteres, Vampires, Ouragans, Hunters, and Gnats in its inventory besides new Mig-21s. We were fighting against all odds as they had air-to-air missiles (Sidewinder) and we just had a few new Russian MiG’s that were not used much in the war’. But with sheer skills and bravery of IAF pilots, Pakistan was losing its aircraft at a fast rate and was keen on accepting the ceasefire. Because of international pressure and other considerations, India agreed to the ceasefire’. Arjan Singh had once said- ‘Had the 1965 India-Pakistan war lasted for a few more days, he would have finished a part of Pakistan’. This statement highlights the importance of air power. Despite heavy IAF losses, IAF helped recover from initial Pakistani onslaught and war almost ended as ‘no-win’ for either side. Arjan Singh was awarded Padma Vibhushan and Marshal of the Indian Air Force.

In 1962 India-China border war, Rezang-La battle was similar to Longewala battle of 1971. 120 Indian soldiers of Kumaun Regiment led by Major Shaitan Singh faced huge enemy with no heavy weapons. Kumaun Regiment fought till death with antique WW-II era rifles and few hand grenades and out of approximately 5000 Chinese solders, around 1000 died (Indian estimate). Indian casualty was 114 out of 120. Like Longewala, Rezang-La Major was given the option to vacate the post but in both cases, they fought against all odds. Major Shaitan Singh was given highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra posthumously. Like Longewala, this battle could have won by India if air offensive support was available. It was a big political blunder not to use IAF in offensive role. IAF was extensively used in 1962 for logistics and reconnaissance missions but not for enemy attack.

The most probable reason for this could be Nehru’s fear that Chinese may use their air force which will further complicate the war. PM Nehru was always surrounded with wrong people and must have received this wrong advice. Although PLA air force was bigger than IAF at that time, the reality is there was no Chinese PLA air force planes in Tibet at that time and neither any airbase for PLA jets to land.

Rezang-La battle memorial

One major logistics operation of IAF in 1962 was airlifting tanks to Chushul from Chandigarh using AN-12 transport planes. These tanks actively took part in the war and halted Chinese progress towards most important Ladakh town of Leh. If the Chinese occupied Chushul, then they can progress to cut off all connectivity to Leh largest city in Ladakh and hence Chushul was critical.

Air Vice Marshal Ranjan Dutt, PN Reddy, PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Prof Kurt Tank observing Marut jet test flight (October 1962 when China attacked)

Wing Commander Jag Mohan (‘Jaggi’) Nath narrated his experience regarding IAF reconnaissance missions in detail to Indian media many decades later (link attached). On 20 October 1960, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru issued instructions that flying near the Sino-Indian border was now restricted for reconnaissance missions. The Air Force was strictly not allowed to conduct sorties or reconnaissance missions within 24 km of the border. Only transport aircraft and helicopters would be allowed to fly right up to the border for logistics support. Air combat and bombing was never allowed. Like Longewala battle of 1971, 1962 China war could have been a different story altogether if IAF was used in offensive role. All the talks about Nehru’s Himalayan blunder, VK Krishna Menon mistakes, ill treatment of Gen. K.S. Thimmayya and promoting Nehru’s relative incompetent Lieutenant General BM Kaul by rival BJP/RSS media propaganda may not have happened. PM Nehru requested USA President John F Kenney for urgent fighter jet support and when China got the news about possible US fighter jets in India-China war, China suddenly unilaterally announced ceasefire and started withdrawing to north of McMohan line on eastern front.