Tag: Indian Air Force

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Air Power Quotes

1

Air power is indivisible. If you split it up into compartments, you merely pull it to pieces and destroy its greatest asset—its flexibility .

– Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery

 

2

Air power is like poker. A second-best hand is like none at all—it will cost you dough and win you nothing .

– Gen George Kenney

 

3

Because of its independence of surface limitations and its superior speed the airplane is  the offensive weapon par excellence .

 – Giulio Douhet

 

4

The air ocean and its endless outer space extension are one and indivisible, and should be controlled by a single homogeneous force .

– Alexander P . de Seversky

 

5

If we lose the war in the air we lose the war and lose it quickly .

 – Field Marshal Montgomery

 

6

After all, the great defence against aerial menace is to attack the enemy’s aircraft as near as possible to their point of departure .

– Winston Churchill

 

7

Airpower has become predominant, both as a deterrent to war, and—in the eventuality of war—as the devastating force to destroy an enemy’s potential and fatally undermine his will to wage war .

– Gen Omar Bradley

 

8

As the aeroplane is the most mobile weapon we possess, it is destined to become the dominant offensive arm of the future .

– J . F . C . Fuller

 

9

The other services have air arms—magnificent air arms—but their air arms must fit within their services, each with a fundamentally different focus So those air arms, when in competition with the primary focus of their services, will often end up on the short end, where the priorities for resources may lead to shortfalls or decisions that are suboptimum . It is therefore important to understand that the core competencies of air and space power are optional for the other services . They can elect to play or not play in that arena . But if the nation is to remain capable and competent in air and space, someone must pay attention across the whole spectrum; that is why there is a Air Force .

– Gen Ronald R . Fogleman, USAF, retired, 1997

 

10

The very flexibility of air forces makes true cooperation essential . Air forces, at short notice, can be switched from one sort of target to another and, within limits, from one type of operation to a quite different type . There is, therefore, a constant temptation to use them piecemeal to meet an immediate requirement, rather than to use them on a long-term joint plan .

– J . C . Slessor

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Tidbits from Social Media: CHILDHOOD IN THE AIR FORCE

CHILDHOOD IN THE AIR FORCE

 

In our earliest memories, to Air Force we’re drawn,

As military hospital is where most of us were born.

Different corners of the country, through postings we’ve seen

In camps clean and green we have always been.

 

Studied in a KV or an Air force School,

Went by Green buses ‘coz Yellow wasn’t the rule.

Evenings were spent cycling, swimming or playing,

Moms would be walking, and dads away flying.

 

‘Bada-khaana’ and Tambola, children would be taken,

But Rum-punch and dinner Nights, we were forbidden.

From one room to two, finally status house was fun,

But tenure came to an end, and we were back to square one!

 

Boxes and trunks got numbered and painted,

Soon all belongings into a truck got mounted.

Making new friends and change of school so common,

As adieus and farewells were bid so often.

 

‘Eating-out’ meant at the Mess or Institute,

For food-courts and restaurants, our substitute.

Parties were often held in the Ante-room,

Though, smaller groups preferred the Ladies Room.

 

He’pter or ‘Queen Mary’ brought Santa, not sleigh!

Christmas party and gifts surely made our day.

Festival time, in groups we’d roam,

Wishing friends, from home to home.

 

Dads had uniforms for every season,

and also dress-code for each occasion.

All this and more, are amazingly clear,

Memories that bring out of nostalgia, a tear.

 

This was our childhood in the Indian Air force,

Lucky to have it, we realise in due course…….

 

Poem by AF kid

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Medico Warriors: Ash

 

This Article has been contributed by Doc Aggarwal (A Good Friend)

It provides a glimpse into the selfless service of medical fraternity in fight against the Pandemic

Ash

“The BP is dropping, we should start inotropes”, was the breathless interjection from the treating physician.

“SpO2 levels are also dropping, seemed ok some time ago”.

The patient, a senior citizen of great importance did not look good. He appeared a little listless, a little confused and frankly very ill. He is much liked, very popular and has done only good to people. Everyone is concerned.

They confer privately. “We need to get him to a better equipped centre… That is the only hope”.

“But it is a four hour journey. Will he be able to undertake it?”

“What is the other option? We’ll send a doctor along with him. It’s eight in the morning, if we start early enough, he will be at the hospital by noon. That’s not too bad”.

And so the decision is taken. We’ll send him with adequate oxygen, IV fluids, medicines and a doctor. The front section of the ambulance would be sealed, so that the driver stays safe. Air-conditioning will cause air circulation, and endanger the driver, so it will be switched off. The windows will remain open for cross-ventilation. The doctor would be exposed to COVID from the patient.

Ash was the natural choice. He is a doctor already suffering from COVID, though mostly asymptomatic, some mild cough, fever, bodyache. Nothing that cannot be handled.

Nothing, except of course, Murphy and his laws. The transfer kept getting delayed, hour after hour. First it was stabilizing the patient, then the paper-work, then ensuring adequate oxygen then adequate fluids and so on… By the time they finally started, it was 01:30 pm. The outside temperature had climbed to 42 deg Celsius. The patient was not as well compensated as he was in the morning. Ash, was hot and with the dehydration COVID brings in, thirsty. His fever had increased and he was not feeling too well.

Ash kept it together, though. Irrespective of his personal discomfort, he maintained hemodynamic stability, maintained oxygen levels, kept the patient’s fever under check, made sure he remained lucid.

On the other hand, Ash himself was hot, thirsty, badly feverish and had severe bodyache. He held on steadfast.

The final leg to the hospital was a little more torrid. The patient’s BP started dropping a little and oxygen saturation suffered. Ash made the necessary adjustments. They reached safely. Phew… what a relief.

After the patient reached the ICU, Ash finally breathed. He spoke to the DMO, “I need a room for 15 min or so”.

Inside the room, he disregarded the fever, the bodyache, the dehydration, the awfully sick feeling. He folded his pant cuffs, washed his hands and feet and turned west.

“Bismillah, in the name of Allah the most merciful, the benevolent”. He prayed, and had his first sip of water since sunrise, as he opened his Roza fast.

Tomorrow is another day

 

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