7/24/2018 Salua Airfield .:: World War II and now ::.

KALAIKUNDA DUDHKUNDI DIGRI PIARDOBA SALBONI SALUA HIJLI CHAKULIA

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Salua Hellbird Herald

Air Field
PASSED BY BASE CENSOR
APO 220 (Piardoba, India)
Vol. 1, No. 2 20
February, 1945
Type Military airfield ................................................................
Coordinates 22°16'22"N 87°17'50"E
Built 1942
In use 1942-1946 NEWS PUBLICATION OF THE XX
BOMBER COMMAND
Current condition Under the control of Indian Air Force
Vol. 1, No. 5, 5 MARCH 1945
Battles/wars World War II
Vol. 1, No. 7, 13 APRIL 1945

Salua has an Airfield built during WW2 and housed a Heavy Bomber Squadron. The airstrip
fell in disuse after the War. But now has a Radar Station. Near to it is the Kharagpur Railway Share |
Station and the IAF Kalaikunda Air Force Station.

First base of operations for the B'29 Superfortresses ( units of the 58th Bomb Wing )

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7/24/2018 Salua Airfield .:: World War II and now ::.

U.S., Indian controllers on scope

by Tech. Sgt. Martin Jackson
Cope India Public Affairs
11/14/2005 - SALUA AIR STATION, India (AFPN) -- Looking at the radar, the four F-16
Fighting Falcons were clearly outnumbered as 12 opposition aircraft closed in to fire their
weapons.

An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control systems aircrew started relaying coordinates,
preparing the pilots for their impending battle.

However, this time something was different. The AWACS crew was not soaring high overhead
in their Sentry.

Instead, they were on the ground using Indian air force radar and tracking systems as part of
exercise Cope India 06.

U.S. controllers have been operating out of the Indian radar facility at Salua Air Station since
Nov. 8, as they await the return of their aircraft, which returned to Kadena Air Base, Japan,
for maintenance.

“The biggest challenge is getting use to the systems and overcoming the limitations,” said
Tech. Sgt. Steven Harshman, a lead weapons director from Kadena's 961st Airborne Air
Control Squadron. “Fortunately most of us have qualified on some sort of ground control
station before.”

As Cope India 06 neared the midpoint, fight scenarios intensified with several aircraft
participating. Ratcheting up the tempo put added importance on the command and control
operators.

“Of course it can be challenging when you have to switch to a system you are not use to using,”
said Capt. Michael Thomas, a squadron senior director. “However, with help from our Indian
air force counterparts, we have been able to seamlessly transition our operations, keeping our
pilots informed and in the game.”

For both the U.S. and Indian controllers operating together has provided many learning
opportunities.

“There is a lot of educating for both sides,” Captain Thomas said. “It is always a good
opportunity to see how another country's command and control operations is carried out.”

Though this exercise pits U.S. and Indian aircraft -- battling daily overhead -- the exercise
ultimately is about crafting understandings and constructing a working relationship between
the two air forces.

“Having Americans control out of here has been a very diplomatic process,” said Lt. Col. Peter
Bastien, the squadron's detachment commander. “The Indian Air Force has been very gracious
in working with us so we can continue our work, keeping this exercise flowing.”

SALUA AIR STATION, India -- Senior director Capt. Michael Thomas (lower center), lead
weapons director Tech. Sgt. Steven Harshman (lower left) and Indian Air Force Squadron
Leader Rajesh monitor and direct aircraft from their "E-3 Sentry" during Cope India 06.
Watching the war games are (back left) Lt. Col. Peter Bastien, 961st Airborne Air Control
Squadron detachment commander, Indian air force wing Commander Singh (back center)
and Master Sgt. Belinda Magilligan (back right), a weapons director. This is the third Cope
India exercise since 2002. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Martin Jackson)

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GC Jaspal Singh takes over Salua Air Force Station

Kharagpur | Monday, Apr 28 2008 IST

Group Captain (GC) Vinod Shankar today handed over the command of Air Force Staion at
Salua here to Group Captain Jaspal Singh.

GC Shankar, ninth station commander of Air Force station at Salua, was a Fighter Strike
leader. He was awarded the best Non-Flying Station of IAF for 2006 and best Rudder Unit of
Eastern Air Command, 2007. He has also organised various adventurous activities in the
station, including a 150-km cycle expedition to Digha and a 2000-km motor cycle expedition
from Salua to Dinjan in Assam.

35 Comments Sort by Oldest

Add a comment...

Manjunath Janakiram
Great to delve into the history of the place!
Like · Reply · 2 · 6y

Arindam Bhowmik
Thank you sir...
Like · Reply · 2y

Avinash Singh
nice 2 see your fighter craft.
Like · Reply · 1 · 6y

Ramdas Verma
Congratulations for sharing such a nice back ground history of
Salboni.It is adding knowledge to the readers.
Thanks keep it up.
RDVerma
Like · Reply · 1 · 6y

Arindam Bhowmik
Thank you sir...
Like · Reply · 2y

Jane Smith
I'm 56 and never knew my uncle Alan Wilson but he was the
navigator that died on 16th Sep 356 Squadron flight EW114
according to someone called Norman.Any info on surviving members
posted at the same time that may remember Alan please let me
know so I can pass to his brother and sister
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7/24/2018 Salua Airfield .:: World War II and now ::.
know so I can pass to his brother and sister.
Like · Reply · 1 · 6y Midnapor…
43K likes
Sagnik Biswas
Hi...It will be great if you could post some pictures of the Old
Hangars.
Like Page
Like · Reply · 1 · 6y

Arindam Bhowmik Be the first of your friends

to like this
I will try ...
Like · Reply · 2y

Colleen Patricia
Midnapore.in
My grandfather was stationed here, I don't know much about it, but
মিদনীপুর
I've found a bunch of pictures of him and the guys. Its great to learn
জলা
more about where he was! about an hour ago
Like · Reply · 5 · 5y
২৮৮ পাতার স ূণ
Arindam Bhowmik রি ণ এক ট অসাধারণ
বই।
Hi! Colleen, could you please send those pictures to my mail
(৮৯১৮৬০৬৯৮৯)
(arindambhowmik@gmail.com) - So, that i can upload it in
my website - www.midnapore.in থা - পূব
মিদনীপুর,
Like · Reply · 2y

David Pultz
My father was in the 20th as a photographer. He took lots of phots of
পযটন ও
the base at Salua. পুরাকীিত "
Like · Reply · 3 · 5y 2 photos
Arindam Bhowmik
Hi! David, could you please send those pictures & a brief
details about your father to my mail
(arindambhowmik@gmail.com) - So, that i can upload those
photographs in my website - www.midnapore.in
Like · Reply · 1 · 2y

Mainak Chatterjee
Great information. Pride of Midnapore.
Like · Reply · 1 · 5y

Peter McGuire
I served at Salbani as a wireless operator with 356 Squadron from its
inception until May 1945 when I joined another Liberator unit at
Agartala, Assam. Now in my 90th year, it brought back a lot of
memories browsing through those old photographs....but I have
found one error. The section giving a brief history of 356 Squadron
shows the crest of 355 Squadron which was also at Salbani same
time. Our Squadron crest (and I have my badge before me as I type)
is of a Bengal tiger, rampant and the motto reads="We bring freedom
and assistance.
Like · Reply · 12 · 5y

Heather Smale
My cousin Jack Moxsom Clarke flew Liberators with 356
Squadron. Now 92 years. In the article Life at Salbani I
believe he is the Clarke who was one of three mentioned
dancing wearing a tablecloth and with black markings to
face and body. He also flew the long mission on Christmas
Eve. Ia fortunate to have seen his Log Book
Like · Reply · 2 · 2y

Heather Smale
Just going to add a little more...I am fortunate to have seen
his Log Book, all hours daylight and night in meticulous
detail, also one or two personal comments he made about
Christmas Dinner and not being particularly interested in it
at that time. A very long flight. The same day of the return to
base they up in the air again to check altimeter readings
Like · Reply · 1 · 2y

Heather Smale
Sorry, I am finding the workings of Posting a little odd....so
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7/24/2018 Salua Airfield .:: World War II and now ::.
here I am again....the same crew were at one stage missing
in action however they had crash landed and walked three ?
ays back to camp where it was found their personal
belongings had gone missing! I gather they were not
amused.
Like · Reply · 1 · 2y

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