Additional information
by Teshter Master (Author)
This book is a personal story based on my experiences in 1971, the founding year of Tactics Combat Development & Training Squadron (TCDTS). The Squadron was upgraded to an Establishment, Tactics & Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Dec 1972. The primary source of information is my log book which for every pilot is a document of prime importance. It is filled every month from the Flight Authorisation book of the sqn and signed by the Flt Cdr and the Sqn Cdr. Ask any pilot and referring to his log book he will be able to tell you where he was and what he did on any date of his flying career.
Essentially this is a first-hand account of the story of TCDTS air operations in the Indo-Pak war 1971, supported by as many sources as I could find.
By no means have I attempted to tell the history of the Indo-Pak War 1971 as there is any amount of literature on the subject. Ours was a small but important part of the overall effort of the Indian Air Force which I hope makes an intriguing and exciting narrative.
Teshter Master
Bangalore
Author Biography
Air Marshal Teshter J. Master (Retd) A Fighter Combat Leader, Teshter has 30 years of fighter flying experience on various types of Western and Soviet aircraft. He is the founding member of the premier fighter flying establishment of the IAF for development of tactics and training Fighter Combat Leaders. This book is a personal story based on his experiences during the first year of TCDTS (Tactics & Combat Development & Training Squadron) culminating in the Squadrons role in the Indo-Pak war, December 1971. It was a defining period that influenced him for the rest of his career. Teshter has participated in counter-insurgency campaigns and the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. He has held numerous Command and Staff appointments, including CO of No. 1 (Tigers) Squadron, Operations in-charge of South Western Air Command during the Kargil crisis and Inspector General of the IAF. He was the Defence and Air Attach at the Embassy of India, Washington D.C. with concurrent accreditation to Canada from April 1992 to March 1995. After 40 years of service in the IAF, Teshter retired as the Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Training Command, IAF on 31 December 2002. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal in 1991 and the Param Vishist Seva Medal in 2001 by the President of India.
