1971 Air Battle: Hunter vs Sabre | Air Marshal H Masand, VRC, VM Shooting Down a Pakistani Jet
Step into the cockpit with us as we bring you one of the most intense, real-life air combat stories from the 1971 Indo-Pak War. This episode features the jaw-dropping first-hand account of an Indian Air Force Hunter pilot who shot down a Pakistani F-86 Sabre in under 60 seconds—an air battle that changed the momentum of the Eastern front.
On 4th December 1971, during a high-risk low-level mission over East Pakistan, a formation of Indian Hunter aircraft came under sudden attack by Sabres. With almost no fuel, no missiles, and only seconds to react, this young fighter pilot executed one of the most precise dogfights in IAF history.
What you will experience in this episode:
🔥 The exact moment the Sabre appeared on radar-less skies
🔥 How the Hunter pilot pulled off a textbook interception using pure skill
🔥 The reality of flying at 50–100 feet, 480 knots, under enemy fire
🔥 The logic behind Indian formations, wingman responsibilities & 3D combat
🔥 The friction, pressure & split-second decisions inside a one-minute dogfight
🔥 Rare details about Hunter guns, gyro-sights, and air combat tactics
🔥 The unseen emotional intensity: sweat-soaked G-suit, no fuel left, near ejection
🔥 Why this mission became a legend inside the Air Force
This episode also dives deep into:
✈️ The Hunter vs Sabre comparison
✈️ The role of the Eastern Air Command during the war
✈️ The entire buildup—recon missions, refugee crisis, and Eastern theatre tensions
✈️ The unbelievable story of survival, courage & devotion to squadron brothers
If you truly love military history, aviation, war stories, or fighter jets, this is not just an interview— it is an experience.