Aeroplane

Pattar, an Aero plane and the Silver Peg Measure
(This is dedicated to our men in uniform in different parts of our great country who in their own quiet way are contributing enormously every day to the cause of humanity and making us proud of our lineage)
PROLOGUE:
(The first Secretary of Canadian Embassy in an interview on NDTV 24X7 on the night of 17th Jun 2005 said that it was a miracle how his wife who was perilously holding on to her dear life got saved from a deep ravine by Indian Air Force Helicopters. The couple were on a trek through a dense jungle a few kms away from Dharmasthala and Kuke Subrahmanya when the lady slipped and fell into a deep and narrow gorge. The weather conditions were not conducive to any rescue operations either.)

The Canadian connection with IAF rang a bell somewhere and my own memories flashed back almost 40 years ago when our gallant men in uniform (at least to my humble mind) did create a history of sort. But let me begin at the very beginning.
Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by aero planes. The reason was that except hearing some occasional distant drone or seeing some smoke trails in the sky (which later I knew as ‘jet-trails’) I never saw this mysterious machine from close quarters until the age of ten. That when I saw one for the first time, it was a beautiful metallic toy from Benares which my grand parents gifted me sooner they returned to the S……village, Palghat after their Kaasi Yaatra. Dismantling and re-assembling this craft became a magnificent obsession nay, an escape from ennui for me. I always wanted to become an engine driver. But then it was before I got this toy. My grandpa who was an expert astrologer used to comment rather disdainfully, “This brat will go out of our hands”, (meaning I will not be that traditional kutti vadhyaar). “With his Kujan (Mars) in swakshetram, vargottaman, unblemished and, being the Lord of 10th house, this boy is fit only to learn ‘Kalarippayatthe’-(the famous martial art of Kerala) and nothing else”. He was not far off the mark for I enlisted my self in the Pattaalam to become a professional soldier with no regrets what so ever. I think it was 1967 when I heard this unusual story being related in the bar by one of the sober officers. It went something like this in his own words :
“It was late 60’s and I, a subaltern was posted to P…... One of my secondary duties was the portfolio of Bar member (in-charge of the liquor cellar). At every station I would be handed over this duty. Why? Well, I being a tee-to taller qualified admirably for the post. I could not recognize one drink from another, and hence the cellar would be in safe hands. That’s why!. I totally depended on Gomez (not the real name), the expert barman in-charge at P….. while making arrangements for station parties; and need I say that every party turned out to be a grand success- for Gomez never let me down!
There was never a dull moment for me in the Mess, for I was also in charge of accommodation. One afternoon, the President of the Mess Committee (PMC, normally a senior officer) summoned me and barked his orders, “Boy, we are informed that a team of officers and men from the Canadian Air Force will arrive here soon. We are to accommodate them in our Mess. Make sure that the rooms get spruced up. Now get cracking” This meant lot of work for me in the squadron and in the mess. I wondered why the visitors had to be in our Mess. But then there is this unwritten tenet in Pattalam “Junior officers are only to be seen and not heard!” So I got busy arranging things and spoke not a word. My squadron mates always pulled my leg, ‘Hey, You don’t drink, you don’t smoke, you don’t w…..’ and the list of minor and major vices went on. ‘Then what do you do man for a living? You are a real square peg in a round hole!’ My Squadron Commander always came to my rescue saying, ‘But he is a good spanner’- (meaning an euphemism for an excellent techie). ‘He keeps your birds air-worthy, boys-don’t forget that’
We learnt that our govt had agreed to give away one LIBERATOR aircraft to the Canadian Air Force museum. This workhorse of WW II vintage had long stopped flying, biding their time to be finally written off as scrap. Under the situation, the squadron had its hands full to meet the real challenge of preparing one aircraft airworthy for the Canadians.
Cut to the Tarmac -The team from Canada was a huge contingent of men, material and machinery. They tumbled out of the giant transport aircraft and were welcomed by the Station Commander. Later, they were ushered into their respective rooms in our Mess. Next morning a meeting was held. The Squadron Commander asked them as to when they would like to go for their familiarization sortie. On hearing this they were shocked out of their wits. They had come fully prepared for a stay of at least a couple of months. They had never dreamt of flying this extinct bird all the way back to Canada. Their plan was to dismantle the aircraft, only to be assembled later at the Canadian museum. And here, they were being offered a fully airworthy aircraft with a choice to fly straightaway. Anyway, like all aviators they too were happy and thrilled at the prospects of actually flying the aircraft back to Canada.
However, on their specific request they continued to stay for a couple of weeks. Later, at a formal ceremony, the aircraft was handed over to them, followed by cocktails in our Mess. With Gomez at the helm of affairs, the party went off very well. Quite a few free and frank discussions got underway over the drinks. I was getting restless. For once I thought it would be better to get drunk like others than remain sober! All because every Canadian visitor without exception discussed about the usability or rather the non-usability of the “flushing system” of their attached toilets in their rooms. It was a fact that many of the flushes were inoperative. The PMC, usually a man of no few words gave me a mere stare, which spoke volumes and I thought the matter ended there. But more surprises were in store. Speeches were made. Mementoes were exchanged.
The Canadians had pre- planned to give us a memento specially made and flown in from Canada based on a specific request from their team at P…... Many messages were being exchanged by them at night between their Canadian Air base and P….in India using our W/T channels (Wireless Telegraphy).
Their memento was a unique peg measure for pouring liquor-- all in silver, shaped in the form of an English commode with a flush tank, a chain and the plumbing that goes with it. All one has to do is to pull the chain; and presto a peg measure of whisky will pour into the glass held underneath with the familiar gurgling sound of the flush. At the bottom was this inscription.
“You techies can sure maintain a LIBERATOR but not your Johnnies!”
Far from treating it otherwise, this perhaps was one of the finest compliments we techies could receive on our competence to keep our flying -machines air worthy. Gomez had the honour to receive this memento- the Silver Peg Measure”, concluded my colleague.
I couldn’t agree with him any less!
This memento may still be occupying its pride of place in P……. Air Force Officers’ Mess Bar.” But as for me, my favourite mantel piece which still adorns our mantel at home is the toy plane from Benares .

EPILOGUE
The Project Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), having taken off from the ground, has done the nation proud. The technical team who made it a success deservedly received accolades from every quarter, thus proving they are second to none. Hopefully, the LCA would soon be inducted in squadron service, where the well-knit Air Force “techies” would, get an opportunity to handle yet another machine. Our men behind the flying-machines are the finest lot and would measure up to any demanding situation to prove their mettle. This is neither an under statement nor a misplaced sense of overconfidence, but a conclusion based on years of experience, as a proud Air Force techie.
Wishing them “Nabhah Sprusam Deeptham” (Gita Chap XI, Verse24) the motto of the Air Force “touch the sky with Glory”

V V R (a retreaded Air Vice Marshal) ,
20th Jun 06