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Verity, Hugh (2000) [1978]. We landed by moonlight: secret RAF landings in France, 1940-1944. Crécy. ISBN 9780947554750. OCLC 680454145. The Army operations on the ground to clear rebel-held positions was led by Brig (later Maj Gen) Rustom Zal Kabraji, who was commanding the 61 Mountain Brigade, located at Agartala.
As time ran out, the underground weighed plans and the Amiens prisoners thought grimly about what awaited them, thought of family, prayed, and prepared themselves as best they could. Meanwhile, in England, a remarkable man and a remarkable collection of planners, pilots, and navigators were preparing an astonishing feat of arms, no less than an aerial jailbreak courtesy of the Royal Air Force. The Raiders of 140 Wing Operation Jericho, the air raid on the Amiens prison on 18 February 1944 was mounted to free French resistance fighters prior to the invasion of Normandy. The raid was planned and executed by 180 Wing, consisting of three Mosquito squadrons - 21 Squadron, RAF, 464 Squadron RAAF, and 487 Squadron RNZAF. The Mosquitos were escorted by Typhoons from another three RAF squadrons - 174, 198 and 245.Bowman, M. W. (2005). The Reich Intruders: RAF Light Bomber Raids in World War II (1sted.). Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. ISBN 1-84415-333-9. Was that the only option available to the Union government at the time? Whatever the answer, it was clearly the military and political weapon used to assert mainland India’s dominance over the Mizos.
The operation's eponym is the biblical event when the Wall of Jericho miraculously fell down (Book of Joshua). Caldwell, Donald L. (1998). JG 26 War Diary: 1943–1945. Vol.II. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-86-2. Shores, C.; Thomas, C. (2004). 2nd Tactical Air Force: Spartan to Normandy June 1943 to June 1944. Vol.I. Hersham: Classic Publications (Ian Allan). ISBN 1-903223-40-7.
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Remarkably, Operation Jericho was executed with remarkable precision. It was characterized by meticulous military preparation and strategy, described by military experts as a “masterstroke.” This level of readiness and execution had not been witnessed before in the Indian subcontinent. As a result, the MNF swiftly overran Aizawl, achieving their objectives in just a matter of days. Operation Jericho & Government’s Response
Bowman, M. W. (2012). Mosquito Missions: RAF and Commonwealth De Havilland Mosquitos. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-78383-005-3.
Recounting his memories of that day, Thangsanga, a veteran member of the Mizo National Front, said the bombing took them by surprise. “Our little town was suddenly encircled by four screaming jet fighters,” he said. “Suddenly, bullets rained and bombs were dropped. Burning buildings collapsed and there was dust and chaos everywhere. They hit the heart of Mizoram, but not the Mizo spirit”. A significant milestone was reached with the Indian Parliament’s 53rd amendment in 1986, which facilitated the establishment of Mizoram as India’s 23rd state. This transformation marked the evolution of a region that had once been embroiled in insurgency into a peaceful and officially recognized state within the Indian Union. Operation Jericho UPSC Fact File : Amiens Prison Raid". www.bbc.co.uk British Broadcasting Corporation . http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/timeline/factfiles/nonflash/a1135199.shtml?sectionId=6&articleId=1135199. The IAF’s initial role was to re-supply the army installations, for which Dakotas and Caribou transport aircraft were pressed in from Guwahati and Jorhat. The whole idea might have seemed fantastic coming from about anybody but Embry, but he wore his credentials on his chest. He was a veteran of many missions into harm’s way. He was once captured but could not be held for long. He simply killed his German guards and ran for it, escaping over the Pyrenees. The Germans put a 70,000-mark bounty on him, dead or alive, so he flew later missions as “Wing Commander Smith,” even wearing a dog tag to that effect. Embry was a stern taskmaster, but a fine leader, intensely concerned about his men. When an assemblage of high-ranking officers pressed him to take the Vultee Vengeance divebomber for use, Embry had been adamant: “I will not be a party to my men being killed in the Vultee Vengeance.” And that was that.
Initially, the IAF focused on re-supplying army installations using Dakotas and Caribou transport aircraft from Guwahati and Jorhat. Since 2008, Mizoram has observed March 5 as Zoram Ni or Zoram Day. The idea is to revive the idea of self-determination and instil the importance of sacrifice among the younger generation. “Self-determination is our birthright,” said Malsawma, a member of the Zo-Reunification Organisation or ZORO. “We cannot allow our land and peoples to be divided in India, Bangladesh and Burma [Myanmar] in the name of democracy, a republic or anything else. Our resolution remains that we are united as one people in our own land. Not the Britishers’ land, not Indian land, but in Zo-land”.
Acting Wing Commander, 161 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Citation reads: This officer has completed a very large number of operational missions and achieved much success. By his outstanding leadership, exceptional ability and fine fighting qualities, he has contributed in a large measure to the high standard of morale of the squadron he commands. To repay their debt of honour, MI6 requested an air raid with a seemingly impossible brief: to simultaneously blow holes in the prison walls, free as many men and women as possible while minimizing casualties, and kill German guards in their quarters. The crews would have to fly their bomb-run at an altitude of just 20ft. Despite the huge difficulties, the RAF decided that the low-level specialists of No. 140 Wing had a chance of success. The Centre had decided to station another Assam Rifles battalion in the Hills, in addition to the one Assam Rifles battalion and a few BSF companies already present. No one had imagined that the Union government would bomb its own territory. “It took us by surprise that the government had the courage to deploy jet fighters to bomb Aizawl that it dared not fly inside China or Pakistan,” said Remruata, a village council member. “Well, charity begins at home.”
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