Wing Commander H.S. Mangat's Sukhoi su7 at Indian Air Force Museum - Delhi

From the archive record

The Indian Air Force (IAF) used the Su-7 extensively in the 1971 war with Pakistan. Six squadrons, totaling in 140 aircraft, flew almost 1,500 offensive sorties during the war, and undertook the bulk of the daytime attack efforts. The IAF managed to retain a very high operational tempo with its Su-7s, peaking at a sortie rate of six per pilot per day. Fourteen Su-7s were lost during the war, mostly due to AA fire. After the war was over, it was found that the aircraft had a high survivability, being able fly home safely despite receiving heavy damage. Wing Commander H. S. Mangat's Su-7 was badly damaged by a Sidewinder missile fired from PAF MiG-19. The impact was so severe that half the rudder was missing, the elevators, ailerons and flaps were severely damaged, and half the missile was s