A memorial service was held at the Amarda Road Airstrip on Wednesday for the fourteen airmen who had died in a crash here on July 26, 1945. War historian Anil Dhir, Gandhian Aditya Patnaik, Dr Biswajit Mohanty, Morada MLA Rajkishore Das, Air Commodore Ran Singh, the Air Officer Commanding of Kalaikunda Air Station, and the staff of the Gandhi Eye Hospital at Rangamatia besides locals including school children paid homage to the dead airmen who have been forgotten in history. Wreaths were laid for each of the dead airmen.
Two British Royal Air Force B-24 Liberator four-engine bombers collided at low altitude at this place. The aircrafts were based at the Amarda Road airfield and were part of a six-plane contingent from the Air Fighting Training Unit engaged in a formation flying exercise. Fourteen airmen – the crews of the two aircraft had died in the crash.
They were of different nationalities, British, American, Dutch, New Zealander, Australian and one Indian.
Air Commodore Ran Singh said it was a unique occasion for the IAF to join such a ceremony. He lauded the efforts of Anil Dhir for researching the history of the forgotten air base.
Dhir requested the Governments of Odisha and West Bengal to erect small memorials for these airmen at Amarda Road and the crash site. He has also requested to open up the sealed underground bunker which may hold relics of the period.
Aditya Patnaik said he would give ample space in the Gandhi Gurukul at the airbase for setting up a small museum which will highlight the importance of the airbase during World War II. The setting up of a Peace Museum was mooted last year and Dhir has contacted the British, Australian, Dutch and USA authorities for material to be displayed at the museum. The response has been very positive.
Dhir also said that a book on the history of the base and crash would be released on the next commemoration day.
Dr Biswajit Mohanty said the Odisha Government should understand the importance of this historical airfield and promote it as a destination.
There is a big tourism potential of the base. Many groups from Japan, Britain, America and other countries come to visit the war memorials in the North East every year. He said that all efforts should be taken up for the museum.
MLA Das said the abandoned airbase would soon be made operational for UDAAN flights or for other aviation related ventures. He also promised that all help would be extended for setting up the museum at the base.
ABASH PARIDA