Operation Eagle (Sri Lanka)
Encyclopedia
Operation Eagle was a Sri Lanka Air Force operation
to resupply and rescue critically wounded service personal from the old Dutch Fort of Jaffna
held by the Sri Lanka Army and besieged by the LTTE on July 3, 1990. The successful rescue operation gained headlines, leading to much rejoicing island-wide and helped increase morale.
such as; Palaly, Jaffna Fort
and other areas such as Killinochi, Mankulaum and Kokavil
were besieged by the LTTE. Talaimannar
army detachment was overrun. The bases at Elephant Pass
and Mullaitivu
were under attack, yet stable. At this point much attention was gained by the besieged Jaffna Fort with over 200 Army and Police personnel.
Even though elements of the 6th Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
held the fort effectively under the command of Lieutenant Jayantha Perera and was support by the policemen of the Jaffna Police Station, the garrison was running short of food and ammunition. There were eight service personal critically wounded and required evacuation. A previous airborne rescue attempt by helicopter failed due to heavy enemy fire that prevented the helicopter from landing. At this point the air force was under increased pressure to try another rescue attempt.
Air Marshall Terrance Gunawardena gave the order to carry out a rescue operation. The Northern Area Air Operations Commander Wing Commander Sunil Cabral took up operational command of the mission was Squadron Leader Lasantha Waidyaratne, who was at the time Air Force’s Staff Officer to late Major General
Denzil Kobbekaduwa
GOC
Northern Sector was asked took pilot the helicopter to make the daring landing. Volunteering to fly the mission he selected Flight Lieutenant Avindra Mirando as his co-pilot and Raula Fernando as air gunner
.
The plan was to take weapons, ammunition and a medical team with supplies and land outside the ramparts near the main gate of the fort. The operation was code named Operation Eagle and the day set for early morning of July 3, 1990.
A two waves of three SIAI Marchetti SF.260s each with a third wave in reserve, was to attack enemy positions to clear the way for the landing helicopter, code name Red formation. To provide close air cover for the rescue helicopter was four helicopter gunships.
On July 2, 1990 a SIAI Marchetti SF.260 dropped an empty bombshell contacting the plans of the op into the fort for its personal to make preparations. A Bell 212 from the No. 4 Helicopter Wing
code named Lasntha was used, and the pilots practiced the maneuvers Nachaduwa tankbund in the vicinity of Anuradhapura
during twilight hours of July 2, 1990. The SIAI Marchetti SF.260s were led by Squadron Leader
Shirantha Goonatilake
, and the close air cover gunships were Bell 212s armed with .50 cal machine guns and rockets from the No. 4 Helicopter Wing.
Three Harbin Y-12
and a Shaanxi Y-8
transporters from the No. 2 Squadron
were improvised as bombers were to be flying over Mannar
in case mission failure and to assist in the recovery through a prolonged battle with heavy bombing capability. Final briefing took place at SLAF Anuradhapura by Wing Commander Sunil Cabral the Operation Commander.
On arriving near the Fort, Sqn Ldr Waidyaratne made a 90-degree turn and descended, instructing his own gunners not to initiate aggressive fire, making an 8-shaped path and settled the machine at the designated location. In less than a minute the rescue helicopter successfully completed its mission, placing a new commanding officer, a medical team and supplies, a complement of heavy weapons and loading up eight seriously wounded soldiers and policemen. At this point the Siai Marchettis carried out their bombing run and the surprised LTTE carders were pinned down by the gunships that arrived at the scene.
The helicopter was airborne in less time than the estimated time of one minute on ground, with its gunner firing at the LTTE pillbox that was in close proximity to the main gate of the fort. After reaching an altitude of 2000 feet, Lasantha turned home.
Eventually the fort was relived and evacuated by Operation Thrividha Balaya
and the air rescue made into a film of the same name.
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
to resupply and rescue critically wounded service personal from the old Dutch Fort of Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
held by the Sri Lanka Army and besieged by the LTTE on July 3, 1990. The successful rescue operation gained headlines, leading to much rejoicing island-wide and helped increase morale.
Overview
With the LTTE withdrawing from peace talks and violating the ceasefire, many Army bases in the Jaffna PeninsulaJaffna Peninsula
The Jaffna Peninsula is an area in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is home to the capital city of the province, Jaffna and comprises much of the former land mass of the ancient Tamil kingdoms of the Nagas and the medieval Jaffna kingdom. The peninsula is mostly surrounded by water, connected to...
such as; Palaly, Jaffna Fort
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
and other areas such as Killinochi, Mankulaum and Kokavil
Kokavil
Kokavil is a village in Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka, also called Kokkavil. It is situated along A-9 road.- Massacre on Yal Devi:Troops were located parallel to A-9 Highway and old Murikandi-Kokavil Railway Station where LTTE massacre on "Yal Devi" passenger train was occurred...
were besieged by the LTTE. Talaimannar
Talaimannar
Talaimannar is a settlement in Sri Lanka located on the northwestern coast of Mannar Island.- Transport :Prior to the severe destructions by a cyclone in December 1964, it was the terminus of a ferry service to India across the very shallow Palk Bay...
army detachment was overrun. The bases at Elephant Pass
Elephant Pass
Elephant Pass, Northern Province, Sri Lanka is an important military base and formerly the island's largest salt field, located in the gateway of Jaffna Peninsula. It has thus regularly been the site of battles during the civil war....
and Mullaitivu
Mullaitivu
Mullaitivu is a small town on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. A largely fishing settlement, the town in the early 20th century grew as an anchoring harbour of the small sailing vessels transporting goods between...
were under attack, yet stable. At this point much attention was gained by the besieged Jaffna Fort with over 200 Army and Police personnel.
Even though elements of the 6th Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is the first rifle regiment in the Sri Lanka Army and the second oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of seven regular battalions, five volunteer battalions and a headquarter battalion...
held the fort effectively under the command of Lieutenant Jayantha Perera and was support by the policemen of the Jaffna Police Station, the garrison was running short of food and ammunition. There were eight service personal critically wounded and required evacuation. A previous airborne rescue attempt by helicopter failed due to heavy enemy fire that prevented the helicopter from landing. At this point the air force was under increased pressure to try another rescue attempt.
Plan
The Commander of the Sri Lanka Air ForceCommander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)
The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The current Commander of the Air Force is Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama since 2011...
Air Marshall Terrance Gunawardena gave the order to carry out a rescue operation. The Northern Area Air Operations Commander Wing Commander Sunil Cabral took up operational command of the mission was Squadron Leader Lasantha Waidyaratne, who was at the time Air Force’s Staff Officer to late Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Denzil Kobbekaduwa
Denzil Kobbekaduwa
Lieutenant General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc, SLAC was a highly decorated and respected General in the Sri Lanka army...
GOC
GOC
GOC may refer to:*Gareth O'Callaghan, Irish author and presenter*General Officer Commanding, a general officer who holds a military command appointment*General Optical Council, an organisation in the United Kingdom that regulates opticians and optometrists...
Northern Sector was asked took pilot the helicopter to make the daring landing. Volunteering to fly the mission he selected Flight Lieutenant Avindra Mirando as his co-pilot and Raula Fernando as air gunner
Air gunner
An air gunner a.k.a. aerial gunner is a member of an air force aircrew who operates flexible-mount or turret-mounted machine guns or autocannons in an aircraft...
.
The plan was to take weapons, ammunition and a medical team with supplies and land outside the ramparts near the main gate of the fort. The operation was code named Operation Eagle and the day set for early morning of July 3, 1990.
A two waves of three SIAI Marchetti SF.260s each with a third wave in reserve, was to attack enemy positions to clear the way for the landing helicopter, code name Red formation. To provide close air cover for the rescue helicopter was four helicopter gunships.
On July 2, 1990 a SIAI Marchetti SF.260 dropped an empty bombshell contacting the plans of the op into the fort for its personal to make preparations. A Bell 212 from the No. 4 Helicopter Wing
No. 4 Squadron SLAF
No. 4 Helicopter Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates Bell 412s from SLAF Katunayake for VIP Air transport.-History:...
code named Lasntha was used, and the pilots practiced the maneuvers Nachaduwa tankbund in the vicinity of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
during twilight hours of July 2, 1990. The SIAI Marchetti SF.260s were led by Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Shirantha Goonatilake
Shirantha Goonatilake
Air Commodore Shirantha Goonatilake RWP, RSP, SLAF was Sri Lankan aviator and most senior Air Force officer to be killed in action...
, and the close air cover gunships were Bell 212s armed with .50 cal machine guns and rockets from the No. 4 Helicopter Wing.
Three Harbin Y-12
Harbin Y-12
-See also:-Bibliography:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 07106-0867-5....
and a Shaanxi Y-8
Shaanxi Y-8
The Shaanxi Y-8 or Yunshuji-8 aircraft is a medium size medium range transport aircraft produced by Shaanxi Aircraft Company in China, based on the Soviet Antonov An-12. It has become one of China's most popular military and civilian transport/cargo aircraft, with many variants produced and exported...
transporters from the No. 2 Squadron
No. 2 Squadron SLAF
No. 2 "Heavy Transport" Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates the C-130 Hercules and Antonov 32 from SLAF Ratmalana.-History:...
were improvised as bombers were to be flying over Mannar
Mannar, Sri Lanka
Mannar , formerly spelled Manar, is the capital of Mannar District, Sri Lanka. It is located on Mannar Island.Mannar is known for its baobab trees and for its fort, built by the Portuguese in 1560 and taken by the Dutch in 1658 and rebuilt; its ramparts and bastions are intact, though the interior...
in case mission failure and to assist in the recovery through a prolonged battle with heavy bombing capability. Final briefing took place at SLAF Anuradhapura by Wing Commander Sunil Cabral the Operation Commander.
Operation
The H hour 0505 July 3, 10 minutess before the aircraft were in place and the go-ahead was given by Operation Commander. However Lasantha reported poor light, and the same was reported by Red formation. The operation was briefly halted and recommenced. Several minutes later Sqn Ldr Waidyaratne brought Lasantha down to 50 feet, and the order was given to land without air cover by Ops Commander. Lasantha approached the fort, and the gunships moved to attack seconds ahead of time, providing cover.On arriving near the Fort, Sqn Ldr Waidyaratne made a 90-degree turn and descended, instructing his own gunners not to initiate aggressive fire, making an 8-shaped path and settled the machine at the designated location. In less than a minute the rescue helicopter successfully completed its mission, placing a new commanding officer, a medical team and supplies, a complement of heavy weapons and loading up eight seriously wounded soldiers and policemen. At this point the Siai Marchettis carried out their bombing run and the surprised LTTE carders were pinned down by the gunships that arrived at the scene.
The helicopter was airborne in less time than the estimated time of one minute on ground, with its gunner firing at the LTTE pillbox that was in close proximity to the main gate of the fort. After reaching an altitude of 2000 feet, Lasantha turned home.
Aftermath
The mission was a complete success and by morning the entire island was aware of the daring rescue, with the media dubbing this operation a Meticulously Planned and Brilliantly Executed Operation. This singular event raised the morale of not only the troops in the fort but the whole nation.Eventually the fort was relived and evacuated by Operation Thrividha Balaya
Operation Thrividha Balaya
Operation Thrividha Balaya was a combined military operation launched by the Sri Lankan Military in Jaffna. The Operation was carried out to break the siege of the Sri Lanka Army garrison of the old Dutch Jaffna Fort in Jaffna. The operation was successfully carried out and the garrison withdrawn....
and the air rescue made into a film of the same name.