The urgency to deploy the IPKF was such that No. 25 and No. 44 Squadrons even deployed the last few remaining An-12s during this operation. This was an even bigger achievement considering the Antonov works at Kiev discontinued even the production of spares for this type in the early 1980s: by 1987, the IAF’s An-12s required the support of No. 3 Base Repair Depot at Chandigarh for maintenance purposes. All the Indian An-12s were painted in grey overall, with the cockpit roof in white. In addition to their registrations – applied above the fin flash – they were further marked with big black codes (apparently A–Z). As far as is known, service titles were applied only on this example (from No. 25 Squadron) and a few others. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)