Before being married to an Air Force pilot and having a brother-in-law who is also one, I always imagined Air Force pilots in my mind. I had the vision of a grim, dedicated, humourless man, dressed in military camouflage, all ready to jump into a place and respond to an enemy provocation.

But, meeting them and getting to know them made me realise that not only were they spontaneous, fun loving, caring and living like a huge family with no religion, but also lived for the moment. Most of the accommodations in those days at smaller Air Force stations were in barracks — majorly old, crumbling British military-style one-room accommodations. The wives cooked, baked, grilled on all innovative devices, as gas was not common. I remember learning baking from Betty (retired Air Commodore Joe D’Souza’s wife), on an ancient stove in a tin box, placed inside a cooker. She baked such excellent cakes. Her mutton chops were also famous all across the Air Force. Whoever started to learn cooking also wanted Betty’s mutton chops as part of the recipes. 

Love stories were common among the Air Force pilots, for their chivalrous attitude and dare devil approach to life drew plenty of attention from the fairer sex. Happiness, joy and enjoying life were all for the moment as one never knew when tragedy, and which family could have someone taken away in his prime. It took me a long time to get over losing some of my best loved friends I had made among the pilots. The song sung by Rajesh Khanna in the film, Andaz, Zindagi, ek safar hai suhana, yahan kal kya ho kisne jana (Life is a beautiful journey. Who knows what will happen tomorrow?) was like the national song for the Air Force. Numerous love stories ended tragically, especially during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. There are also some others like my dear friends, Sonali and Pingle, Sudha and Kacker, who continue to be in love and are enjoying their golden years together.  

Food, a bottle of wine, and love brought friends together in every Air Force pilot’s home. The life of sky warriors is a little treasure chest of exciting incidents, some of the best heritage foods cooked on innovative contraptions available. Betty’s mutton chops were always a part of New Year potluck parties thrown at the messes. Here’s the recipe to recreate Betty’s mutton chops masala, that was much loved by many sky warriors.