The Battle of Boyra, on 22 November 1971, was an aerial interception battle that was fought between the Indian Air Force and intruding Pakistani Air Force jets that had crossed into Indian Airspace. The Pakistani Army was engaged in combat against the invading Mukti Bahini (Bengali Guerrilla fighters) and a Battalion size detachment of the Indian Army in the Battle of Garibpur as part of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Pakistani ground forces requested air cover and close air support from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The PAF aircraft, while providing support to the Pakistani ground units, ended up crossing the Indian border. A detachment of four Folland Gnats was moved to Dum Dum (Kolkata Airport) from its parent base at Kalaikunda, near Kharagpur, over 100 km to the Southwest, to intercept the Pakistan Air Force aircraft. The Detachment was commanded by Flt Lt Roy Andrew Massey.