President''s Standard awarded to two IAF squadrons

Hasimara (West Bengal), November 28

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said India is firmly committed to peace but is always prepared to deploy its military might to safeguard its sovereignty as he decorated two gallant IAF fighter aircraft squadrons at a strategic border airbase here.

Mukherjee, the supreme commander of the armed forces, presented the President’s Standard to the 22^nd and 18^th Squadrons of the Indian Air Force operating the strike and combat superior MiG-27 aircraft to secure Indian skies along the eastern theatre during peace times and war.

The squadrons are based here in Alipurduar district of West Bengal, strategically located right across the India-Bhutan border with the task to keep a vigil over the entire north east border skies of India.

“India’s increasing eminence in the comity of nations draws its strength from the capabilities of our armed forces.

“Though we remain firmly committed to peace, we will use all our might to protect the sovereignty of the nation. I am confident that our valiant men and women in uniform will rise to the occasion,” the President said after he accorded the honours to the two strike formations of the IAF.

He lauded the air force by calling it the “cutting edge” of India’s military might and praised its men and women as he said the armed forces, “exemplified by the air warriors who stand before us, reflect our steely resolve to defend our interests.”

The President’s Standards are given to armed forces’ units which render exceptional and dedicated service over a period of time.

Both the units which got the honours today have been doing so since 50 years now.

While the 18^th Squadron, called the ‘Flying Bullets’, was formed in 1965 in Ambala, the 22^nd Squadron was raised in 1966 in Bareilly and subsequently based at the Hasimara air force station here.

Mukherjee praised the IAF’s role in carrying out numerous humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, especially during the 2013 deluge in the hill state of Uttarakhand and during the earthquake in neighbouring Nepal in April this year.

“The nation is indeed proud of you,” he said complimenting the two units and the Air Force.

The two air strike units decorated today have played important roles during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, with the 18^th Squadron being the lone recipient of the highest battle-time gallantry medal—the Param Vir Chakra—for the dare devil operation of its Flying Officer N.J.S. Sekhon who successfully brought down Pakistani air force ‘Sabre’ fighter jets in skilled dogfights.

The 22^nd Squadron, also called ‘The Swifts’ for their fast and precision skills, earned its laurels during the same war when its fighters brought down three Pakistani jets over Jessore in a single sortie.

The Squadrons are based in the border areas as the first IAF responders in case of any offensive from the eastern front where apart from other nations, China is the predominant Indian neighbour.

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and senior Air Force officers were present at the event along with state government officials.

During the event, the President also reviewed the parade even as multiple MiG-27s flew past as a mark of honour for the event and IAF drill teams, the Hawk aircraft flying ‘Surya Kiran’ and Sukhoi 30 acrobatic teams performed some daring manoeuvres on the ground and in the air simultaneously.

The Hasimara IAF base is about 20 km from the Indo-Bhutan border and over 680-kms from state capital Kolkata. — PTI