PRESIDENT’S STANDARD AWARDED BY HO’NBLE SHRI. PRANAB MUKHERJEE AT HASHIMARA TODAY

Reporting from Hasimara, Alipurduar (West Bengal)
By Arunangshu Maitra (TNI Alipurduar) ~ Edited By R. Subrata (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Hasimara, 28th November, 2015: The Hon’ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, has awarded the prestigious President’s Standard to No 18 Squadron and No 22 Squadron today at a grand and befitting ceremonial parade at Air Force Station Hasimara. The President’s Standard is awarded to operational Units based on their past record and achievements during peace as well as hostilities. The Commanding Officer of No 18 Squadron, Group Captain KJ Singh and the Commanding Officer of No 22 Squadron Group Captain Sandeep Singh received the Standards.  The Parade was commanded by Group Captain KJ Singh, CO 18 Sqn.  18 Squadron AF was formed at Ambala on 15 April 1965 with five Gnat aircraft and eleven pilots under the command of Wg Cdr AL Michael.

The Squadron took on the role of the ‘Defenders of Kashmir Valley’ during the 1971 Indo-Pak war and carried out extensive flying towards escort duties and also mounted a near continuous daytime Combat Air Patrol.  18 Squadron remains the only Squadron of the IAF with APVC awardee. The Squadron operated an improved version of Gnat ‘The Ajeet’ from May 1980 onwards. The Squadron has participated in several international exercises at Kalaikunda with the French Air Force, United States’ Air Force, Royal Singapore Air Force and Royal Air Force. In the year 2013, the Unit was additionally entrusted with the task of towing the banner target for air to air firing and on 19 September 2014, the Squadron finally moved to its present location, Hasimara. Since its inception, the ‘Flying Bullets’ has received three Shaurya Chakras,  one Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry),  nine Vayu Sena Medals and four Mention-in-Dispatches in addition to the Param Vir Chakra awarded to Flying Officer NJS Sekhon. 22 Squadron Air Force, then called as the ‘Hell’s Angels’ was raised on 15 Oct 1966 at Air Force Station Bareilly as the eighth Gnat Squadron of the IAF. In the recent years, the Squadron has won various air to ground gunnery competition trophies and has participated in various international exercises with foreign Air Forces thus remaining at the forefront of professional excellence. The number of honors and awards which have been bestowed on the unit and its personnel bear a testimony to this fact. The Squadron continues to render yeoman service to the nation in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force. The Commodore Commandant of 22 Sqn, Air Mshl PP Reddy Vayusena Medal ADC, CISC and Air Vice Marshal TD Joseph Vayusena Medal Vishist Seva Medal, AOC Adv HQ Pune, Commodore Commandant of 18 Sqn have graced the occasion. Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vayusena Medal, Aide-de-Camp,  Chief of the Air Staff and Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee,  Air Marshal C Hari Kumar Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal BBP Sinha Air Officer-in-Charge Administration along with other senior defence and civilian dignitaries witnessed the ceremony.  The President also released a First Day cover for No 18 Squadron and No 22 Squadron during the ceremony. Speaking to the reporters on the sidelines of the Award Ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff welcomed the media fraternity on this momentous occasion. The Chief of the Air Staff responded a large number of questions from media ranging from replacement of old weapon systems to the modernization programme and induction of women in fighter stream in the IAF.

Photos: Arunangshu Maitra (TNI)