HQ SOUTH WESTERN COMMAND



HQ South Western Command raised on 15th Aug 2005.  The First General Officer Commanding Autographed this cover.





108 SQUADRON

The Squadron was formed on 20 Nov 1959 equipped with Vampire Jets.

Nick Name : The Hawkeyes.

Motto : Shodhan Aur Aakraman (Shodan Aur Aakraman).

On 25 Mar 2009 the Squadron was honoured when the President, Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the Hawkeyes with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station.

Battle Honours : 1999.

59 SQUADRON

The Squadron was formed with DHC-3 Otter Aircraft under the Command of Sqn Ldr AB Patil on 14 Feb 1960.

Nick Name : Hornbills.

Motto : Nishta Dhairya Parisramah (Loyalty Boldness and Hard work).

On 12 Nov 2008 Squadron was honoured when the President, Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the Hornbills with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Jodhpur. 

49 SQUADRON

The Squadron was established in Barrackpore on 02 Feb 1960.

Nick Name : Paraspears.

Motto : Dhairya Vijayate (Boldness brings Victory).

On 09 Mar 2010 the Squadron was honoured when the President, Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the Paraspears with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Jodhpur.

48 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised in 1959 Srinagar.

Nick Name : Camels.

Motto : Sahase Phalit Sarvatra (Valor brings victory everywhere).

On 15 Feb 2007 the Squadron was honoured when the President, Dr ABJ Abdul Kalam the Camels with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Bhuj.

47 SQUADRON

The Squadron was formed on 18 Dec 1959 at Air Force Station Halwara.  The First Squadron Commander was Sqn Ldr DA LA Fontaine, who later rose to become the Chief of the Air Staff.

Nick Name : Black Archers.

Motto : Karmani Vyapurutham Dhanuhu (My Bow is streched for the task).

On 10 Nov 2009 the Squadron was honoured when the President, Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the Black Archer with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Gwalior. 

44 SQUADRON

The Squadron was formed on 06 Apr 1961 at Chandigarh equipped with An12s, a four-engine turboprop aircraft led by Wg Cdr TN Ghadiok VrC as its First Commanding Officer.

Nick Name : Mighty Jets.

Motto : Ishtam Yatnen Sadhyet (Achieve Goals with Perseverance).

Best Categorised Transport Squadron : 08 Oct 1983.

Best Transport Screw: 08 Oct 1989.

Battle Honours : 02 Dec 1994.

Best Transport Squadron : 1994 & 1999.

Best Combat Transport Squadrons : 08 Oct 2003.

On 09 Mar 2011 the Squadron was honoured when the President, Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the Mighty Jets with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Badogra at the time Commanded by Wing Commander BS Reddy. 

43 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised on 20 Jan 1958 at Barrackpore in West Bengal with 14 Dakota aircraft.

Nick Name : Ibexes.

                   

Motto : Nabhsa Jeevan Dhara (Life Line from the Sky).

On 10 Mar 1992 the squadron was honoured when the President, R Venkataraman, presented the Ibexes with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Kalaikunda.  

41 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised on 01 March 1958 at  Jodhpur . The First Commanding Officer Sqn Ldr G Nallaya.

Nick Name : Otters.

Motto : Samay Par Sahayta (Help in Time). 

Best overall performances Transport Squadron WAC Trophy – 1991-92, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1996-97.

On 07 Nov 1997 the squadron was honoured when the President, K R Narayanan, presented the Otters with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Palam, New Delhi.

37 SQUADRON

The Squadron was formed at Air Force Station Palm on 23 Dec 1957 and was equipped with Vampire night Fighters under the Command of Sqn Ldr Amrit Lal Bajaj.

Nick Name : Black Panthers.

Motto : Sadaiv Nirbhik (Fearless Forever)

On 15 Feb 2007 the Squadron was honoured when the President, Dr ABJ Abdul Kalam the Black Panthers with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Bhuj.

Battle Honour : 1971.

35 SQUADRON

The Squadron equipped with Canberra Aircraft, was raised at Pune on 10 Aug 1958.   The First Commanding Officer Wg Cdr Madhav Bhawrao Naik.

Nick Name : Rapier.

Motto : Drutapraharanayudh.

On 24 Oct 2000 the squadron was honoured when the President, K R Narayanan, presented the Rapier with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony. 

31 SQUADRON

The Squadron was formed on 01 Sep 1963 at Pathankot equipped with French Mystere Aircraft.

Nick Name : Lions.

Motto : Shatru Chhidrey Prahret (A kill with every blow).

Battle Honour : Three’s 1965 & 1971.

On 08 Jan 2011 the squadron was honoured when the President, Smt  Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, presented the Lions with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Lohegaon. 

29 SQUADRON

The Squadron was formed on 10 March 1958 at  Air Force Station Halwara under the command of Sqn Ldr Sukhjinder Singh.

Nick Name : Scropios.

Motto : Sadaiv Sachet (Ever Alert). 

Best Fighter Squadron : 1977, 1978 and 1982.

Best Squadron : 1984.

Best Combat Squadron : 1989 and 1992.

28 SQUADRON

The cool misty dawn on 02 Mar 1963 witnessed history being created at Chandigarh with the Indian Air Force ushering in the Supersonic Era by inducting the MIG 21 on her fleet.  The first Commanding Officer Wg Cdr Dilbagh Singh.

Nick Name : First Supersonics.

Motto : Sanharancha Karothi Ya (Determined to Destroy).

On 02 Apr 1991 the Helicopter Unit was honoured  the President, R Venkatraman The First Supersonics with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Pune.

Battle Honours : 1971.

27 SQUADRON

The Squadron was formed on 15 Feb 1957 at Adampur and equipped with Vampire Air Craft.

The first Commanding Officer Sqn Ldr George Douglas Clarke VrC.

Nick Name : The Flaming Arrows.

Motto :  Durar Sharlakshya (Strike far, Strike Sure).

On 13 Nov 1996 the Helicopter Unit was honoured when the President,  Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma the Flaming Arrows with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Gorakhpur.

24 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised on 16 Feb 1962 at Air Force Station Chabua, Assam.

Nick Name : Hawks.

Motto : Navijitya Nivartanam (No Return without Conquest).

On 06 Mar 2012 the Squadron was honoured when the President, Smt  Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the Hawks with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Bareilly.

20 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised on 01 Jan 1956 under the Command of Sqn Ldr KM Ram.

Nick Name : The Lightnings.

 Motto : Vegvan Kutobhayah (Fast and Furious).

On 10 Mar 1992 the squadron was honoured when the President, R Venkataraman, presented the Lightnings with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Kalaikunda. 

Battle Honour :  Two’s 1971.

16 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised on 15th Sep 1954 at Pune.

Nick Name : Black Cobras.

Motto : Praharodata (Ready to Strike)

On 13 Nov 1976 the squadron was honoured when the President, Mr Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, presented the Black Cobras with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony.

Battle Honour : 1965.

15 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised on 20th Aug 1951 at Ambala under the Command of Sqn Ldr EJ Dhatigara.

Nick Name : Flying Lancers.

Motto : Nihantavya Shatravaha (Annihilation of the enemy).

On 26 Oct 1995 the squadron was honoured when the President, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, presented the Flying Lancers with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Jodhpur.

14 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised on 15th Aug 1951 at Ambala.

Nick Name : Bulls.

Motto : Balam Jayaya (Strenth Leads to Victory).

Affiliation The Garhwal Rifles 2005.

On 11 Nov 1994 the squadron was honoured when the President, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, presented the Bulls with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Ambala.  The Colours were received under the Command of Wing Commander Abhay Gupta.

9 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised on the 14^th Apr 1943 under the command of Squadron Leader AW Rider, at Risalpur

Nick Name : Wolfpack.

Motto : Sahase Vasati Jayashri (In courage resides victory).

On 11^th Dec 1984 the squadron was honoured when the President, Giani Zail Singh, presented the wolfpack with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Palam, New Delhi.

1 SQUADRON

The Squadron was raised on the 01st Apr 1933 at Drigh Road  Karachi with 04 Westland Wapiti Air Craft.  The First Commanding Officer Flight Lieutenant CA Bouchier, DFC.

Motto : Ekta mein Shakti (In unity there is strength)

Nick Name : The Tigers.

Identification symbol : A Royal Bengal Tiger.

The First Indian CO was Sqn Ldr S Mukherjee who later rose to be the Chief of Indian Air Force Staff.

On the historic day of 16th March, 1939 Flight Lieutenant Subroto Mukherjee took over the command of the Squadron from Squadron Leader CH Smith, thus becoming the first Indian to Command a flight, and then a Squadron. 

On 18 Oct 1968 the squadron was honoured when the President, Dr. Zakir Hussain, presented the Tigers with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Adampur.

Battle Honours : 1965 & 1999.

114 HELICOPTER UNIT

The Helicopter Unit was raised at Leh on 01 Apr 1964 by Sqn Ldr A Dalaya VM.

Nick Name : Siachen Pioneers.

On 13 Nov 1996 the Helicopter Unit was honoured when the President,  Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma the 114 Helicopter Unit with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Gorakhpur.

111 HELICOPTER UNIT

The unit was raised at Tezpur on 03^rd Jan 1963 with MI-4 Helicopters under the Command of Sqn Ldr BS Kalra.

Nick Name : Snow Tigers.

On 06 Mar 2012 the Helicopter Unit was honoured when the President, Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the Snow Tigers with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Bareilly at the time Commanded by Wing Commander KS Kakada

On 11 May 2004, the unit achieved greater heights by achieving the World record for the highest landing by a Cheetah Helicopter at an altitude of 23250 ft for evacuating the mountaineers of the Air Force Mount Kamet expedition team.

110 HELICOPTER UNIT

The Unit was raised on 19 Feb 1962 at Tezpur with four Mi-4 Helicopters.  Sqn Ldr NK Gaikwad became the first Commanding Officer of the unit in Aug 1963. 

The following Flying Machines used

MI-4 (1962-1981), MI-8 (1981-2006), MI-17 (2006- Till date)

Nick Name : Van Guards.

On 09 Mar 2011 the Helicopter Unit was honoured when the President, Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the Van Guards with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Bagdogra at the time Commanded by Wing Commander GS Bhuller.

109 HELICOPTER UNIT

No.109 Hellicopter Unit (Knights) is a squadron of the Indian Air Force. Raised on August 26, 1961 under the able leadership of Squadron Leader WJ Liddle,  equipped with Mi 4s, it later converted to Mi 8s in 1974. Based at Coimbatore VOCB, it currently forms a part of the Southern Air Command.

Nick  Name : The Knights.

The unit insignia signifies the embodiment of service on land, sea and in air, with the rotors trisecting the crest depicting the prominence of helicopter in all three areas.

Best Helicopter Unit:  26^th Aug 1961.

Best Categorised Helicopter Unit Trophy in 1978 and 1989.

On 02 Apr 1991 the Helicopter Unit was honoured when the President, R Venkatraman The Knights with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Pune.

107 HELICOPTER UNIT

The unit was raised by Sqn Ldr AS Williams Vr C on Jan 1960 at Srinagar. It was initially established for S-62 and Bell 47 G-3 helicopters. In Nov 1961 when MI-4 helicopters were inducted into the IAF, this was the first unit received the present fleet of MI-8s on 01 Feb 81.

Nick Name : Desert Hawks

Crest : The unit was presented the unit crest on 21 Aug 1982. The Ashoka emblem on top of the crest indicates the national emblem of the Government of India. The slogan ‘Satyamev Jayate’

The unit also bagged the ‘Best Helicopter and Transport Squadron’ trophy of SWAC, IAF for the year 1992, 1996 and 1997.

On 09 Mar 2010 the Helicopter Unit was honoured when the President, Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the Desert Hawks with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Jodhpur at the time Commanded by Wing Commander J Yadav.

104 HELICOPTER UNIT

The unit was raised as a Helicopter Flight on 10 Mar 1954 at Palam with the Sikorsky (S-55).

Nick  Name : Fire Birds.

Motto : Aapatsu Mitram.

On 08 Nov 1988 the Helicopter Unit was honoured when the President, R Venkatraman the 104 Helicopter Unit with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Chandigarh.

105 HELICOPTER UNIT

The unit is the Second oldest Helicopter unit of the IAF with a rich and diverse history.  The unit was formed at Air Force Station, Jorhat on 23 Nov 1959 and converted to MI-8 Helicopters on 01 Sep 1981.

The first CO of the unit in 1960 was Flt Lt MS Kapoor.

Nick Name : The Daring Eagles.

On 25 Mar 2009 the Helicopter Unit was honoured when the President, Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil the 105 Helicopter Unit  with the President's Colours at an impressive ceremony held at Air Force Station, Gorakhpur at the time Commanded by Wing Commander Amitabh Ranjan.