No. 106 Squadron IAF

Last updated

No. 106 Squadron
Active
  • 11 December 1959 — December 2013
  • January 2014 — Present
CountryIndia
Role Fighter
Base AFS Tezpur
Nickname(s)"Lynxes"
Motto(s)Sarva Peshayami
I see everything
Engagements 1959 Canberra shootdown
Western Air War, 1965
Liberation War, 1971
Operation Vijay
Aircraft flown
Fighter Su-30MKI [1]

No. 106 Squadron ("Lynxes") is a squadron of the Indian Air Force. [2] It was raised on 1 May 1957 with eight newly inducted PR.57 English Electric Canberras in the strategic photo-reconnaissance role. [3] Initially positioned at Bareilly, later the squadron moved to Agra. [2] When the Canberras were retired in 2007, the squadron was equipped with Hawker Siddeley HS 748 ("Avros"). [2] The motto of the squadron is "Sarva Peshayami". [2]

Contents

No. 106 Squadron was first formed briefly in 1942, seemingly from a coastal defence flight. On 30 April 1942, Air HQ India Order No./1/4/10/Org dated 1 April 1942 arrived, redesignated Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve flights as squadrons. [4] The briefly formed 104 Squadron IAF was disbanded in November 1942, thus it seems likely that No. 106 Squadron was also disbanded at this time.

History

The squadron was with Assam Regiment and Arunachal Scouts of Indian Army in January 2021. [5]

Operational history of Canberras

Of the eight Canberras provided on raising, three aircraft (IP 986 to 988) were transferred from the Royal Air Force while five, serials IP 989 to 993, were specifically manufactured for the IAF. Of the original eight, one Canberra, IP 988, was shot down on 10 April 1959, when it reportedly strayed into Pakistani airspace. One Canberra (IP 987) was transferred from the IAF to the National Remote Sensing Agency. To make up for these two deficiencies, the IAF obtained two more refurbished PR 57 aircraft in 1963 (BP 745 and 746). In 1971, the IAF imported two PR 67s (P 1098 and 1099), an improved version. [6] [7]

In the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, 106 Squadron Canberras were involved in a number of photo-reconnaissance missions which were strategic in nature. The squadron was led by Wing Commander Ramesh Sakharam Benegal, a former Tokyo Boy. [8] : 152  Unconfirmed reports about Chinese men and materiel moving into Pakistan by the Karakorum Highway in mid-winter resulted in a Canberra reconnaissance mission on 6 December 1971 which refuted the report. [8] : 154–156  The Canberras flew a sortie on 8 December 1971 to Longewala to confirm the outcome. This produced a notable photograph of crossed and inter-twined tracks of the Pakistani armour as they manoeuvered to avoid destruction by the Hunters of the Operational Training Unit. [8] : 156–158  On 10 Dec 1971, a reconnaissance sortie was flown to Gwadar, to check whether the Pakistan Navy had located any assets there to avoid the blockade of Karachi, which did not prove to be the case. [8] : 158–159 

The squadron also made a number of sorties over East Pakistan. 106 Squadron Canberras photographed avenues for the advance of Indian columns from various directions. Photo-reconnaissance was done of prospective drop zones for the parachute drop of the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment from which Tangail was selected. [8] : 159  The Indian Navy requested photo-reconnaissance of Chittagong airfield and harbour, Cox's Bazar airfield which was provided. [8] : 160  The squadron flew number of missions over enemy airfields, namely Ishurdi, Jessore, Kurmitola and Tejgaon airfields. [8] : 160 

While the standard Canberra bomber squadron of the IAF had 16 Canberra bombers and two trainers, for the early part of its service, 106 squadron had only five photo-reconnaissance aircraft and no trainers, with two additional refurbished aircraft being added in 1971. [6] After the 1971 conflict, Wing Commander Benegal was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra while other pilots in the squadron were awarded four Vir Chakras, four Vayu Sena Medals and four commendation cards. [8] : 161  For this reason it is considered one of the most highly decorated squadrons of the air force during the 1971 war.

In 1999, a Canberra, IP 990, on a low-level mission over Kargil during Operation Vijay, was hit by a Stinger missile. The missile destroyed the left engine and damaged the aircraft but the pilots, Wing Commander Perumal and Flight Lieutenant Jha, landed the aircraft safely at a nearby air base. Wing Commander Perumal was awarded the Shaurya Chakra. [9]

On 19 December 2005, the same aircraft suffered an engine failure forcing it to return to base, but crashed 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) short of the runway, killing both pilots. [10] [11]

One of the early commanding officers of No. 106 Squadron, Wing Commander Jaggi Nath, who was awarded a Maha Vir Chakra in both the 1965 and 1971 wars, said :

“106 Squadron (with the Canberra PR.57/PR.67) was not just an Air Force asset, it was a national asset”. [6]

Aircraft

Aircraft Types operated by 106 Squadron [12] [5]
Aircraft TypeFromToAir Base
Canberra PR.57 January 1960July 2007 AFS Agra
Dakota C47 January 1960February 1978
Hawker HS 748 February 1978N/A
Su-30 MKI January 2014Present AFS Tezpur

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. K. Kaul</span>

Air Chief Marshal Swaroop Krishna Kaul, PVSM, MVC, ADC is a former Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. Kaul served as the Air Chief from 1993 to 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 35 Squadron IAF</span> Military unit

No. 35 Squadron IAF (Rapiers) was an electronic warfare and air superiority squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF). It was based at Bakshi Ka Talab Airforce Station, No. 35 Squadron came under the Central Air Command; and along with No. 108 Squadron formed an operational wing of the IAF. As of 2017, it was equipped with MiG-21M aircraft. The squadron was number plated in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon</span> Recipient of Param Vir Chakra

Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC was an officer of the Indian Air Force. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration during war time, in recognition of his lone defence of Srinagar Air Base against a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) air raid during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He is the only member of the Indian Air Force to be honoured with the PVC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 7 Squadron IAF</span> Military unit

No. 7 Squadron, Indian Air Force operates as a Special Munitions Delivery and air superiority unit. Based at Gwalior AFB, No.7 Squadron forms a part of 40 Wing AF, Central Air Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Pakistan Air Operations (1971)</span>

East Pakistan Air Operations covers the activity of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Army Aviation units in former East Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The operations involved the interdiction, air defense, ground support, and logistics missions flown by the Bangladesh Air Force, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy Aviation wing in support of the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini; in the eastern theater of the Indo-Pakistani conflict of 1971.The Indian Air force aided the Mukti Bahini to organize a formation of light aircraft. These were manned and serviced mainly by Bengali pilots and technicians who had defected from the Pakistani Air Force.


The No.3 Squadron (Cobras) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates as a Close Air Support (CAS) and reconnaissance unit. Currently based at Pathankot Air Force Station, No. 3 Sqn falls under the Western Air Command, and alongside the No. 26 Sqn (Warriors), No. 104HU and No.125HU (Gladiators), forms the 18 wing of the IAF.

The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932 independently of the army and navy and in a similar format to the British Royal Air Force. It had been a recommendation of the Skeen Committee, which had been tasked to look into demands for the Indianisation of the Indian army. Its first squadron was raised on 1 April 1933.

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 saw the Indian and Pakistani Air Forces engaged in large-scale aerial combat against each other for the first time since the Partition of India in 1947. The war took place during the course of September 1965 and saw both air forces conduct defensive and offensive operations over Indian and Pakistani airspace. The aerial war saw both sides conducting thousands of sorties in a single month. Both sides claimed victory in the air war; Pakistan claimed to have destroyed 104 enemy aircraft against its own losses of 19, while India claimed to have destroyed 73 enemy aircraft and lost 35 of its own. Despite the intense fighting, the conflict was effectively a stalemate.

Air Commodore Ramesh Sakharam Benegal MVC AVSM was an ex-officer of the Indian Air Force and a recipient of Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry Award and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie MiddlecoatSJ & Bar was a Pakistani fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) who was involved in a number of aerial battles during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani wars, before being shot down on 12 December 1971. He was one of a number of distinguished Pakistani strike and fighter pilots of the period. Before his death he was stationed at Mauripur, Karachi, Pakistan where he flew the F-104 Starfighter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 27 Squadron IAF</span> Military unit

No. 27 Squadron IAF is a Ground-Attack and Close Air Support squadron of the Indian Air Force, operating from Gorakhpur AFS, under Central Air Command.

No. 26 Squadron IAF (Warriors) is a Ground Attack and Close Air Support unit of the Indian Air Force, operating from Pathankot Air Force Station under India's Western Air Command. The squadron was number plated on an unspecified date.

No. 31 Squadron IAF, nicknamed the Lions, is a Ground Attack squadron of the Indian Air Force, equipped with Su-30MKI aircraft operating from Jodhpur Air Force Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hrushikesh Moolgavkar</span> Chief of Staff of Indian Air Force (1920-2015)

Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgavkar, PVSM, MVC was a former Air officer in the Indian Air Force. He served as the 9th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force from 1 February 1976 till 31 August 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jag Mohan Nath</span>

Wing Commander Jag Mohan Nath, was an Indian Air Force officer. He is the first of the six officers to have been decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest war time military decoration, twice. He was decorated for his operations in the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Air Commodore Harcharan Singh Mangat MVC was an ex-officer of the Indian Air Force, who participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for which he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest military award.

Air Vice Marshal Cecil Vivian Parker, MVC, VM is a former air officer of the Indian Air Force. During the Indo-Pak War of 1971, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry Award. He last served as the Commandant of the Air Force Academy.

Air Marshal Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj PVSM MVC VM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force and a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Maha Vir Chakra and the Vayu Sena Medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virendera Singh Pathania</span> Indian Air Force fighter pilot

Group Captain Virendera Singh Pathania was an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot reputed for making the first confirmed aerial dogfight kill of independent India when he shot down a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Sabre Jet with his Folland Gnat on 4 September, 1965. For this action, he was awarded the Vir Chakra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1959 Canberra shootdown</span> Cold War aviation incident

On 10 April 1959, an Indian Canberra PR.57 reconnaissance aircraft was shot down while it was deep inside Pakistani airspace by two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-86F Sabres. The Canberra was on a photo reconnaissance mission over the Punjab province when it was shot down. This shootdown is also the first aerial victory for the PAF.

References

  1. ↑ "IAF chief Dhanoa flies Mig-21 solo: A list of others in fighter planes". The Indian Express. 13 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  3. ↑ Mohan, Vijay (1 April 2007). "Canberra flies into oblivion". The Tribune, India. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  4. ↑ P V S Jagan Mohan, 'The Westland Lysander in Indian Air Force Service,' p.38.
  5. 1 2 "Affiliation ceremony of 106 squadron of IAF & Assam Regiment of Indian Army". North East India24. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Pannu, Anandeep (12 April 2015). "Canberra : Photo Reconnaissance Marks PR.57 and PR.67". "The English Electric Canberra History Project" on Bharat Rakshak.com. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "10 April 1959". Warbirds.com. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Benegal, Ramesh S. Burma to Japan with Azad Hind: A War Memoir 1941–1945. Lancer Publishers LLC. pp. 151–161. ISBN   978-1-935501-64-0 . Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  9. ↑ Chidambaranathan, R (7 June 2007). "Farewell to Falcon". Sainik Samachar. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Dutta, Sujan. "Warhorse pilots die, people saved". The Telegraph. Kolkata. Archived from the original on 24 December 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "19 Dec 2005". Warbirds.com. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "No.106 Squadron Lynxes" . Retrieved 3 January 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.