No. 35 Squadron has as its emblem an erect Rapier. Below this crest, on a scroll is inscribed Drutpraharnayudha.
A Canberra of the No. 35 Squadron. The Rapier emblem is clearly visible
History
No 35 squadron was raised in Pune on 10 August 1958 equipped with Canberra B(I) 58 under the command of Wg Cdr NB Naik.[3] It became the fourth unit to operate the Canberra bomber in the Indian Air Force and was initially tasked with high altitude bombing and interdiction as well as reconnaissance roles. The unit also appears to have had a secondary responsibility of high altitude weather research.[3] No. 35 Sqn has been involved in all of India's major military operations, from the liberation of Goa to Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil War, when it was deployed Kashmir Valley and the Rann of Kutch.[3] It was re-equipped with modified Canberra B(I) 58 and MiG-21Ms for dedicated EW role. In 1978, the unit was moved to AFS Bareilly. Since the 1980s, No.35 Squadron has played an important role in collaborating with DRDO in the evaluation of Electronic Warfare (EW) systems and armaments. The unit's Canberra flight was withdrawn in 1997 and re-equipped with EW-equipped MiG-21Ms. The unit also fills an important training role. In 2001 the Squadron phased out it Canberra B(I) 58. The squadron is currently[when?] in the process of upgrading its equipment from the MIG21 BIS aircraft.[4]
In addition to providing support to offensive air operations, the Rapiers play a crucial role in providing flying effort towards EW related training for the IAF's own air defense units and currently operates from Bakshi-Ka-Talab.[5]
The squadron was number plated in 2019. Currently, only 4 MiG-21 Bison squadron remains in service.[2]
Goa Operations
The squadron's first operation was in 1961 during the annexation of Goa[4] when it flew against Dabolim Airport in Portuguese-held Goa. Flying from Pune, No. 35 was deployed along with No. 16 in the opening missions against the airfield on 18 December when 12 Canberras of No. 35 led by Wg. Cdr. N.B. Menon struck the runway at Dabolim with 1000lbers. The flight was, however, under orders not to strike terminals and facilities.[4] There appears to have been plans for strikes against Diu Airport, but appears to have been called off due to proximity of friendly forces.[4]
No.35 Sqn's Canberras were first moved north during the confrontation with China. In the event that no air action was authorized during the conflict in November 1962, no combat sorties were flown by any Canberra units.
The squadron's first sustained combat operations occurred during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. The squadron then based at Halwara under Wg Cdr AS Bakshi went on alert in late August 1965. Over a ten-day period, beginning 1 September 1965, the squadron flew 69 operational sorties. The most intense missions against Mauripur, Kasur, and Sargodha being flown between 7 and 13 September. The Squadron flew with distinction (Sqn Ldr JP Gupta earning a Mention-in-Despatches for bombing Kasur).
The war in 1971 provided this young squadron an opportunity to perform to its full potential. During the war, No.35 Sqn's Canberras flew day and night missions on both fronts. A total of 92 operational sorties amounting to 900 hours were undertaken by the squadron during the conflict. The highlight of war was its bombing of the oil refinery at Karachi - resulting in, according to a recce pilot, "the biggest blaze ever seen over South Asia." While the squadron lost an aircraft and two pilots (Flt Lt SC Sandal and Flt Lt KS Nanda) over Karachi, the raid earned Wg Cdr KK Badhwar a Vir Chakra. Over the course of the conflict the squadron earned one Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, five Vir Chakras, six Vishisht Seva Medals, one Vayu Sena Medal and three Mention-in-Despatches.
The Squadron went on alert during Operation Safed Sagar in the summer of 1999. The squadron deployed a flight each to support offensive and defensive operations by Western and South Western Air Command (SWAC). No.35 Sqn's aircraft deployed to bases in Kashmir as well as to the Rann of Kutch.
No 35 Sqn was last in news as the unit, which took over the Mig-25 Fleet when No. 102 Squadron IAF (Trisonics) was disbanded. The Canberra Flight of 35 Sqn has been dissolved and the Mig21-bis will also be retired over a period of time. No 35 Sqn has been reduced to paper status and the unit will acquire new aircraft and a new role in the near future.
This squadron has been currently moved to Rajasthan sector.
Related Research Articles
Surya Kiran is an aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) was formed in 1996 and are a part of the 52nd Squadron of the IAF. The team has since performed numerous demonstrations usually with nine aircraft. The squadron was composed of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 military trainer aircraft till 2011 and were based at the Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka. The team was suspended in February 2011 and was re-established with Hawk Mk-132 aircraft in 2015.
Number 31 Squadron, known as the Goldstars, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. The Squadron lays claim to being the first military unit to fly in India, where it was based from 1915 to 1947. Throughout the Cold War, No. 31 Squadron was based in West Germany, flying from RAF Laarbruch and RAF Brüggen. Between September 1984 and March 2019, the Goldstars operated the Panavia Tornado GR1/4, initially from RAF Brüggen and after August 2001 from RAF Marham, Norfolk. No. 31 Squadron was disbanded on 14 March 2019 at RAF Marham and reformed on 11 October 2023 at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, equipped with the General Atomics Protector RG1.
No. 249 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron, active in the sea-patrol, fighter and bomber roles during its existence. It was one of the top scoring fighter squadrons of the RAF in World War II.
Operation Safed Sagar was the code name assigned to the Indian Air Force's role in acting jointly with the Indian Army during the 1999 Kargil war that was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular troops of the Pakistani Army from vacated Indian Positions in the Kargil sector along the Line of Control. It was the first large scale use of Airpower in the Jammu and Kashmir region since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
No. 22 Squadron (Swifts) was a CAS unit based out of Hasimara AFS. Along with No. 222 Squadron IAF Tiger Sharks, No. 22 Squadron forms a part of the 16 Wing of the IAF. The squadron operated MiG-27 till December 2017 and the squadron number-plated since then.
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.
The No.3 Squadron (Cobras) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates as a Close Air Support (CAS) and reconnaissance unit. Currently based at NAL Air Force Station, No. 3 Sqn falls under the Western Air Command, forms the 46 wing of the IAF.
Operation Chengiz Khan was the code name assigned to the preemptive strikes carried out by the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) on the forward airbases and radar installations of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the evening of 3 December 1971, and marked the formal initiation of hostilities of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The operation targeted 11 of India's airfields and also included artillery strikes on Indian positions in Kashmir. The targets were the Indian Airbases of Amritsar, Ambala, Agra, Awantipur, Bikaner, Halwara, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Pathankot, Bhuj, Srinagar and Uttarlai and air defence radars at Amritsar and Faridkot.
The No. 224 Squadron (Warlords) of the IAF is a Ground Attack squadron based at Jamnagar AFS. It was temporarily disbanded in 2007 after the retirement of MiG-23MF aircraft. The unit was resurrected in 2008 with Jaguar Darin II aircraft and continues to operate from Jamnagar.
No. 170 Squadron RAF was a Second World War Royal Air Force squadron that operated the North American Mustang in the fighter-reconnaissance role and later the Avro Lancaster as part of Bomber Command.
The Central Air Command is one of the five operational commands of the Indian Air Force. It is currently headquartered in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. It was formed on 19 March 1962, at Rani Kuthee, Calcutta.
No. 24 Squadron, named the Blinders, is an electronic warfare unit of the Pakistan Air Force.
Lucknow Air Force Station known as Bakshi Ka Talab Air Force Station is located at Bakshi Ka Talab on the outskirt of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. It belongs to the Central Air Command. Sole user of this airport is the Indian Air Force. No. 35 Squadron IAF (Rapiers) is based here as an EW and Air superiority unit. It was founded by the British in the run up to WWII as a small airstrip, but expanded after Indian independence. This airbase stood for quick landing and take off in emergency cases. It is a small fighter unit ready to take part in combat in emergency. This station also responsible for navigating air traffic. This station located about 1.5 km from Bakshi ka talab main road. Kendriya Vidyalaya BKT school is also located there.
No. 16 Squadron Indian Air Force , is a counter-air and interdiction unit, operating out of the Indian Air Force station in Gorakhpur.
No. 21 Squadron IAF (Ankush), is an Air Defence and Ground Attack unit of the Indian Air Force, operating from Sirsa AFS, as part of 12 Wing of Western Air Command. The squadron was number plated on an unspecified date.
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. 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.
Air Chief Marshal Satish Kumar Sareen, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC was the Chief of Air Staff of Indian Air Force from 31 December 1995 till 31 December 1998.
No. 106 Squadron ("Lynxes") is a squadron of the Indian Air Force. It was raised on 1 May 1957 with eight newly inducted PR.57 English Electric Canberras in the strategic photo-reconnaissance role. Initially positioned at Bareilly, later the squadron moved to Agra. When the Canberras were retired in 2007, the squadron was equipped with Hawker Siddeley HS 748 ("Avros"). The motto of the squadron is "Sarva Peshayami".
No. 47 Squadron is a fighter squadron and is equipped with MiG-29UPG and based at Adampur Air Force Station.
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.
India 
Indian Air Force 
