At the Ambala air force station on Friday, the Indian Air Force’s No. 5 squadron, also referred to as the “Tuskers,” will celebrate its platinum jubilee. The purpose of the celebration is to honor the squadron’s accomplishments after 75 wonderful years of service.
(Image source : Google photos)
All about No. 5 squadron
The Tuskers, led by Wing Commander J RS “Danny” Dantra at the time, arrived in Kanpur in November 1948, equipped with B-24 “Liberator” heavy bomber aircraft. In 1981, the squadron moved to its present location in Ambala. Since its establishment, the squadron—which is currently flying Jaguar jets—has mostly served the IAF in an offensive operational capacity.
The squadron became the first IAF bomber unit to accomplish this feat when it was granted the President’s Colors by then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed in April 1975.
A historic occasion
The historic occasion would be attended by Western Air Command’s AOC-in-C, as well as active duty members and squadron veterans. The squadron’s commodore commandant, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, will also be releasing a unique “postal cover”. Among the other attractions on this occasion will be a magnificent aerial performance by the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team, the Akash Ganga Para-Diving Team, and formations of Rafale and Jaguar aircraft.
Kanpur, the birthplace
The Western Air Command provided information that the then-Royal Indian Air Force’s No. 5 squadron was established at Kanpur on November 2, 1948. But after a few months, it relocated to Pune, where it stayed for about eight years. Although the squadron was based in Pune, it would periodically detach to conduct bombing drills in Jamnagar. It aided in the IAF’s invention of horizontal bombing techniques.
The squadron operated Consolidated B-24 Liberators, the first of about forty aircraft that the Indian Air Force and Hindustan Aeronautical Limited had rebuilt and brought back into service from the wreckage and abandoned remains of several lend-lease aircraft that had occurred in India at the close of World War II. The squadron was disbanded as a Liberator unit early in 1957. No. 5 also carried out multiple bombing raids against Pakistani air bases and was instrumental in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1947–1948.
(Image source : TOI)
Participation in Indo-Pak War
Wing Commander (later Group Captain) Man Mohan Bir Singh Talwar led the squadron into combat for the third time in 1971, according to information provided by the Western Air Command. The Indian Air Force’s bomber units, which came under the operational control of Central Air Command, were among the first to receive orders to retaliate after Pakistan attempted a pre emptive air strike on Indian airbases on December 3, 1971. Ten minutes before midnight, the Tuskers took to the air, displaying an extremely quick reaction time. Throughout the 14-day conflict, the squadron conducted operations in the eastern sector and completed about 300 sorties.
Introduction of Jaguars
Canberra-based squadron that had flown the iconic first-generation jet through three conflicts on two continents and nearly a quarter of a century finally gave up the aircraft in 1981, according to an IAF spokesman. Soon after, on August 1, 1981, it was reorganized in Ambala, under the leadership of Wing Commander (later Air Vice Marshal) J S Sisodia. With the introduction of the Jaguar strike aircraft, it transitioned to a new generation of aircraft and equipment.
Another operation, Pawan
No. 5 took part in Operation Pawan, an Indian peacekeeping force operation in Sri Lanka, in July 1988. Initially, the squadron flew long-range reconnaissance missions, taking off from locations deep within peninsular India, flying over Jaffna, and returning to India, often at night.
