At the beginning of Second World War, the Indian Air force had 16 officers and 662 men. But it was the exigencies of battles in the eastern front, during the War, which led to its rapid modernisation and expansion. By the end of the Second World War, the number of squadrons had risen to 9, consisting of the state of the art; Hurricanes and Spitfires. The Force had a personnel strength of 28,500, including some 1,600 officers by the time hostilities ceased in 1945. Due to the exemplary display of valour during action, Indian Air Force men were awarded with 22 Distinguished Flying Crosses. Post Independence, the IAF made substantial contribution in helping the Indian army with logistics and reconnaissance missions during the conflict of 1948. The force continued with its steady growth, till the epoch making year of 1957, when Mystere aircraft made the first supersonic flight. Hawker Hunters and Canberras too made it into the burgeoning inventory of the air force.
The Indian Air Force was very helpful in securing the last foothold of Indian Territory from the European domination. Goa was liberated from Portugal in 1961, with help of IAF. That very year, a Squadron of Canberras from IAF was dispatched on a peacekeeping mission in Congo, after the sudden withdrawal of Belgium from the African country. There the Indian Air Force officers had the opportunity to work with some of the best air powers of the world. However, the IAF like its land and water counterparts couldn’t do much in the Chinese aggression of 1962. But by the time of second Indo Pak conflict of 1965, the Air Force further equipped with ‘Gnats’ played a crucial role under the stewardship of Air Marshal Arjan Singh, the then Chief of the Air Staff, in leading India to victory.Eventually, it was after this conflict that the political administration of the country woke up to the urgent need of equipping the Indian Air Force with the latest flying machines and weaponry. The induction of Sukhoi 7s and MIGs of the Russian origin marked the dawn of the jet age in the force. The 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, decisively established the supremacy of Indian Air Power, in the sub-continent. Flt. Lt. Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award. He is the only Air Force officer to have earned this honour till date.
Since then, Indian Air Force has been on a regular updation and modernisation program. Today, IAF has a vast fleet of MIG21s, MIG 23, MIG25, MIG 27, MIG 29, Jaguars, Mirages, and Sukhois as its fighting arm. An enviable fleet of carriers like IL-56s, AN32 and MI variants of helicopters, support it with logistics and transportation. IAF has highly skilled ground staff with latest weaponry, missile and spy technology aided with satellite imagery.Lately, The Indian Air Force proved its mettle by neutralising the vantage posts held by the enemy on the high altitude battle ground in the Kargil conflict of 1999.
October 8th happens to be the Indian Air Force Day. SantaBanta.com salutes the sentinels of the skies on the day and pays homage to countless sacrifices made by the Indian Air Force in safe guarding the honour and dignity of the country.
