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Eastern Air Command (India)

2022-10-12T17:35:50Z

2401:4900:4DEF:5EB:7C13:39A7:4496:7D04:

{{Short description|Indian Air Force command}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = '''Eastern Air Command'''
| image = EAC Crest.jpg
| image_size = 100
| caption = Emblem of the Eastern Air Command
| dates =
| country = [[India]]
| branch = [[Indian Air Force]]
| type = Operational Air Command
| role = [[Air superiority fighter|Air Defence]], [[Offensive counter air attack|OCA]], [[Close Air Support|Offensive Ground Support]], Civilian Relief.
| size =
| command_structure =
| garrison = [[Shillong]]
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| nickname =
| motto = {{lang-sa|italic=yes|Samareshu Parakramah}}
| colors =
| colors_label =
| battles = [[Sino-Indian War|1962 Sino-Indian War]], [[East Pakistan Operations 1971]], [[Operation Meghdoot]], [[Cyclone 05B (1999)|Orissa Super-Cyclone Relief, 1999]]
| anniversaries = 
| commander1 = Air Marshal [[Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar]], [[AVSM]]
| commander1_label = [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]]
| notable_commanders = 
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
| start_date = May 27, 1958
}}

The '''Eastern Air Command''' is one of the five operational [[Command (military formation)|commands]] of the [[Indian Air Force]]. Currently headquartered in [[Shillong]] in [[Meghalaya]]. Named '''No. 1 Operational Group''' at the time of its inception, 27 May 1958, it was based at Ranikutir in [[Kolkata]] as a part of the [[Government of India|Govt]]'s increasing emphasis on defence of the eastern borders. The Operational Group was upgraded as Command on 1 December 1959 with headquarters at [[Fort William, India|Fort William]], [[Kolkata]] and Air Vice Marshal KL Sondhi as the first AOC-in-C of the Eastern Command. After the [[Sino-Indian War|1962 Indo-Chinese War]], The decision was made to raise a full-fledged command at Shillong. The area of responsibility of the command now covers 11 states, and is bound by the international boundaries of [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], [[China]], [[Myanmar]] and [[Bangladesh]] incorporating 6300 km of common border. Eastern Air Command now has permanent airbases at [[Chabua]], [[Guwahati]], [[Bagdogra]], [[Barrackpore]], [[Hasimara]], [[Jorhat]], [[Kalaikunda]] and [[Tezpur]] with forward airbases at [[Agartala]], [[Kolkata]], [[Panagarh]] and [[Shillong]]. Eastern Air Command consists of [[Air superiority fighter|Air Defence]] squadrons consisting of the [[MiG-21]] and [[Ground attack]] squadrons consisting of the [[MiG-27]]. It holds the motto "Samareshu Parakramaha" (''Lit: Valour in battle''),

==Activities and responsibilities==
The Eastern Air Command has a specific mandate both during peace and war. In war situations, the command is tasked to conduct [[Offensive counter air|counter air operations]] and provides [[Close air support|offensive air support]] to Army and Para-Military Forces. In peace, the command swings into action whenever there is a natural calamity. It was extensively involved in relief operations in the aftermath of the [[Cyclone 05B (1999)|supercyclone in Orissa]] and has provided relief supplies during floods in [[Assam]] and [[Arunachal Pradesh]].

The command has three broad spheres of activity - operations, maintenance and administration. The fighter squadrons under the Eastern Air Command are equipped with MiG variants, and pilots are under continuous training for operational flying.

At [[Tezpur]], located on the northern bank of the [[Brahmaputra]] in Upper [[Assam]], newly commissioned [[Ab initio|ab-initio]] fighter pilots undergo fighter pilot training and on successful completion get inducted into various fighter squadrons in [[Indian Air Force|IAF]]. Majority of the fighter fleet of Eastern Air Command consists of [[MiG-21]] and the [[MiG-27]] (''Bahadur'').

The [[Cargo aircraft|transport aircraft]] and [[helicopter]] of the Eastern Air Command are critical in the [[North-East India]]. The [[topography]] in the hill regions restrict the construction of a standard [[runway]]. Tribal settlements in places like Menchuha, Vijaynagar and Tuting in remote and inaccessible areas of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] totally depend on the aerial supply by the Air Force. They also depend on these aircraft to airlift their sick and ailing. The district headquarters at [[Anini]], a conglomeration of about ten tribal settlements with a population of a couple of thousand in [[Arunachal Pradesh]] is the only one of its kind in the world which is totally air-maintained.

Pilots operate from the advance landing grounds (ALG) with only one third of the length of a regular runway, having unique and uni-directional approach and take off requirements. This coupled with the vagaries of weather expects superior skills from the pilots and their navigators. Both man and machine are stretched to the limits of their capabilities.

Helicopter operations also form a critical part of the responsibilities of the Easter Air Command. For the pilots who negotiate this remote and inaccessible terrain, the experience gained over the last five decades has been well assimilated. The contribution of Eastern Air Command in bringing relief and in aiding civilian population in times of calamity and strife is an unsung saga of commitment, daring and dedication.

==War operations==
The Eastern Air Command was a major participant in 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]] and the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Indo-Pak war of 1971]].

During the 1962 war, Eastern Air Command was tasked with mounting transport support missions, a task admirably performed by its [[Douglas DC-3|Dakota]] and [[De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou|Caribou]] aircraft. It also mounted [[reconnaissance]] and [[CASEVAC|casualty evacuation]] sorties using the [[Bell Helicopter Textron|Bell]] and [[Sikorsky Aircraft|Sikorsky]] helicopters it operated at the time.

During the 1971 war, Eastern Air Command was tasked with offensive as well as supply operations. It was involved right from the first [[clash over Boyra]] to the [[Tangail Airdrop]]. It also operated [[Mil Mi-4|Mi-4]] helicopters in offensive roles behind enemy lines, operating from helicopter bases in [[Tripura]].

==Organization==
Squadrons include (as of 2015):

{| class="sortable" border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse;"
|- style="background:#ccc;"
!Squadron!!Base!!Equipment!!Notes
|-
|[[No. 43 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Jorhat Air Force Station]]
|[[AN-32]]
|No. 10 Wing
|-
|[[No. 129 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Jorhat Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-17]]
|No. 10 Wing
|-
|[[No. 2 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Tezpur Air Force Station]]
|[[Su-30 MKI]]
|No. 11 Wing
|-
|[[No. 106 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Tezpur Air Force Station]]
|[[Su-30 MKI]]
|No. 11 Wing
|-
|[[No. 115 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Tezpur Air Force Station]]
|[[HAL Dhruv]]
|No. 11 Wing
|-
|[[No. 101 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Hasimara Air Force Station]]
|[[Dassault Rafale]]
|No. 16 Wing
|-
|[[No. 102 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Chabua Air Force Station]]
|[[Su-30 MKI]]
|No.14 Wing
|-
|[[Helicopter Unit]]
|[[Chabua Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-8]]
|No. 14 Wing
|-
|[[Helicopter Unit]]
|[[Chabua Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-17]]
|No. 14 Wing
|-
|[[No. 59 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Mountain Shadow Air Force Station]]
|[[Avro 748]]M
|No. 19 Wing
|-
|[[No. 118 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Mountain Shadow Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-8]]
|No. 19 Wing
|-
|[[No. 142 SSS Flight, IAF]]
|[[Bagdogra Air Force Station]]
|[[HAL Chetak]]
|No. 20 Wing
|-
|[[No. 110 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Kumbhirgram Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-8]]
|No. 22 Wing
|-
|[[No. 127 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Mohanbari Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-17]]
|No. 42 Wing
|-
|[[No. 128 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Mohanbari Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-17]]
|No. 42 Wing
|-
|[[No. 87 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Air Force Station Arjan Singh]]
|[[C-130J]]
|No. 31 Wing
|}

==Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|+List of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
! Rank
! Name
! From
! To
|-
| rowspan="7"|[[Air Vice Marshal]]
| [[Kundan Lal Sondhi]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1959|12|7}}<ref name="eac-brf">{{cite news|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/list.php?qunit=EAC|title=Eastern Air Command - BRF |access-date=14 May 2021|website=Bharat Rakshak}}</ref>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1961|12|28}}
|-
| [[Kanwar Jaswant Singh]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1962|03|3}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|01|1}}
|-
| [[Shivdev Singh]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|01|14}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|06|9}}
|-
| [[Ramaswamy Rajaram]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|06|10}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|08|4}}
|-
| [[Minoo Merwan Engineer]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|08|5}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1964|09|30}}
|-
| [[Yeshwant Vinayak Malse]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1964|10|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|09|30}}
|-
| [[Ranjan Dutt]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|10|28}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1968|03|31}}
|-
| rowspan="33"|[[Air marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]
| [[Hirendra Nath Chatterjee]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1968|04|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1971|03|23}}
|-
| [[Hari Chand Dewan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1971|03|24}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|03|31}}
|-
| [[Maurice Barker]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|04|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1976|04|21}}
|-
| [[Lal Singh Grewal]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1976|04|24}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|08|12}}
|-
| [[Lakshman Madhav Katre]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|09|4}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1981|01|2}}
|-
| [[Malcolm Wollen|Malcolm Shirley Dundas Wollen]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1981|01|3}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|02|26}}
|-
| [[Douglas George King-Lee]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|03|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|11|30}}
|-
| [[Minoo Jehangir Dotiwalla]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|12|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1984|10|31}}
|-
| [[Kapil Dev Chadha]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1984|11|5}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1987|12|31}}
|-
| [[Man Mohan Sinha]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1988|02|8}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|1|31}}
|-
| [[Rajendra Kumar Dhawan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|02|11}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|10|5}}
|-
| [[Brijesh Dhar Jayal]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|10|7}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|03|30}}
|-
| [[Dushyant Singh (air marshal)|Dushyant Singh]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|05|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|01|31}}
|-
| [[Janak Kapur]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|02|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|03|31}}
|-
| [[Prithvi Singh Brar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|04|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|01|3}}
|-
| [[Krishnan Narayan Nair]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|01|4}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2000|11|30}}
|-
| [[Satish Govind Inamdar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2000|12|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2004|10|31}}
|-
| [[Avinash Deodata Joshi]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2004|11|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2005|08|21}}
|-
| [[Fali Homi Major]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2005|09|5}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|03|31}}
|-
| [[Pranab Kumar Barbora]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|04|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|12|31}}
|-
| [[Shiv Kumar Bhan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2008|01|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2009|12|31}}
|-
| [[Krishan Kumar Nohwar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2010|01|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2011|07|31}}
|-
| [[Simhakutty Varthaman]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2011|08|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2012|11|31}}
|-
| [[Ravi Kant Sharma (air marshal)|Ravi Kant Sharma]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2012|12|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2013|12|31}}
|-
| [[Rakesh Kumar Jolly]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2014|01|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2014|12|31}}
|-
| [[Shirish Baban Deo]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2015|01|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2015|08|31}}
|-
| [[Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2015|10|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2016|12|31}}
|-
| [[Anil Khosla]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2017|01|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|09|30}}
|-
| [[Raghunath Nambiar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|10|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2019|02|28}}
|-
| [[Rajiv Dayal Mathur]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2019|03|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2020|09|30}}
|-
| [[Amit Dev]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2020|10|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2021|09|30}}
|-
| [[Dilip Kumar Patnaik]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2021|10|03}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2022|09|30}}
|-
| [[Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2022|10|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| Present
|}

==Aircraft==

*[[Sukhoi Su-30 MKI]]
*[[Mil Mi-17]]
*[[Mil Mi-24]]
*[[Avro 748]]
*[[An-32]]

==See also==
* [[Indian Air Force]]
* [[No. 22 Squadron, Indian Air Force]]
* [[Sino-Indian War]]
* [[East Pakistan Operations 1971]]
* [[Operation Meghdoot]]
* [[Tropical Cyclone 05B (1999)|Orissa Super Cyclone]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Military of India}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Commands of the Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1958]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in West Bengal]]

Eastern Air Command (India)

2022-10-12T17:35:50Z

2401:4900:4DEF:5EB:7C13:39A7:4496:7D04:

{{Short description|Indian Air Force command}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = '''Eastern Air Command'''
| image = EAC Crest.jpg
| image_size = 100
| caption = Emblem of the Eastern Air Command
| dates =
| country = [[India]]
| branch = [[Indian Air Force]]
| type = Operational Air Command
| role = [[Air superiority fighter|Air Defence]], [[Offensive counter air attack|OCA]], [[Close Air Support|Offensive Ground Support]], Civilian Relief.
| size =
| command_structure =
| garrison = [[Shillong]]
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| nickname =
| motto = {{lang-sa|italic=yes|Samareshu Parakramah}}
| colors =
| colors_label =
| battles = [[Sino-Indian War|1962 Sino-Indian War]], [[East Pakistan Operations 1971]], [[Operation Meghdoot]], [[Cyclone 05B (1999)|Orissa Super-Cyclone Relief, 1999]]
| anniversaries = 
| commander1 = Air Marshal [[Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar]], [[AVSM]]
| commander1_label = [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]]
| notable_commanders = 
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
| start_date = May 27, 1958
}}

The '''Eastern Air Command''' is one of the five operational [[Command (military formation)|commands]] of the [[Indian Air Force]]. Currently headquartered in [[Shillong]] in [[Meghalaya]]. Named '''No. 1 Operational Group''' at the time of its inception, 27 May 1958, it was based at Ranikutir in [[Kolkata]] as a part of the [[Government of India|Govt]]'s increasing emphasis on defence of the eastern borders. The Operational Group was upgraded as Command on 1 December 1959 with headquarters at [[Fort William, India|Fort William]], [[Kolkata]] and Air Vice Marshal KL Sondhi as the first AOC-in-C of the Eastern Command. After the [[Sino-Indian War|1962 Indo-Chinese War]], The decision was made to raise a full-fledged command at Shillong. The area of responsibility of the command now covers 11 states, and is bound by the international boundaries of [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], [[China]], [[Myanmar]] and [[Bangladesh]] incorporating 6300 km of common border. Eastern Air Command now has permanent airbases at [[Chabua]], [[Guwahati]], [[Bagdogra]], [[Barrackpore]], [[Hasimara]], [[Jorhat]], [[Kalaikunda]] and [[Tezpur]] with forward airbases at [[Agartala]], [[Kolkata]], [[Panagarh]] and [[Shillong]]. Eastern Air Command consists of [[Air superiority fighter|Air Defence]] squadrons consisting of the [[MiG-21]] and [[Ground attack]] squadrons consisting of the [[MiG-27]]. It holds the motto "Samareshu Parakramaha" (''Lit: Valour in battle''),

==Activities and responsibilities==
The Eastern Air Command has a specific mandate both during peace and war. In war situations, the command is tasked to conduct [[Offensive counter air|counter air operations]] and provides [[Close air support|offensive air support]] to Army and Para-Military Forces. In peace, the command swings into action whenever there is a natural calamity. It was extensively involved in relief operations in the aftermath of the [[Cyclone 05B (1999)|supercyclone in Orissa]] and has provided relief supplies during floods in [[Assam]] and [[Arunachal Pradesh]].

The command has three broad spheres of activity - operations, maintenance and administration. The fighter squadrons under the Eastern Air Command are equipped with MiG variants, and pilots are under continuous training for operational flying.

At [[Tezpur]], located on the northern bank of the [[Brahmaputra]] in Upper [[Assam]], newly commissioned [[Ab initio|ab-initio]] fighter pilots undergo fighter pilot training and on successful completion get inducted into various fighter squadrons in [[Indian Air Force|IAF]]. Majority of the fighter fleet of Eastern Air Command consists of [[MiG-21]] and the [[MiG-27]] (''Bahadur'').

The [[Cargo aircraft|transport aircraft]] and [[helicopter]] of the Eastern Air Command are critical in the [[North-East India]]. The [[topography]] in the hill regions restrict the construction of a standard [[runway]]. Tribal settlements in places like Menchuha, Vijaynagar and Tuting in remote and inaccessible areas of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] totally depend on the aerial supply by the Air Force. They also depend on these aircraft to airlift their sick and ailing. The district headquarters at [[Anini]], a conglomeration of about ten tribal settlements with a population of a couple of thousand in [[Arunachal Pradesh]] is the only one of its kind in the world which is totally air-maintained.

Pilots operate from the advance landing grounds (ALG) with only one third of the length of a regular runway, having unique and uni-directional approach and take off requirements. This coupled with the vagaries of weather expects superior skills from the pilots and their navigators. Both man and machine are stretched to the limits of their capabilities.

Helicopter operations also form a critical part of the responsibilities of the Easter Air Command. For the pilots who negotiate this remote and inaccessible terrain, the experience gained over the last five decades has been well assimilated. The contribution of Eastern Air Command in bringing relief and in aiding civilian population in times of calamity and strife is an unsung saga of commitment, daring and dedication.

==War operations==
The Eastern Air Command was a major participant in 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]] and the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Indo-Pak war of 1971]].

During the 1962 war, Eastern Air Command was tasked with mounting transport support missions, a task admirably performed by its [[Douglas DC-3|Dakota]] and [[De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou|Caribou]] aircraft. It also mounted [[reconnaissance]] and [[CASEVAC|casualty evacuation]] sorties using the [[Bell Helicopter Textron|Bell]] and [[Sikorsky Aircraft|Sikorsky]] helicopters it operated at the time.

During the 1971 war, Eastern Air Command was tasked with offensive as well as supply operations. It was involved right from the first [[clash over Boyra]] to the [[Tangail Airdrop]]. It also operated [[Mil Mi-4|Mi-4]] helicopters in offensive roles behind enemy lines, operating from helicopter bases in [[Tripura]].

==Organization==
Squadrons include (as of 2015):

{| class="sortable" border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse;"
|- style="background:#ccc;"
!Squadron!!Base!!Equipment!!Notes
|-
|[[No. 43 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Jorhat Air Force Station]]
|[[AN-32]]
|No. 10 Wing
|-
|[[No. 129 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Jorhat Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-17]]
|No. 10 Wing
|-
|[[No. 2 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Tezpur Air Force Station]]
|[[Su-30 MKI]]
|No. 11 Wing
|-
|[[No. 106 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Tezpur Air Force Station]]
|[[Su-30 MKI]]
|No. 11 Wing
|-
|[[No. 115 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Tezpur Air Force Station]]
|[[HAL Dhruv]]
|No. 11 Wing
|-
|[[No. 101 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Hasimara Air Force Station]]
|[[Dassault Rafale]]
|No. 16 Wing
|-
|[[No. 102 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Chabua Air Force Station]]
|[[Su-30 MKI]]
|No.14 Wing
|-
|[[Helicopter Unit]]
|[[Chabua Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-8]]
|No. 14 Wing
|-
|[[Helicopter Unit]]
|[[Chabua Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-17]]
|No. 14 Wing
|-
|[[No. 59 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Mountain Shadow Air Force Station]]
|[[Avro 748]]M
|No. 19 Wing
|-
|[[No. 118 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Mountain Shadow Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-8]]
|No. 19 Wing
|-
|[[No. 142 SSS Flight, IAF]]
|[[Bagdogra Air Force Station]]
|[[HAL Chetak]]
|No. 20 Wing
|-
|[[No. 110 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Kumbhirgram Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-8]]
|No. 22 Wing
|-
|[[No. 127 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Mohanbari Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-17]]
|No. 42 Wing
|-
|[[No. 128 Helicopter Unit, IAF]]
|[[Mohanbari Air Force Station]]
|[[Mi-17]]
|No. 42 Wing
|-
|[[No. 87 Squadron IAF]]
|[[Air Force Station Arjan Singh]]
|[[C-130J]]
|No. 31 Wing
|}

==Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|+List of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
! Rank
! Name
! From
! To
|-
| rowspan="7"|[[Air Vice Marshal]]
| [[Kundan Lal Sondhi]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1959|12|7}}<ref name="eac-brf">{{cite news|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/list.php?qunit=EAC|title=Eastern Air Command - BRF |access-date=14 May 2021|website=Bharat Rakshak}}</ref>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1961|12|28}}
|-
| [[Kanwar Jaswant Singh]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1962|03|3}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|01|1}}
|-
| [[Shivdev Singh]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|01|14}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|06|9}}
|-
| [[Ramaswamy Rajaram]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|06|10}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|08|4}}
|-
| [[Minoo Merwan Engineer]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1963|08|5}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1964|09|30}}
|-
| [[Yeshwant Vinayak Malse]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1964|10|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|09|30}}
|-
| [[Ranjan Dutt]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1966|10|28}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1968|03|31}}
|-
| rowspan="33"|[[Air marshal (India)|Air Marshal]]
| [[Hirendra Nath Chatterjee]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1968|04|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1971|03|23}}
|-
| [[Hari Chand Dewan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1971|03|24}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|03|31}}
|-
| [[Maurice Barker]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1973|04|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1976|04|21}}
|-
| [[Lal Singh Grewal]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1976|04|24}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|08|12}}
|-
| [[Lakshman Madhav Katre]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1978|09|4}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1981|01|2}}
|-
| [[Malcolm Wollen|Malcolm Shirley Dundas Wollen]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1981|01|3}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|02|26}}
|-
| [[Douglas George King-Lee]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|03|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|11|30}}
|-
| [[Minoo Jehangir Dotiwalla]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1983|12|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1984|10|31}}
|-
| [[Kapil Dev Chadha]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1984|11|5}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1987|12|31}}
|-
| [[Man Mohan Sinha]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1988|02|8}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|1|31}}
|-
| [[Rajendra Kumar Dhawan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|02|11}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|10|5}}
|-
| [[Brijesh Dhar Jayal]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1991|10|7}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|03|30}}
|-
| [[Dushyant Singh (air marshal)|Dushyant Singh]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1992|05|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|01|31}}
|-
| [[Janak Kapur]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1995|02|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|03|31}}
|-
| [[Prithvi Singh Brar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1996|04|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|01|3}}
|-
| [[Krishnan Narayan Nair]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|1999|01|4}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2000|11|30}}
|-
| [[Satish Govind Inamdar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2000|12|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2004|10|31}}
|-
| [[Avinash Deodata Joshi]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2004|11|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2005|08|21}}
|-
| [[Fali Homi Major]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2005|09|5}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|03|31}}
|-
| [[Pranab Kumar Barbora]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|04|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2007|12|31}}
|-
| [[Shiv Kumar Bhan]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2008|01|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2009|12|31}}
|-
| [[Krishan Kumar Nohwar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2010|01|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2011|07|31}}
|-
| [[Simhakutty Varthaman]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2011|08|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2012|11|31}}
|-
| [[Ravi Kant Sharma (air marshal)|Ravi Kant Sharma]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2012|12|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2013|12|31}}
|-
| [[Rakesh Kumar Jolly]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2014|01|1}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2014|12|31}}
|-
| [[Shirish Baban Deo]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2015|01|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2015|08|31}}
|-
| [[Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2015|10|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2016|12|31}}
|-
| [[Anil Khosla]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2017|01|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|09|30}}
|-
| [[Raghunath Nambiar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|10|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2019|02|28}}
|-
| [[Rajiv Dayal Mathur]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2019|03|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2020|09|30}}
|-
| [[Amit Dev]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2020|10|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2021|09|30}}
|-
| [[Dilip Kumar Patnaik]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2021|10|03}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| {{dts|format=dmy|2022|09|30}}
|-
| [[Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar]]
| {{dts|format=dmy|2022|10|01}}<ref name="eac-brf"/>
| Present
|}

==Aircraft==

*[[Sukhoi Su-30 MKI]]
*[[Mil Mi-17]]
*[[Mil Mi-24]]
*[[Avro 748]]
*[[An-32]]

==See also==
* [[Indian Air Force]]
* [[No. 22 Squadron, Indian Air Force]]
* [[Sino-Indian War]]
* [[East Pakistan Operations 1971]]
* [[Operation Meghdoot]]
* [[Tropical Cyclone 05B (1999)|Orissa Super Cyclone]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Military of India}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Commands of the Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1958]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in West Bengal]]