No. 51 Squadron IAF

2021-09-26T01:21:04Z

39.32.93.155: /* Notable Incidents */

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = No. 51 Squadron
| image = This_is_a_logo_for_No._51_Squadron_IAF.jpg
| caption =
| dates = 23 December 1957 - Present
| country = {{flagicon|India}} [[Republic of India]]
| allegiance =
| branch = {{air force|India}}
| type =
| role = [[Fighter aircraft|Fighter]]
| size =
| command_structure =
| garrison = [[Srinagar Air Force Station|Srinagar AFS]]
| garrison_label =
| nickname = Sword Arms
| patron =
| motto = ''Yudhya Mahaspara Bhayankara''<br> which means "valour for victory"
| colors =
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| mascot =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles =
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| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| disbanded = 
| commander1 =
| commander1_label =
| commander2 =
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| notable_commanders = 
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
| identification_symbol_2 =
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| aircraft_attack =
| aircraft_bomber =
| aircraft_electronic =
| aircraft_fighter =
| aircraft_recon =
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| aircraft_transport =
}}

'''No. 51 Squadron "Sword Arms"''' is a fighter squadron of [[Indian Air Force|Indian air force]], based in [[Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport|Srinagar air force station]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/51%20Sqn|title=No.51 Squadron, Indian Air Force - Database|website=Bharat Rakshak|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-12-23}}</ref> The squadron is under the [[Western Air Command (India)|western command]] of Indian air force.

==History==
No.51 Squadron was initially raised in AFS Chandigarh in 1985, then being equipped with Mig-21 Type 75 variant which later went on to be upgraded to the Mig-21 Bison variant. The squadron was shortly relocated to AFS Srinagar.<ref>http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/51 Sqn</ref>

==Notable Incidents==
No. 51 Squadron "Sword Arms"On 27 February 2019, Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 as a part of a sortie that was scrambled to intercept an intrusion by Pakistan aircraft into Jammu and Kashmir. In the dogfight that ensued, he crossed into Pakistan territory where he was struck by a missile. Varthaman ejected and descended safely in the village of Horran in Pakistan administered Kashmir, approximately 7 km from the Line of Control.[17][18]
It was claimed by local villagers that Varthaman could be identified as an Indian pilot by the Indian flag on his parachute.[17] Upon landing, Varthaman asked the villagers if he was in India. The locals responded with pro-Pakistan slogans, after which Varthaman began to run while firing warning shots. He ran for approximately 500 metres, to a small pond, where he attempted to sink and swallow some of his documents. Subsequently, he was captured and manhandled by the villagers before being rescued by the Pakistan Army.[19][18]

Later that day, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs claimed that an Indian pilot was missing in action after a MiG-21 Bison fighter plane was lost while engaging with Pakistani jets.[20][17][21]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Indian Air Force aircraft squadrons|051]]

{{india-mil-stub}}

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

No. 51 Squadron IAF