No. 26 Squadron IAF - Revision history

Bot at 06:26, 4 January 2022

2022-01-04T06:26:38Z

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	{{short description\|Indian air force flying squadron}}		{{short description\|Indian air force flying squadron}}
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	\|unit_name= No. 26 Squadron		\|unit_name= No. 26 Squadron
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	'''No. 26 Squadron IAF (Warriors)''' is a Ground Attack and [[Close Air Support]] unit of the [[Indian Air Force]], operating from [[Pathankot Air Force Station]] under India's [[Western Air Command (India)\|Western Air Command]].<ref name=SHU>{{cite web\|title=Squadrons and Helicopter Units\|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Squadrons/292-Squadrons.html\|work=Indian Air Force Units\|publisher=[Bharat Rakshak]\|access-date=31 July ~~2022~~}}</ref><ref name="IAF stations">{{cite web\|title=Indian Air Force Stations\|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/airbase.htm\|work=Indian Air Force\|publisher=[Global Security]\|access-date=31 July ~~2022~~}}</ref> The squadron was number plated on an unspecified date.<ref name="dc_061021"/>		'''No. 26 Squadron IAF (Warriors)''' is a Ground Attack and [[Close Air Support]] unit of the [[Indian Air Force]], operating from [[Pathankot Air Force Station]] under India's [[Western Air Command (India)\|Western Air Command]].<ref name=SHU>{{cite web\|title=Squadrons and Helicopter Units\|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Squadrons/292-Squadrons.html\|work=Indian Air Force Units\|publisher=[Bharat Rakshak]\|access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="IAF stations">{{cite web\|title=Indian Air Force Stations\|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/airbase.htm\|work=Indian Air Force\|publisher=[Global Security]\|access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref> The squadron was number plated on an unspecified date.<ref name="dc_061021"/>

	==History==		==History==
	===Formation===		===Formation===
	No. 26 Squadron was formed on 1 January 1968 at [[Adampur]], under [[Wing commander (rank)\|Wing Commander]] [[M.M. Singh]]. It was the first squadron to operate the [[Sukhoi Su-7]] aircraft. Until 1971, the squadron was a type-training squadron, helping other squadrons to convert to the Su-7. It played an active role in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. No. 26 Squadron's primary role was to fly [[Close Air Support]] (CAS) missions with 8 Tactical Air Command (TAC). It also flew several sorties with 6 TAC. Most operations were in an area known as the Bulge, bounded by Samba in the north, [[Pathankot]] in the east, and [[Dera Baba Nanak]] in the south.<ref name=IAF.nic>{{cite web\|title=No 26 Squadron(Warriors)\|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_unit.php?ch=19\|work=Indian Air Force Units\|publisher=[Official Website of the Indian Air Force]\|access-date=31 July ~~2022~~}}</ref>		No. 26 Squadron was formed on 1 January 1968 at [[Adampur]], under [[Wing commander (rank)\|Wing Commander]] [[M.M. Singh]]. It was the first squadron to operate the [[Sukhoi Su-7]] aircraft. Until 1971, the squadron was a type-training squadron, helping other squadrons to convert to the Su-7. It played an active role in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. No. 26 Squadron's primary role was to fly [[Close Air Support]] (CAS) missions with 8 Tactical Air Command (TAC). It also flew several sorties with 6 TAC. Most operations were in an area known as the Bulge, bounded by Samba in the north, [[Pathankot]] in the east, and [[Dera Baba Nanak]] in the south.<ref name=IAF.nic>{{cite web\|title=No 26 Squadron(Warriors)\|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_unit.php?ch=19\|work=Indian Air Force Units\|publisher=[Official Website of the Indian Air Force]\|access-date=31 July 2012}}</ref>

	===<span id="Operations in 1971"></span>1971 Indo-Pakistani War===		===<span id="Operations in 1971"></span>1971 Indo-Pakistani War===
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	===Post-War===		===Post-War===
	No. 26 Squadron has received several trophies as best squadron in India's [[Western Air Command (India)\|Western Air Command]].{{Citation needed\|date=April ~~2022~~}}		No. 26 Squadron has received several trophies as best squadron in India's [[Western Air Command (India)\|Western Air Command]].{{Citation needed\|date=April 2020}}

	In June 1977, the squadron was re-equipped with [[MiG 21\|MiG 21BIS]] aircraft. It is the only IAF squadron still flying the legacy [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21\|MiG-21bis]] fighters (all other MiG-21bis squadrons upgraded to the [[List of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 variants#Upgrade programmes\|MiG-21 Bison]]).<ref name="print11-05-21"/>		In June 1977, the squadron was re-equipped with [[MiG 21\|MiG 21BIS]] aircraft. It is the only IAF squadron still flying the legacy [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21\|MiG-21bis]] fighters (all other MiG-21bis squadrons upgraded to the [[List of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 variants#Upgrade programmes\|MiG-21 Bison]]).<ref name="print11-05-21"/>

	No. 26 Squadron took part in the 50-squadron [[flypast]] in 1982, commemorating the IAF Golden Jubilee.{{Citation needed\|date=April ~~2022~~}}		No. 26 Squadron took part in the 50-squadron [[flypast]] in 1982, commemorating the IAF Golden Jubilee.{{Citation needed\|date=April 2020}}

	In November 2014, it was awarded the President's Standard.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>		In November 2014, it was awarded the President's Standard.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>

Bot at 06:26, 4 January 2022

2022-01-04T06:26:38Z

New page

{{short description|Indian air force flying squadron}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= No. 26 Squadron
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1 January 1968 – N/A
|country={{flagicon|India|23px}} [[Republic of India]]
|allegiance=
|branch={{air force|India|23px}}
|type=
|role=[[Fighter aircraft|Fighter]]
|size=
|command_structure=
|garrison=[[Pathankot Air Force Station|Pathankot AFS]]
|garrison_label=
|nickname="Warriors"
|patron=
|motto=''Yudhyasva Vigatha Jwar''<br>Wage war with all efforts
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|disbanded=

|commander1=
|commander1_label=
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|commander3=
|commander3_label=
|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=

|aircraft_attack=
|aircraft_bomber=
|aircraft_electronic=
|aircraft_fighter=[[MiG-21|MiG-21 bis]]
|aircraft_recon=
|aircraft_trainer=
|aircraft_transport=
}}
'''No. 26 Squadron IAF (Warriors)''' is a Ground Attack and [[Close Air Support]] unit of the [[Indian Air Force]], operating from [[Pathankot Air Force Station]] under India's [[Western Air Command (India)|Western Air Command]].<ref name=SHU>{{cite web|title=Squadrons and Helicopter Units|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Squadrons/292-Squadrons.html|work=Indian Air Force Units|publisher=[Bharat Rakshak]|access-date=31 July 2022}}</ref><ref name="IAF stations">{{cite web|title=Indian Air Force Stations|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/airbase.htm|work=Indian Air Force|publisher=[Global Security]|access-date=31 July 2022}}</ref> The squadron was number plated on an unspecified date.<ref name="dc_061021"/>

==History==
===Formation===
No. 26 Squadron was formed on 1 January 1968 at [[Adampur]], under [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] [[M.M. Singh]]. It was the first squadron to operate the [[Sukhoi Su-7]] aircraft. Until 1971, the squadron was a type-training squadron, helping other squadrons to convert to the Su-7. It played an active role in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. No. 26 Squadron's primary role was to fly [[Close Air Support]] (CAS) missions with 8 Tactical Air Command (TAC). It also flew several sorties with 6 TAC. Most operations were in an area known as the Bulge, bounded by Samba in the north, [[Pathankot]] in the east, and [[Dera Baba Nanak]] in the south.<ref name=IAF.nic>{{cite web|title=No 26 Squadron(Warriors)|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_unit.php?ch=19|work=Indian Air Force Units|publisher=[Official Website of the Indian Air Force]|access-date=31 July 2022}}</ref>

===<span id="Operations in 1971"></span>1971 Indo-Pakistani War===
The [[aircrew]] of No. 26 Squadron were briefed for operations at 04:00 hours on the morning of 4 December 1971, as part of India's response to [[Operation Chengiz Khan|a series of pre-emptive strikes]] on Indian airfields by the [[Pakistani Air Force]] (PAF). Among its sorties, No. 26 Squadron sent four aircraft to strike [[Chandhar Air Force Base]] early that morning. At dusk, four aircraft were sent to strike a suspected radar site at [[Walton Airport|Walton Airfield]].<ref name="IAF.nic"/>

On 5 December, after a briefing at 04:30 hours, the squadron flew missions for 6 TAC in the [[Lahore]] sector. [[Squadron Leader]] Sahin took damage on one sortie, forcing him to land at Pathankot. During the last strike of the day, Squadron Leader Jaffa was shot down. He ejected from an inverted aircraft, but landed inside Pakistani territory and was captured. On 6 December, the squadron flew several missions against dug-in and well-prepared Pakistani positions in the Bulge. On 7 December, Squadron Leader Jiwa Singh, the squadron's Senior Flight Commander, was shot down over [[Jafarwal]] at 10:15 hours, and lost contact with ground control. Later that day, it was reported that an Su-7, probably commanded by Singh, had been shot down by an [[F-104 Starfighter]] and the pilot killed. On 8 December, after a briefing at 06:30 hours, No. 26 Squadron flew several CAS missions with no losses. But losses over the preceding days had reduced the squadron to 13 pilots and just 11 aircraft.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>

On 9 December, No. 26 Squadron began flying missions with [[MiG 21]] escorts, in response to increased PAF activity in the Bulge. The squadron flew several missions against Pakistani positions in the Bulge. [[Flight Lieutenant]] (Flt Lt) Kadam was reported missing after an attack on Rissalwala Airfield. On 10 December, the squadron flew 10 CAS sorties in the Bulge, and Flt Lt Parulkar went missing after a strike over [[Zafarwal]]. On 11 December, flying over [[Nurkot]], three aircraft of the squadron encountered six PAF [[F-86 Sabre|Sabres]]. Two aircraft returned undamaged, but Ft Lt K.K.Mohan was reported missing. On 12 December, the squadron flew 12 CAS sorties, without mishap beyond occasional Pakistani jamming of their communications. No. 26 Squadron flew fewer sorties as the war drew to close. Only eight were flown on 13 December.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>

On 14 December, fighting in [[Shakargarh]] intensified, and the squadron flew 14 sorties. Its [[Forward air control|Forward Air Controller]], Flt Lt [[Lawrence Pereira]], was seriously injured by [[strafing]] runs, and died from his injuries. On 15 December, No. 26 Squadron acquired [[S-24 rocket]]s, which it used to attack the [[Sulemanki Headworks]]. On 16 December, after the surrender of the Pakistani forces in [[Dhaka]], the squadron flew a mission against the Normal Railway Yard. It flew into heavy anti-aircraft fire. Flt Lt Dandass was shot down, and his aircraft exploded on the ground. That evening, the [[Prime Minister of India]], [[Indira Gandhi]], ordered a unilateral ceasefire on the western front. On 17 December, only 12 sorties were flown. A cessation of all air strikes was ordered at 16:00 hours that evening.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>

===Post-War===
No. 26 Squadron has received several trophies as best squadron in India's [[Western Air Command (India)|Western Air Command]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}

In June 1977, the squadron was re-equipped with [[MiG 21|MiG 21BIS]] aircraft. It is the only IAF squadron still flying the legacy [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21bis]] fighters (all other MiG-21bis squadrons upgraded to the [[List of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 variants#Upgrade programmes|MiG-21 Bison]]).<ref name="print11-05-21"/>

No. 26 Squadron took part in the 50-squadron [[flypast]] in 1982, commemorating the IAF Golden Jubilee.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}

In November 2014, it was awarded the President's Standard.<ref name="IAF.nic"/>

The squadron celebrated its golden jubilee in 2019 and remains the only squadron in [[Indian Air Force]] fleet to operate non upgraded Mig-21 bis. The squadron was planned to be number-plated in 2020.<ref name="print11-05-21">{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/defence/iafs-26-squadron-celebrates-50th-anniversary-pathankot/307620/|title=IAF's 26 Squadron celebrates 50th anniversary — it could well be the last|publisher=The Print|access-date=2021-05-11|date=2019-10-18}}</ref>

The squadron was number plated on an unspecified date. Currently, only 4 MiG-21 Bison squadron remains in service.<ref name="dc_061021">{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/061021/iaf-to-get-35-fighter-squadrons-in-next-10-years-but-needs-42-air-ch.html|title=IAF to get 35 fighter squadrons in next 10 years, but needs 42: Air chief|publisher=Deccan Chronicle|date=2021-10-06}}</ref>

==Awards==
On 21 November 2014, the then [[President of India]], [[Pranab Mukherjee]], awarded the President's Standard to [[No. 115 Helicopter Unit, IAF]] and No. 26 Squadron at [[Tezpur]], [[Assam]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=111635|title = President of India awards Standards to 115 Helicopter Unit and 26 Squadron}}</ref>

===Aircraft===

Aircraft types operated by the squadron<ref name="26brf">{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/26+Sqn|title=No.26 Squadron Falcons - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force|work=bharat-rakshak.com}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Aircraft Type!!From!!To!!Air Base
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-7|Sukhoi Su-7 BMK]] ||February 1968 || July 1977 || [[Adampur Air Force Station|Adampur AFS]]<ref name="26brf"/>
|-
| [[Mig-21|MiG-21 bis]] || July 1977 || N/A || [[Pathankot Air Force Station|Pathankot AFS]]<ref name="26brf"/>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Indian Air Force aircraft squadrons|026]]