Today, I was honoured with a commendation from the Chief of the Air Staff for work in the field of #IAFHistory. This recognition has left me overwhelmed and deeply touched. It feels like a bridge across time, connecting my efforts to my father's legacy in the @IAF_MCC . I’m

This is the Battle Honours citation of No. 20 Sqn @IAF_MCC in 1971 War. Look at the spread of targets inside Pakistan: Peshawar, Chaklala, Mianwali, Attock, Murid and more. Tactical and strategic, shallow and deep. For one Hunter squadron, this record is almost unreal.

Remembering this legendary tenure today. By 3 Dec 1972, when Wg Cdr Cecil Vivian Parker handed over No 20 Sqn, his Hunters had already carved history: 17 aircraft and 18 pilots at Pathankot, and a 1971 campaign that made the Lightnings the most decorated squadron in the IAF.

Military aviation is safer today, but days like this remind you of the cost. On 2 Dec 1954, two Plt Offrs from the 62nd Course died in crashes 11 months after commissioning: a Vampire at Palam and a Spitfire at Barrackpore. Of the 47 from 62nd course, 14 would die in service.

A modern military man with old world charm and humour. A rare blend of tradition, heraldry and soldiering with real strategic depth (RCDS UK, later Directing Staff NDC). First CO of 77 Sqn and architect of IAF C-130J ops at DBO. Super fit and active long-distance cyclist!

Wg Cdr Sandeep Singh, Shaurya Chakra: in Sukma in 2014 he landed next to troops under heavy fire near sunset, lifted five critically injured personnel and 22 others and flew them out even as automatic fire struck the aircraft during take off. (6/6)

Sqn Ldr Kamal Sharma, VM (Gallantry): flew into thick jungle during Operation Prahar in 2017, landed in an unprepared clearing at Tondamarka, picked up five casualties and brought them out safely even after his helicopter took bullet hits, including on a rotor blade. 5/

Sqn Ldr Mantej Singh Somal, VM (Gallantry): during a fierce 2014 firefight at Chintagufa, he put his Mi-17 down on a narrow one-way helipad, lifted out critically injured CRPF men under fire, and transformed the mission into a crucial morale lift for forces holding the line. 4/

Wg Cdr RV Prakash, VM: as CO during Op Triveni, he personally led the daring recovery of a Mi-17 that had force-landed under hostile fire in Sukma, flying it out from a vulnerable jungle clearing after only patch repairs, despite an active threat to crew and aircraft. 3/

Gp Capt Neeraj Kumar (VM): pioneer of Op Triveni who set up the Raipur and Jagdalpur detts, wrote the first anti-Naxal SOPs, and led in the most hostile start-up phase, during which the unit flew over 2,000 sorties & trained paramilitary personnel in slithering and insertion. 2/

A quiet shout out today to a force most people have not heard about. On 2 Dec 2009, the Indian Air Force raised its Anti Naxal Task Force, a commitment focused on supporting internal security. Headquartered at Raipur under HQ Central Air Command and commanded by an Air

Grateful to @vayusena for preserving these accounts. For those who want the full story, including P N Sharma’s vivid personal narrative, the detailed write-up is available here (15/15) https://t.co/zAwAm6fx0K

One Harvard over Bhimbar. Two strafing attacks that saved villagers. A dead engine landing inside enemy territory. A year in enemy hands without breaking. On this date, the courage of Flying Officer D’Cruz and P N Sharma deserves to be remembered. 14/

For this sortie and for his conduct in captivity, Flying Officer U A D’Cruz received the Ashoka Chakra Class Two, later renamed the Kirti Chakra. He became the first Indian Air Force officer to win this decoration. 13/

D’Cruz and Sharma spent almost a year in captivity in harsh conditions. At last, on 30 November 1948, they were handed back. A Dakota with Indian markings flew them home, an emotional end to a year of uncertainty, abuse and endurance. 12/

The treatment was brutal. There were threats, kicks, questions and humiliation. Yet both men refused to reveal anything useful about Indian positions or air operations. They chose silence over safety. 11/

Rifle fire chased them. They ran and zig zagged through scrub until they were finally surrounded. Captured by tribesmen, they were stripped of cameras, documents and valuables, beaten and marched to a nearby village, then handed over to Pakistani troops. 10/

He put the Harvard down in rough country near Bhimbar in a dead engine landing. The aircraft crashed and caught fire. D’Cruz and Sharma scrambled clear, grabbed what they could and set off on foot toward the nearest Indian brigade headquarters. 9/

This time the raiders hit back. Small arms rounds smashed into the Harvard and destroyed the oil system. Smoke streamed from the starboard side, the engine seized, and D’Cruz was left with a silent aircraft over hostile ground. 8/

Climbing away, they flew farther west. Near the Jammu border they spotted another group of Pathans moving loot and ammunition on donkeys and camels. Once again D’Cruz went low and strafed, breaking up the column. One Harvard, two disrupted attacks. 7/

Over Bhimbar they saw a village surrounded and in flames. D’Cruz pushed the nose down, ignored the height restriction and dived in. He raked the raiders with gunfire until they scattered, while Sharma filmed what he could from the rear seat. 6/