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Selfless service earns two IAF squadrons President’s Standard

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The Hindu : Today's Paper / NATIONAL : Selfless service earns two IAF squadrons President

President Pranab Mukherjee will present the President’s Standard to 25 Squadron and 33 Squadron, two flying units of the Indian Air Force, at the Air Force Station at Sulur here on December 18.

Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, Air Marshal R.K. Jolly, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command, said that the squadrons, equipped with AN-32 aircraft, would be recognised with the President’s Standard for their meritorious service in the last 50 years.

The 25 Squadron, also called the ‘Himalayan Eagles’, is based in Vadodara, Gujarat, while the 33 Squadron is based at Sulur. They will join the esteemed list of 55 squadrons of the IAF that have received the President’s Standard.

“The Standard marks hard work, valour and sacrifice of all personnel posted to these units over the years, and is in recognition of their selfless service. The transport squadrons have been involved in crucial relief and rescue operations, and operational formations,” the Air Marshal said.

According to Group Captain M. Aserkar, Commanding Officer of the 25 Squadron, the unit was inducted into the IAF on March 1, 1963, in Chandigarh. It has, since then, been the lifeline of northern and north-west frontiers and engaged in operations such as Op Parakaram, Op Vijay, and the Indo-Pak conflicts of 1965 and 1971. It relocated to Vadodara in September 2011.

According to Group Captain G.S. Matharu, Commanding Officer of the 33 Squadron, the unit was inducted into the IAF on January 9, 1963, in Guwahati, and was the lifeline of the northeast till 1991 when it moved to Sulur.

After the Tangail operations in 1971, one of the major contributions of the squadron was seen in the rescue operations during the 2004 tsunami.

The President will present the Standard at a ceremonial function to be held between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on December 18. Governor of Tamil Nadu K. Rosaiah will be present. Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, Chief of Air Staff, serving and retired personnel of the two squadrons, besides civilian dignitaries will attend the event.

Other dignitaries invited include Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Union Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Kumar, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister V.K. Saraswat, and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
 

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