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Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH, MARCH 5: Conquering the heights of the mighty Himalayas to operating sorties out of the steaming tropics of the Middle East to the thundering majestically over the Rajpath, the Himalayan Eagles squadron completes a 36-year legacy of unparalleled flying.
The IAF’s only composite squadron of IL-76 heavy freighters and AN-32 medium lift transporters observes its 36th anniversary tomorrow.
Raised by Sqn Ldr G.J. Shaw on March 1, 1963, in the wake of the Chinese aggression when the need to strengthen the airlifting capacity in the northern region was felt, No.25 Squadron began its life with four AN-12 aircraft procured from the erstwhile Soviet Union.
The Himalayan Eagles are tasked with air maintenance of forward posts in the Northern Sector, including transportation as well as para-dropping of cargo and personnel.
Nowhere in the world are such heavy aircraft being used in such hostile terrain as in Ladakh, where sorties are carried out to Leh (10,700 feet), Thoise (10,100 feet) and Chushul (14,500) feet).
The 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars saw the squadron in action, with AN-32s being used for carpet bombing as well as during the famous airdrop of Indian paratroopers over Tangail during the liberation of Bangladesh.
During the 1991 Gulf War, the Squadron, then newly equipped with IL-76s, played a vital role in the evacuation of stranded Indians from Basra, Dubai and Yemen. By June 1993, with the induction of the IL-76s and AN-32s, the AN-12s were finally phased out, marking the end of a glorious chapter.
Presently commanded by Gp Capt S.P. Singh, No.25 Squadron has to its credit six Vishisht Seva Nedals, 25 Vayu Seva Medals besides winning the Best Transport Squadron Trophy four times and the Flight Safety Trophy twice.
