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Boulton-Paul Defiant TT.I & TT.III

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Category: Retired Aircraft Histories
Last Updated: Monday, 18 September 2017 19:10
Written by Jagan Pillarisetti
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The previous version of our Defiant article noted that "Perhaps some day more information or photos will come to light that goes on to prove beyond all doubt that the Defiant was truely one of the aircraft that was on the IAF's inventory.".That day is here - The Defiant was truely one of the aircraft in the IAF's inventory. Details of the units and information on some of the pilots who flew the aircraft during the war are updated here. Now updated with a third photo of the Defiant in IAF service!

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Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh (1919-2017)

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Category: Tributes
Last Updated: Sunday, 17 September 2017 04:49
Written by Webmaster
Hits: 2366

Its an end of an era - Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, the only five star rank officer in the IAF, a legendary and much beloved name in the Air Force Fraternity is no more. He was the Air Chief during the critical 1965 India-Pakistan war at a young age of 46.  He passed away yesterday (16th September 2017) in New Delhi.  A statement from the Ministry of Defence said he was admitted to the hospital on Saturday morning following a cardiac arrest, and breathed his last at 7.47 PM.  Prior to his demise he was one of the last surviving officers of the IAF who had trained at RAF Cranwell, and also one of the last surviving DFC awardees of the IAF. 

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No.1 Squadron “Tigers” and the Imphal Siege

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Category: The Royal Indian Air Force in the Second World War
Last Updated: Wednesday, 13 September 2017 03:24
Written by Jagan Pillarisetti
Hits: 12884

The complete story of No.1 Squadron's operations in the Imphal Battle told in detail never before known. First published in an abridged form for the WW2 Imphal Battle Commemoration Brochure. This article also puts names to the unknown faces - and lists out those who sacrificed their lives in the battle.

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Inside Occupied Kashmir

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Category: The 1947-48 Jammu & Kashmir Operations
Last Updated: Wednesday, 23 August 2017 04:10
Written by P N Sharma
Hits: 7746

P.N. Sharma was a reporter for the well known weekly magazine the BLITZ being published from Bombay. He was one of the first war correspondents on scene in Kashmir during the 1947 airlift of troops to Kashmir. His 1957 book, Inside Occupied Kashmir is not well known, but is a rare insight of some of the first combined operations of the war. Sharma's adventure started with his being on a public relations joyride in one of the IAF's Harvards. This account tells what happened on that fateful day.

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Flying with the Legend - Air Commodore R S Benegal

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Category: The Bangladesh War 1971
Last Updated: Tuesday, 15 August 2017 04:24
Written by Air Marshal G C S Rajwar (Retd)
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Air Marshal G C S Rajwar , commissioned in 1963 as part of the 26th Navigator Course, is a veteran of two wars. He was the navigator to the CO of No.106 Squadron in the 1971 war, then Wg Cdr R S Benegal.  He wrote this piece about his missions in the war as an "Afterword" for the autobiographical book by late Air Commodore R S Benegal - Burma to Japan with the Azad Hind .  

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Patches Gallery Updated

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Category: Uncategorised
Last Updated: Tuesday, 08 August 2017 01:46
Written by Webmaster
Hits: 521

 Patches Gallery updated with several Squadron Crest Patches, as well as other types. Contributions from Collections of Wg Cdr A K Gupta, Sqn Ldr A Mukherjea and late Air Marshal W R Dani.

Databases

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Category: Database
Last Updated: Monday, 10 July 2017 06:57
Written by Webmaster
Hits: 53855

Another update to the Units and Appointments Database by Anchit Gupta.  Records in the the existing database total 4200+ entries

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No.2 Squadron - Photos from the 70s

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Category: The Last Quarter: 1972-99
Last Updated: Friday, 30 June 2017 02:19
Written by Gp Capt Deb Gohain
Hits: 10839

Group Captain Gohain was commissioned in the fighter stream of 110 Pilots Course on 2 Jun 1973. After initial training He was posted to Gnat squadrons and for next seven years or so served in Nos 22, 23 and 2 Squadrons. In 1982 he converted to MiG 21M and served in 37 and 17 Squadrons. he did two instructional tenures in MOFTU where he flew MiG-21FLs and later commanded 52 Squadron. He also commanded 273 SU, an ADDC as Group Captain. A qualified FCL and graduate of Staff College, he took a premature retirement from Air Force in May 2004.

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