Advance HQ, Western Air Command Date Raised : 1972-08-01 Location : Chandimandir The concept of an organised coordinating agency for planning and executing joint Army/Air Operations appeared soon after birth of the IAF. The need for such an organisation was realised immediately after the J&K 1947-48 operation in which the IAF was called upon to assist formations of Indian Army involved in the operations. Earlier this task was performed by suitable units of RAF in India. The first joint Army/Air coordination cell of post independent India, called No. 1 Air Task Force, was thus formed to work in conjunction with No. 11 Corps of the Indian Army. The results obtained through such organised co- operation were so successful that it was decided to form similar joint co-ordination cells. In order to give shape to this decision, a detachment of No. 1 Tactical (Air Support) Group was moved to Shimla in Jan 55 to function alongside HQ Western Command. The Commander of No. 1 Tactical (Air Force) Group, Group Captain HS Ratnagar, (based at Jalandhar) also exercised command over this element. This detachment continued to function till the Advance Headquarters, Operational Command, IAF was duly established at Shimla on 15 July 59. Air Cmde SN Goyal took over as the first Air Officer-in-Charge. In Aug 72, this HQ was renamed as Advance HQ WAC, IAF (on raising of Western Air Command) and Air Cmde VN Bhatnagar, then Air Officer-in-Charge was reposted as AOC, Adv HQ WAC, IAF. This HQ has continued to be located " "within the HQ Western Command complex and moved with it from Shimla to Chandimandir during Jan-Feb 85. The role of Adv HQ WAC, IAF at the time of its formation was to exercise functional control in conducting joint operations/exercises with HQ Western Command, maintain liaison with HQ Western Command on behalf of HQ Operational Command and exercise functional control over Nos. 1 and 4 Tactical Air Centres (TAC) and flying units which were placed under its control from time to time. However, this HQ is now exercising functional control over 1, 8, 9 and 10 TACs and the role has subsequently been expanded. |
Commanding Officers | |||||
Dates | Rank & Name | Number | Remarks | Location | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 Aug 72 to | Air Commodore Virendra Mohan Bhatnagar | 3067 F(P) | AOC | Simla | |
Unknown to | Air Commodore Pattathil Venugopal | 4431 F(P) | AOC | Simla | |
Unknown to 01 Jun 92 | Air Vice Marshal Dhan Singh Nagi | 5305 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
01 Jun 92 to 01 Jan 94 | Air Vice Marshal Kodendera Cariappa Cariappa | 5376 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
01 Jan 94 to | Air Vice Marshal Darshan Singh Basra | 6519 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
Unknown to 17 Aug 98 | Air Vice Marshal Tej Mohan Asthana | 7672 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
17 Aug 98 to | Air Vice Marshal Manpreet Singh Brar | 8715 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
Unknown to 31 Jul 01 | Air Vice Marshal Brijendra Mohan Bali | 8438 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
Unknown to 01 Oct 03 | Air Vice Marshal Dhanwant Singh Guram | 10916 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
01 Oct 03 to 30 Sep 04 | Air Vice Marshal Satish Kumar Sofat | 12207 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
01 Dec 04 to 30 Apr 05 | Air Vice Marshal Charanjit Singh Gill | 11645 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
01 Jun 05 to | Air Vice Marshal Ajit Singh | 13147 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
Unknown to 23 Mar 10 | Air Vice Marshal Arup Raha | 13910 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
Unknown to | Air Vice Marshal Prashant Nagaraja Kaushik | 16783 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
Unknown to 11 Nov 18 | Air Vice Marshal Suraj Kumar Jha | 17445 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
12 Nov 18 to 31 Mar 19 | Air Vice Marshal Bakul Vaikunthrai Upadhyay | 18281 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir | |
01 Apr 19 to | Air Vice Marshal Manish Khanna | 18554 F(P) | AOC | Chandimandir |