Air Force Station Bagdogra, near Siliguri in West Bengal was formed on 29 November 1962, in the wake of the Sino-Indian border conflict. Like Air Force Station Guwahati, this Station was set up to exercise command and control over Fighter Sqns, Helicopter and Transport Units. The role of the Station changed in April 1970 when it started exercising administrative control on two Fighter Sqns, one Helicopter Unit and two Air Observation Posts. A Survival security support Flight was moved to this Air Base in December 1982. The EAC Communication Flight was merged with this Flight in September 1997. This Flight was tasked to undertake Search and Rescue missions (SAR) during natural Since February 1989, a Signal Unit established at this Station has been providing multi-channel communication facilities for Air Defence and Administrative Communication to the designated units. A Mobile Observation Flight formed at this Base in February 1982 provides early warning of airborne objects to alert air defence measures.