No. 3 squadron was formed at Peshawar on 1st October 1941 as a fighter reconnaissance squadron with the motto ' ba himmat ba murad' which was later changed to 'lakshya vedh'. The squadron took an active part in operations against militant tribes of the northwestern frontier province and later in the second world war, against the Japanese troops during the Burma campaign in 1945. During the 1965 and 1971 indo-pak conflicts the Cobras then equipped with Mysteres, fought gallantly in the highest traditions of the service and were awarded six vir chakras, three vishisht seva medals, and eight mention-in-dispatches. In March 1975 , No. 3 squadron had the proud privilege of being amongst the first few units in the IAF to receive the 'president’s standards' and in December 1994, the squadron received 'battle honours' for the 1965 indo-pak war. Initially starting with Audax aircraft the squadron has been constantly upgrading its armor and in 2002 the cobras were honoured to be the first unit in the IAF to convert to the upgraded MiG-21 'Bisons'. The Cobras hold the distinction of being the oldest un-number platted squadron in the IAF, thus having the honour of continuous service from the squadron's inception.