5 SQN AF, “TUSKERS”, was formed at Kanpur on 2nd November 1948, with B-24 Liberator Aircraft and its role was of a heavy bomber. On 01 Sep 1957, at Agra, the squadron was the first to be re-equipped with Canberra aircraft and the role was re-defined as Bomber/Interdictor squadron. In 1961, the squadron contributed a detachment to ONUC, the United Nations’ multinational force in the Congo where it represented the only long-range attack capability available to the UN. The squadron det conducted successful long-range counter air and counter surface force ops against the rebel airfields and ground forces, destroying a number of rebel aircraft and ground targets. For services in Congo, the squadron personnel won 2 Vr C, 5 VSM and Flt Lt P Gautam won his first medal, VM. In the 1965 war, the squadron raided Sargodha Airfield on the night of 6/7 September. On the night of 13/14 September the squadron carried out a particularly unexpected and unprecedented attack on the PAF base at Peshawar damaging the runway and BPIs. The squadron flew around 300 sorties during the war. These included counter air sorties by night and close air support to the Indian Army by day. For services during the 1965 war, the squadron personnel won 1 MVC, 4 VrC, 3 VSM and 14 M-in-D. The squadron was led into war for the third time in 1971 and as usual took its war deep into enemy country. The squadron again flew around 300 sorties striking targets in both fronts. For its services during the war, the personnel were awarded 01 MVC and 3 VrC. The squadron was awarded Presidents Standard on 09 Apr 1975 by Late Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the then President of India. In Aug 1981, the squadron was re-equipped with Jaguar and relocated to Ambala. In July 1988 the squadron participated in Operation Pawan, the Indian Peace-Keeping Force operation in Sri Lanka, in which it carried out long-range recce missions. The squadron also took part in Kargil operations by operating a det at Halwara. The chore of revamping Tuskers arsenal to “state of art” DARIN II variant commenced in Dec 05.