Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force

No.32 Squadron - Mysteres

No.32 Squadron at Adampur during the 1965 War. No.32 Squadron was raised just two years earlier in 1963, under the command of Wg Cdr ER Fernandez. The two flight commanders were Sqn Ldr R Jayvant Singh and Sqn Ldr E G Salins.

Squadron leader Jaywant Singh had asked for premature retirement just a month before war started. It was approved by Air Force and he was all set to go to his state , called Limdi,near Rajkot. Just then, Pakistan had bombed Adampur,in a pre emptive strike. He had cancelled his departure and requested Air Head Quarters, through the Station Commander that he may be permitted to fight along with the pilots of his Squadron. Air Head Quarters had agreed. He had led the pilots of his Squadron through out the War. After the war Sqn.Ldr.Jaywant Singh was promoted as a Wing Commander and took over the Squadron. He had retired soon after.

Other officers who served include Fg Offr S V Ratnaparki, who would later bomb the Tezgaon airfield from a MiG-21 in the 71 war, and Fg Offr Dara Phiroze Chinoy, who had to eject behind enemy lines and had to evade capture.

Roll of Honour:
Wg Cdr E R Fernandez
Sqn Ldr R Jayvant Singh
Sqn Ldr E G Salins
Sqn Ldr T P S Gill
Flt Lt S V Ratnaparkhi
Flt Lt Sihota
Fg Offr P K Ayre
Fg Offr S K Mitroo
Fg Offr D P Chinoy
Fg Offr I F Hussain

Photos Courtesy: R Vjit Singh and Gp Capt S V Ratnaparkhi