Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force

Tsunami Memorial at Car Nicobar (37 Wing)

The 37 Wing Air Force Station at Car Nicobar is spread over an area of 504 acres. The 3,000-feet bitumen runway, built by the Japanese during their occupation of these islands between 1942–45, was extended to 8,886 feet by the Indian Air Force in 1967. The first Mi-8 helicopter arrived here in 1982.

The Air base was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. 37 Wing at that time had 397 Air Force Combat Personnel, 93 Non Combatants and 102 Army personnel. Many of the 33 Commissioned Officers stationed there at that time had their families with them. One hundred and sixteen IAF officers and men, their wives and children died in the disaster. Little remained of the air base, which was established as India's southern-most defence post.

The Memorial was built to commemorate the lives lost during the great Tsunami. it is one of the rare defence memorials to commemorate the loss of civilian lives on the airfield.