Ambala was one of the oldest and largest airbase inherited from the British for the IAF. The then Advanced Flying Training School operating from there used to operate Harvards and Spitfires. Later on, Ambala AFS operated Vampires, Toofanis, Mysteres and Hunters in a combat role. It was from this airbase that Spitfires and Harvards flown by Instructors took part in the early days of fighting in the Srinagar valley in the 1947-48 Kashmir Operations. Today the Airbase houses 7 Wing operating Jaguars and  MiG-21 Bisons.

	The Frozen Tear War Memorial featuring Gnat E-1051 at Ambala Air Force Base. 34 Names of IAF pilots who died in operations both in peace as well as wartime are etched on the obelisk.
The Gnat was earlier in an interesting 'Blue' scheme with white tail numbers as can be seen in this older picture. Though we are not able to put a date or year when this photograph was taken. Photo Courtesy : Indian Air Force

Ambala airfield has a war memorial called 'Frozen Tear' dedicated to pilots who flew operations from this airfield. The War memorial was inaugurated in the year 1982.

A HAL Gnat [E-1051] forms the backdrop for this monument which is in the shape of an elongated tear represented by an obelisk. The memorial is located at the main dispersal just behind the ATC Building.

The eastern face of the obelisk is  etched with 21 Names of fighter pilots who died in ops in the 50s and 60s.
	The Southern face (front side) of the memorial has 13 more names including two pilots from the 1971 Operations.

The Obelisk carries the names of all aircrew who lost thier lives in times of war and peace flying missions from the airfield from Dec 1953 onwards. When we visited the airbase in October 2003, there were 34 names etched on the memorial. The Gnat is mounted on a pole and is shown dipping a wing towards the memorial.

Gnat E-1051 is silhouetted against the horizon at Ambala. The St Paul's Cathedral which was bombed is just behind the Gnat in the right photograph