No. 1 Squadron IAF

No. 1 Squadron IAF
Unit name	No. 1 Squadron IAF
Dates	1 April 1933 – present
Country	India
Branch	Indian Air Force
Role	Air superiority, Reconnaissance
Garrison	nickname = "The Tigers" |motto = "Touch the Sky with Glory" |equipment = Sukhoi Su-30MKI |battle_honours = Burma Campaign (1944–45)

No. 1 Squadron IAF is the oldest squadron of the Indian Air Force with continuous service since its formation in 1933. Raised during the interwar period under British Raj administration, the unit served in the Second World War Burma theatre and later in independent India's conflicts and peacetime roles. Over decades the squadron operated a succession of aircraft types and produced senior leaders who contributed to Indian military aviation doctrine, regional air operations, and international exercises.

History

The squadron's institutional history spans the late British Empire era, the Second World War, the Indian independence movement, and post-1947 regional crises involving Pakistan and other neighbours. Its lineage reflects transitions from colonial auxiliaries to a national strategic force integrated with commands at Air Headquarters (India), the Western Air Command (India), and later South Western Air Command (India). The unit participated in wartime campaigns, air defence, close air support, and peacetime training with bilateral links to forces such as the Royal Air Force, United States Air Force, and French Air and Space Force.

Formation and Early Years

Raised on 1 April 1933 at Drigh Road, the squadron was established under the aegis of the Royal Indian Air Force and initially equipped with light biplanes procured from Hawker Aircraft and other British manufacturers. Personnel included officers trained at institutions like the Royal Air Force College Cranwell and technical staff from Indian Air Force Technical College precursors. Early assignments involved air policing, transport, and reconnaissance across princely states such as Hyderabad and regions including North-West Frontier Province and Bengal Presidency.

World War II and Burma Campaign

During the Second World War, the squadron was deployed to the Burma Campaign (1944–45) to support Allied operations against the Empire of Japan and the Imperial Japanese Army. Operating from forward bases in Assam and Chittagong, it flew sorties in cooperation with formations like Fourteenth Army (United Kingdom) and the South East Asia Command. Missions included tactical reconnaissance, close air support for formations engaged at Imphal and Kohima, and interdiction against Japanese supply lines along the Irrawaddy River. The squadron's operations intersected with leaders such as William Slim and units from the Royal Australian Air Force and United States Army Air Forces during the coordinated offensive that liberated Burma.

Post-Independence Operations

After 1947, the squadron transitioned to supporting the newly sovereign Republic of India during crises including the First Kashmir War (1947–1948), the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. It undertook air defence, ground-attack, and reconnaissance roles in coordination with commands like the Eastern Air Command (India) and operations involving formations from the Indian Army such as IV Corps (India) and XXXIII Corps (India). The unit has also been active in peacetime airshows, multinational exercises with Indian Navy, the United States Navy, and humanitarian missions following natural disasters in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Odisha.

Aircraft and Equipment

The squadron's inventory evolved from early biplanes to modern fighters. Historic types included aircraft from Hawker and contemporaries of Supermarine designs, followed by piston and early jet types influenced by Gloster Aircraft Company and Mikoyan-Gurevich procurement patterns. In the jet era the unit operated platforms akin to Dassault Mystère, MiG-21, and later multirole heavy fighters including the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. Avionics upgrades have paralleled acquisitions from firms associated with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), DRDO, and international suppliers involved in long-term maintenance and overhaul agreements.

Notable Personnel and Commanders

Commanders and alumni have included officers who progressed to senior appointments at Air Headquarters (India), the Chief of the Air Staff (India), and joint posts within the Integrated Defence Staff (India). Notable figures who served in similar pioneering squadrons or in related campaigns include aviators recognized with awards such as the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and wartime gallantry decorations like the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom). Several commanders later contributed to aviation policy at institutions like the National Defence Academy (India) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Honors and Insignia

The squadron's emblem and motto "Touch the Sky with Glory" reflect martial heraldry comparable to symbols used by Royal Air Force squadrons and other Commonwealth units. Battle honours such as participation in the Burma Campaign (1944–45) are inscribed in the squadron's colours, and its crest has been displayed at establishments including the Indian Air Force Museum and squadron messes. The unit's decorations and citations acknowledge cooperative campaigns with formations like Fourteenth Army (United Kingdom), aircrews linked to Royal Australian Air Force squadrons, and multinational partners that contributed to its operational legacy.

Category:Squadrons of the Indian Air Force