Pratibha Patil to honour IAF units on March 9

President Pratibha Patil will present the President's Standard (honour) to two units of Indian Air Force (IAF) at Bagdogra IAF base, about 15 km from Siliguri, on March 9, air marshal and AoC-in-chief KK Nohwar said today.

Nohwar told a press conference at the IAF station that the 44 squadron and 110 helicopter unit (HU) had the fantastic track record of bravery and operation at the hour of need.

The president, who will arrive at Bagdogra airport on March 8 evening, would halt at Siliguri circuit house at night and participate in the IAF programme at IAF station next morning.

The 44 squadron was raised on April 6, 1961 at Chandigarh.

During the Sino-India conflict in 1962, this squad surprised everyone by air-lifting tanks at Chushul at an altitude of 14,000 feet. It again carried on incessant bombing against Pakistanis in 1971, the IAF press release said.

The 110 HU was raised on February 19, 1962 at Tezpur with only four helicopters. The unit successfully participated in different operations, some of them jointly with the army.

The units' contribution in the Bangladesh liberation was also commendable.

Besides in 1981, equipment, stores of National Hydel Corporation was airlifted by the unit to Bhairabi in Mizoram and in 1988 it took part in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. The unit also did important flood relief service in different areas of the region.