IAF’s decorated ‘Mighty Jets’ to mark diamond jubilee

A leading Indian Air Force transport squadron, which earned its spurs in different wars and military operations during the last six decades, will mark its diamond jubilee at the Chandigarh Air Force station on Saturday, with the milestone celebration turning the spotlight on the squadron’s outstanding achievements, officials familiar with the matter said on Friday. 44 Squadron, also known as the Mighty Jets, provided crucial logistics support to the army in the Ladakh sector during the 1962 India-China war, carried out extensive tactical and limited strategic airlift in the western sector during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, executed special bombing missions during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, and also played a pivotal role in supporting the army during the ongoing border row with China in eastern Ladakh, the officials said, asking not to be named. “The squadron also carried out airlift of AMX tanks into the northern sector which redefined the offensive abilities of the Indian Army,” said a second official. “The squadron carried out practice landings at Thoise in October 1985, and in early 1986, inducted tanks and artillery guns into Ladakh region, thus substantially enhancing the army’s firepower in the sector,” said another official.