Bagdogra: President Pratibha Devisingh
Patil would present the President`s Standard (honour) to two
units of Indian Air Force at Bagdogra IAF base, about 15 km
from Siliguri, on March 9, Air Marshal and AoC-in-chief K K
Nohwar said on Saturday.
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 would 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.
PTI
