No. 22 Squadron (Swifts) was a CAS unit based out of Hasimara AFS. Along with No. 222 Squadron IAFTiger Sharks, No. 22 Squadron forms a part of the 16 Wing of the IAF. The squadron operated MiG-27 till December 2017 and the squadron number-plated since then.[1]
On 22 November 1971, the squadron fought the first engagement that signified the opening of all out war in 1971, four Gnats operating from Dum Dum, engaged Sabresover Boyra salient, shot down two of them, and badly damaged one. The damaged aircraft however made it back to Tezgaon Airfield alongside the undamaged one. Two of the PAF pilots, namely Pervez Mehdi Qureshi, Khaleel Ahmed, ejected over the Boyra salient, and were taken POWs.[2]
Ground attackEdit
No. 22 did not fly against ground targets until three days after the formal declaration of war. First of these was on 6 December, against Brisal Airfield, south of Dhaka. At 1200 hours, four Gnats flew against the airfield at Brisal, destroying all the hangars, and causing extensive damage to the bunkers around it.
The squadron also struck the Ishurdi airfield repeatedly between 5 and 8 December, and Jessore on 8 December. On 7 Dec, the squadron destroyed the Army Brigade at Khulna.[3]
Close air supportEdit
The most extensive ground support missions were flown against the Pakistani Army positions in Jessore. The Indian Army faced its most difficult task in the capture of Jessore, where the Pakistani Army had dug-in in concrete defences and defended every inch and were also aided by an effective artillery barrage. No 22 Sqn would strike these positions with Unguided bombs, destroying the defences in pinpoint attacks. Jessore would fall after this bloody confrontation.[3]
Bomber and transport escortEdit
No. 22 provided crucial fighter escort to the Hunters and Canberras on strikes against positions deep inside East Pakistan. The Pakistani Air Force did not attempt to intercept these flights, and hence allowed these bombers to go through unhampered, causing extensive damage to railyards and strongholds. Gnats from No 22 would also provide fighter escort to the An-12s and Dakotas during the Tangail Airdrop on 11 December 1971.[3]
Anti shipping operationsEdit
The Pakistani ground forces attempted to retreat through small boats, motor launches and barges. The squadron carried out raids on Khulna, Banisol, and Godanad between 7 and 15 December, effectively stopping the escape.[3]
After the WarEdit
In December 1975, the squadron moved to Hasimara, and in April 1978, it moved to Bagdogra, and converted to HALAjeet Mk-I ac aircraft in March 1982. On 20 December 1985, the unit was awarded the present crest of the Swift by the then Indian President, R. Venkataraman, and renamed to its current name. In February 1990, the squadron moved back to Hasimara, and converted to Mikoyan MiG-27ML aircraft.[4]
Sabre SlayersEdit
The Squadron earned its name of Sabre Slayers, during Operations in December 1971. In the Battle of Boyra of the war, three intruding Sabres of the PAF were shot down by the Squadron Pilots. Through the war, Gnats from No.22 repeatedly engaged the PAFSabres with devastating effect.[3]
^"MiG-27 squadron number-plated at Hasimara". Sainik Samachar. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
^ ab. Bharat-rakshak.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
^ abcdefgh"No 22 Squadron (Swifts)". Indianairforce.nic.in. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
^"The Floggers of Hasimara [www.bharat-rakshak.com]". Bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
^"No.22 Squadron Falcons - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". bharat-rakshak.com.
^"Nos 18 and 22 Squadron Awarded President's Standard". India Strategic. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
October 21, 2023
squadron, squadron, swifts, unit, based, hasimara, along, with, squadron, tiger, sharks, squadron, forms, part, wing, squadron, operated, till, december, 2017, squadron, number, plated, since, then, squadroncrest, squadronactive15, october, 1966, december, 201. No 22 Squadron Swifts was a CAS unit based out of Hasimara AFS Along with No 222 Squadron IAF Tiger Sharks No 22 Squadron forms a part of the 16 Wing of the IAF The squadron operated MiG 27 till December 2017 and the squadron number plated since then 1 No 22 SquadronCrest of No 22 SquadronActive15 October 1966 29 December 2017CountryIndiaRoleCAS InterdictionGround attackGarrison HQHasimara AFSNickname s Swifts Motto s Sahase VijayateCourage TriumphsInsigniaIdentificationsymbolFlying SwiftAircraft flownAttackMig 27ML Contents 1 Formation 2 1971 Operations 2 1 Air defence 2 2 Ground attack 2 3 Close air support 2 4 Bomber and transport escort 2 5 Anti shipping operations 3 After the War 4 Sabre Slayers 5 Aircraft 6 Awards 7 ReferencesFormation Edit nbsp A Mig 27 of the No 22 Squadron takes off from Hasimara Air Force StationNo 22 Sqn IAF was raised on 15 October 1966 at Airforce Station Bareilly under the command of Wg Cdr PP Singh as a part of Eastern Air Command and named Hell s Angels The unit was at the time equipped with Gnat Mk I ac and assigned to Ground attack and Air defence It moved to Kalaikunda AFB under Eastern Air Command in September 1968 forming a part of the 5 Wing 2 1971 Operations EditMain articles East Pakistan Operations 1971 and Operation Chengiz Khan Air defence Edit On 22 November 1971 the squadron fought the first engagement that signified the opening of all out war in 1971 four Gnats operating from Dum Dum engaged Sabres over Boyra salient shot down two of them and badly damaged one The damaged aircraft however made it back to Tezgaon Airfield alongside the undamaged one Two of the PAF pilots namely Pervez Mehdi Qureshi Khaleel Ahmed ejected over the Boyra salient and were taken POWs 2 Ground attack Edit No 22 did not fly against ground targets until three days after the formal declaration of war First of these was on 6 December against Brisal Airfield south of Dhaka At 1200 hours four Gnats flew against the airfield at Brisal destroying all the hangars and causing extensive damage to the bunkers around it The squadron also struck the Ishurdi airfield repeatedly between 5 and 8 December and Jessore on 8 December On 7 Dec the squadron destroyed the Army Brigade at Khulna 3 Close air support Edit The most extensive ground support missions were flown against the Pakistani Army positions in Jessore The Indian Army faced its most difficult task in the capture of Jessore where the Pakistani Army had dug in in concrete defences and defended every inch and were also aided by an effective artillery barrage No 22 Sqn would strike these positions with Unguided bombs destroying the defences in pinpoint attacks Jessore would fall after this bloody confrontation 3 Bomber and transport escort Edit No 22 provided crucial fighter escort to the Hunters and Canberras on strikes against positions deep inside East Pakistan The Pakistani Air Force did not attempt to intercept these flights and hence allowed these bombers to go through unhampered causing extensive damage to railyards and strongholds Gnats from No 22 would also provide fighter escort to the An 12s and Dakotas during the Tangail Airdrop on 11 December 1971 3 Anti shipping operations Edit The Pakistani ground forces attempted to retreat through small boats motor launches and barges The squadron carried out raids on Khulna Banisol and Godanad between 7 and 15 December effectively stopping the escape 3 After the War EditIn December 1975 the squadron moved to Hasimara and in April 1978 it moved to Bagdogra and converted to HAL Ajeet Mk I ac aircraft in March 1982 On 20 December 1985 the unit was awarded the present crest of the Swift by the then Indian President R Venkataraman and renamed to its current name In February 1990 the squadron moved back to Hasimara and converted to Mikoyan MiG 27ML aircraft 4 Sabre Slayers EditThe Squadron earned its name of Sabre Slayers during Operations in December 1971 In the Battle of Boyra of the war three intruding Sabres of the PAF were shot down by the Squadron Pilots Through the war Gnats from No 22 repeatedly engaged the PAF Sabres with devastating effect 3 Aircraft EditAircraft types operated by the squadron 5 6 Aircraft Type From To Air BaseFolland Gnat I 15 October 1966 December 1969 AFS BareillyDecember 1969 April 1982 AFS KalaikundaHawker Hunter February 1973 February 1986HAL Ajeet March 1982 March 1990MiG 23 UB February 1990 29 December 2017 AFS HasimaraMiG 27Awards EditFlt Lt RA Massey F P Vr C 1971 operations 3 Flt Lt MA Ganapathy F P Vr C 1971 operations 3 Flt Lt D Lazarus F P Vr C 1971 Operations 3 References Edit MiG 27 squadron number plated at Hasimara Sainik Samachar Retrieved 27 June 2021 a b 22nd November 1971 Bharat rakshak com Archived from the original on 18 November 2011 Retrieved 15 July 2012 a b c d e f g h No 22 Squadron Swifts Indianairforce nic in Retrieved 27 October 2013 The Floggers of Hasimara www bharat rakshak com Bharat rakshak com Retrieved 15 July 2012 No 22 Squadron Falcons Bharat Rakshak Indian Air Force bharat rakshak com Nos 18 and 22 Squadron Awarded President s Standard India Strategic 28 November 2015 Retrieved 27 June 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 22 Squadron IAF amp oldid 1160746823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
