No. 22 Squadron IAF

No. 22 Squadron
No. 22 Squadron
	Mig 27ML

No. 22 Squadron (Swifts) was a

MiG-27 till December 2017 and the squadron number-plated since then.^[1]

Formation

Mig 27 of the No. 22 Squadron takes off from Hasimara Air Force Station

No. 22 Sqn,

AFB under Eastern Air Command in September 1968, forming a part of the 5 Wing.^[2]

1971 Operations

Air defence

On 22 November 1971, the squadron fought the first engagement that signified the opening of all out war in 1971, four Gnats operating from

POWs.^[2]

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

The most extensive ground support missions were flown against the

Unguided bombs, destroying the defences in pinpoint attacks. Jessore would fall after this bloody confrontation.^[3]

Bomber and transport escort

No. 22 provided crucial

An-12s and Dakotas during the Tangail Airdrop on 11 December 1971.^[3]

Anti shipping operations

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

In December 1975, the squadron moved to Hasimara, and in April 1978, it moved to Bagdogra, and converted to

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

The Squadron earned its name of Sabre Slayers, during Operations in December 1971. In the Battle of Boyra of the war, three intruding

Sabres with devastating effect.^[3]

Aircraft

Aircraft types operated by the squadron [5]^[6]


Aircraft Type	From	To	Air Base
Folland Gnat I	15 October 1966	December 1969	AFS Bareilly
Folland Gnat I	December 1969	April 1982	AFS Kalaikunda
Hawker Hunter	February 1973	February 1986
HAL Ajeet	March 1982	March 1990
MiG-23 UB	February 1990	29 December 2017	AFS Hasimara
MiG-27	February 1990	29 December 2017	AFS Hasimara

Awards

Flt 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

^ "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.

[1] "MiG-27 squadron number-plated at Hasimara". Sainik Samachar. Retrieved 27 June 2021.

[22_Nov-2] "22nd November 1971". Bharat-rakshak.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2012.

[IAF.nic-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "No 22 Squadron (Swifts)". Indianairforce.nic.in. Retrieved 27 October 2013.

[4] "The Floggers of Hasimara [www.bharat-rakshak.com]". Bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 15 July 2012.

[22brf-5] "No.22 Squadron Falcons - Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". bharat-rakshak.com.

[6] "Nos 18 and 22 Squadron Awarded President's Standard". India Strategic. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2021.

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