No. 26 Squadron, Indian Air Force

No. 26 Squadron (Warriors) IAF, is a Ground Attack, and Close Air Support unit of the Indian Air Force, operating from an unknown base under Western Air Command.

History
The squadron was formed on 1 January 1968, at Adampur, under Wing Commander M.M. Singh. It was the first squadron to operate the Sukhoi Su-7 aircraft. Until 1971, the squadron was a type training squadron, which helped other squadrons convert to Su-7. It played a very active role in the war with Pakistan in December that year. Its primary role was to fly Close Air Support missions with 8 Tactical Air Command, and flew a few sorties with 6 TAC as well. Most operations were in an area termed as the Bulge, bounded by Samba in the north, Pathankot in the east, and Dera Baba Nanak in the south.

Operations in 1971
The war started with the PAF conducting pre-emptive strikes on various Indian airfields. At 0400 hours on the morning of 4 December, the Warriors' aircrew was briefed for its day's operations. It sent four aircraft, early in the morning, to strike Chander Airfield, and flew several other sorties. At dusk, four aircraft were sent to strike a suspected radar site at Walton Airfield.

On 5 December, after being briefed at 0430 hours, the squadron flew missions for 6 TAC in the Lahore sector. In one mission, Squadron Leader Sahin was damaged, forcing him to land at Pathankot. During the last strike of the day, Squadron Leader Jaffa was shot. He ejected from an inverted aircraft, but landed inside Pakistani territory and got captured. The next day the squadron flew several missions against dug-in and well-prepared Pakistani positions in the Bulge. On 7 December, at 1015 hours, Squadron Leader Jiwa Singh, the squadron's Senior Flight Commander, was shot down in Jafarwal, and lost contact with ground control. Later that day, it was reported that s Su-7, probably commanded by Singh had been shot down by an F-104 Starfighter and the pilot killed. The next day, after being briefed at 0630hours, the squadron flew several CAS missions for no losses. However due to the previous mishaps, they were down to 13 pilots, and just 11 aircraft.

On 9 December, the squadron began flying missions with MiG 21s as escorts, since PAF activity in the Bulge had been stepped up. The squadron flew several missions against enemy positions in the Bulge, and Flight Lt. Kadam was reported missing after an attack on Rissalwala Airfield. The next day, the Warriors flew 10 CAS sorties in the bulge, and Flight Lt. Parulkar went missing after a strike over Zafarwal. On 11 December, 3 aircraft from the squadron flying over Nunkot, encountered 6 PAF Sabres. Two aircraft returned undamaged, but Flight Lt. K.K.Mohan was reported missing. The next day the squadron flew 12 CAS sorties for no mishaps, though the Pakistanis occasionally jammed the communications. As the war drew to close, the Warriors flew fewer sorties than before, only 8 sorties took place on 13 December.

On 14 December, the fight in Sakargarh began heating up, and the squadron flew 14 sorties. Their Flight Air Controller, Flight Lt. Pereira was seriously injured by strafing runs, and died due to these injuries. On 15 December, the Warriors acquired S-24 rockets, and attacked Sulaimanke Head works with these. The next day, after the Pakistani forces in Dhaka had surrendered, the squadron flew a mission against Normal Railway yard flying into heavy Anti-aircraft fire. Flight Lt. Dandass was shot down and his aircraft exploded on the ground. in the evening, the Prime Minister ordered a unilateral ceasefire on the Western Front. The next day, only 12 sorties were flown. A cessations of all air strikes was ordered at 1600 hours that evening.

Post-War
The Squadron got several trophies for being the best in Western Air Command. They took part in the 50 squadron fly past in 1982, commemorating the IAF Golden Jubilee. At some point after the war, the squadron was re-equipped with MiG 21BIS aircraft.