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Agra. It was on 11th April 1985 that the mighty Il 76 entered the
Indian Air Force transport fleet, giving IAF strategic airlift capability for
the first time. The decision to induct the aircraft was taken in
early 1980s, after IAF pilots tested the aircraft along with a host of other aircraft
and systems. Once inducted, it was the teamwork that helped realize the airlift
capability, irrespective of the squadrons that the aircraft was assigned to.
In fact, keeping in mind the word TEAM’s appropriate expansion, Together Everyone
Achieves More, all the former and present IL pilots got together here last November
for a much-needed Reunion. The event in fact was a grand occasion on the Ilyushin
mosaic. The host were Martians, or the youngest colleagues from the Mid
Air Refueling Squadron (MARS) of Il-78s located at Agra. Enthusiasm for the Reunion
was echoed from 25 Squadron at Chandigarh and 44 Squadron at Nagpur. The
father figure of the IL family, Air Marshal Ashok Goel (Retd), who set up some
firsts in the aircraft’s capability even to the surprise of the Russians, graced
the Reunion with his inspiring presence, and shared his many an interesting episodes
with illustrative – nay, delightful – anecdotes. Notably, he landed the aircraft
on short runways in Himalyan heights, and commanded the 44 Squadron from 1985
to 1987. He has the distinction of being the first to command an IL 76 Squadron,
the 44 Squadron, and also taking the aircraft to Leh, Thoise and Port Blair. In
1987, Air Marshal Goel led the Indian troops into Maldives to save the government
from an attempted coup. 44 Squadron: The Mighty Jets, as the squadron is
fondly known, was raised at Chandigarh in March 1961 with the induction of AN
12s, and the squadron distinguished itself in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War by incessant
bombing of Pakistani concentrations on the Indo-Pak border. Transport aircraft
were deployed as bombers, and for night attacks, for the first time perhaps on
such a massive scale in the military aviation history. Not surprisingly,
the 44 Squadron was chosen to operate the versatile IL 76. The squadron moved
to Agra in Feb 1985 and, in the four decades of its existence, it has carved a
niche for itself in the field of military air transport operations. Air
Maintenance Operation to Leh & Thoise, IPKF Operations in Sri Lanka, Operation
Cactus for Maldives, numerous earthquake relief efforts and the Kargil War saw
diverse missions from this squadron. The squadron motto is ISHTAM YATNEN
SADHYET which means ACHIEVE GOALS THROUGH PERSEVERANCE. Himalayan geese,
a stately bird that portrays tranquility and supremacy, is the insignia of the
squadron. International exercises that 44 Sqn has participated in include
Exercise Co-operative Cope Thunder (CCT) 03 and CCT 04 at Alaska, Ex Blue Crane
and Ex Golden Eagle at South Africa, Exercise Yudh Abhyas at Hawaii, Ex Sindex
at Singapore and the recently concluded Ex Red Flag 08 in the US. The squadron
is proud of its Battle Honours 25 WAS EQUIPPED WITH
IL IN 1989. MIX TODAY, AN 32 AND 4 25 Squadron: The Himalayan Eagles was
formed on 1st March 1963 with AN 12 aircraft for air maintenance of Indian Army
positions in the inhospitable terrain of Ladakh and J & K sectors. Nowhere
in the world have the heavy transport aircraft such as the IL-76 been used in
such terrain and high altitudes. Through operational innovations, personnel of
the 25 Squadron have added a new dimension in the Air Maintenance role. The unit
crest rightfully depicts the Himalayan Eagle in all its glory. The unit
serves as the lifeline for the northern sector and hence the inscription on the
crest ‘The Saviours of the North’. The squadron achieved the remarkable feat of
successfully undertaking Il 76 operations at Leh by night in Jan 1997. Night operations
at Thoise were successfully tried out in 2000. The multi-national exercises for
this squadron include Cooperative Cope Thunder CCT (04), Golden Eagle at South
Africa in Sep-Oct 04 and Garuda at Istres, France in 2005. 78 Squadron:
The Valourous MARS (Mid Air Refuelling Squadron) was formed at Air Force Station
Agra on 16 Dec 2002, a day celebrated as Vijay Diwas or Victory Day by the Indian
Armed Forces to mark the liberation of Bangladesh. The formation of 78
Squadron heralded the advent of Air to Air Refuelling (AAR) in the Indian Air
Force. The squadron added another first to its list by achieving the task
of ferrying six Jaguar aircraft across the globe to Alaska for participation in
Exercise CCT in 2004. Since then it has taken part in international exercises
at Alaska, South Africa, France, Singapore, UK and the recently concluded Exercise
Red Flag 08 at Nellis Air Force Base in USA. The versatility of the Il-78
platform has been exploited to its full potential by the MARS by adapting to different
roles such as aid to civil power and relief missions (Tsunami & White Tsunami).
The squadron was awarded the UNIT CITATION by the Chief of Air Staff on 08 Oct
2007 followed by the release of a commemorative stamp by the President of India
on the same day. In te short span of its existence, the 78 Sqn has grown bit by
bit, and Air Warriors of the Valourous MARS have also reached Far Pavilions, From
the Ground Up and touched celestial points over Agra, Ambala, Alaska, Africa,
et al to create multifaceted operational mosaics of excellence. The squadron
draws from a rich pool of professional aviators in living up to its ethos of STEADFASTNESS,
EXCELLENCE, VALOUR. ANECDOTES DOWN THE MEMORY LANE
Sitting on the last row in 1985 in a classroom that later became the 44
and 78 Squadrons’ Briefing Room, we were straining our necks to get a glimpse
of the colourful overall clad heavenly bodies descending from an awesome aeroplane.
All that we were allowed was to have a touch and go approach to these pioneering
men in their magnificent flying machine. All of us remember that wonderful First
Knowledge Book. THE REUNION On 15 Nov 2008,
all the road were Leading to Agra. Esteemed guests like glittering dreams came
truly. Hugs and Hellos were filling the air. It was a leisurely stroll down memory
lane for old timers, while the youngsters were left speechless by this aggrandizement.
The entire surroundings seemed surrealistically beautiful and will always
occupy a special space in our memory. Long live the memories of this Reunion.
The Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Agra, extended a formal welcome
and the event left every one in a trance. There was a multi-storey cake,
cut by the father of the IL 76 fleet, Air Marshal Goel, and the youngest of the
pilots, Flt Lt Satvick. If anyone was conscious of calories, he or she
was immediately shown the dance floor, which exploded with live music well past
midnight. There were pleasantries, and there was also an exchange of experiences
to benefit the younger and the experienced lot alike. | 
