Ambala, home of the Rafale, was the first Indian Air Force Station HQ (independent India) and was formed on 1 April 1938. This historic document sanctions its formation and the move of 1 Sqn to Ambala after 5 years at Drigh Road, Karachi.
The peacetime establishment of the Air Force Station HQ was 12 personnel, including three officers headed by a Wg Cdr. Ambala would end up becoming the training cradle of IAF all the way till 1951, thereafter was converted into a Fighter wing and remains so to this date.
The Air Force Station HQ was necessitated by the permanent presence of two Sqns – No. 1 IAF and No. 28 (AC) RAF Sqn as explained in the note below. A Flight of No. 1 Sqn would move in June 1938 finally. Ambala mess would have 1 Sqn, IAF and 28 Sqn, RAF crest side by side!
Wg Cdr AB Awan, the founding member of IAF and 1 Sqn, describes this momentous occasion in his memoirs. 1 Sqn was finally moving out of its infancy with this move to Ambala.
The first page of the Operations Record Book for AF Stn HQ, Ambala shows the setup being implemented in the first few months – officers being posted in and units moving in. Who knew what was in store for colloquial “Umbala”.
Originally published on Twitter
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