During the 1947 Kashmir War, the No. 12 Squadron of the Indian Air Force, known as “The Yaks,” achieved a remarkable feat. As the last Royal Indian Air Force unit established by the British, this squadron earned 12 Vir Chakras, an unmatched record.
After World War II, the IAF standardised its structure to include ten squadrons. However, since squadrons numbered 5 and 11 were operational under the Royal Air Force in India, the RIAF did not assign these numbers to its squadrons. As a result, the RIAF’s 10th squadron formed was designated No. 12 Squadron. This squadron’s history is deeply connected to the story of India’s independence.
Squadron Leader SN ‘Gus’ Haider, an experienced RAF pilot, established the No. 12 Squadron in Kohat in December 1945. He equipped the squadron with four Spitfire Mk VIIIs, an Airspeed AS10 Oxford transport aircraft, and a DH Mosquito aircraft. The squadron comprised 10 officers and 153 airmen and was the IAF’s first intended twin-engine fighter/bomber squadron.
Syed Naseem Haider, known for his Fleet Air Arm operations and flying Spitfires in Europe, joined the IAF in 1942. He actively participated in attacking Japanese forces with the No. 8 Squadron in Burma. After completing the Fighter Leader Course in the UK, he took command of No. 12 Squadron.
Initially, No. 12 Squadron included the wooden Mosquito aircraft but abandoned it due to the humid climate’s ‘tropical droop’ effect. In January 1946, the squadron relocated to Risalpur and shifted its focus to the Airspeed AS10 Oxford aircraft. By March 1946, its primary task involved training 18 navigators using these Oxfords.
By mid-1946, the squadron had set up a separate Navigation School within its structure. An RAF Navigator and Flying Officer Agerwala served as navigation instructors. While Spitfires were reduced, the squadron dedicated two Oxfords to the Navigation School. Despite these changes and its evolving role, the squadron sustained the operational intensity of a fighter squadron, focusing on flying training with the Oxfords and producing navigators.
In June 1946, the No. 12 Squadron moved to RAF Station Bhopal at Bairagarh under the command of the No. 2 (Indian) Group. The squadron transitioned from Spitfires to operating nine Oxford aircraft, transferring the Spitfires to 152 OTU in Risalpur. Furthermore, No. 12 Squadron was responsible for running RAF Station Bhopal. The Nawab of Bhopal, an honorary Air Vice Marshal, frequently visited and supported the squadron.
September 1946 marked a pivotal shift for the squadron, transitioning it into a transport unit. The squadron established a flight of five Dakota aircraft, supported by three RAF instructors. Eight pilots, including Flight Lieutenant HC Dewan, who would later become the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command during the 1971 War, were selected for conversion training to these Dakota aircraft. Meanwhile, the squadron continued flying operations on the nine Oxfords for other pilots.
On September 15, 1946, reflecting its new transport role, No. 12 Squadron’s administrative and functional control shifted to 229 Group, RAF, with headquarters in Delhi. This group reported to the RAF’s Transport Command and the Air Command in Southeast Asia. Initially, the squadron struggled with Dakota’s serviceability due to a shortage of spare parts.
The Navigation Training School at Tambaram was established around the same time. It took over navigation training from No. 12 Squadron. In November, the squadron transferred all its Oxfords. They went first to the Service Flying Training School (SFTS) in Ambala then to the Communication Squadron at Palam. This change turned the No. 12 Squadron into a unit mainly using the Dakota, nicknamed the “Gooney Bird.” It operated with a single flight and had a ten-member crew.
By October 1946, ten pilots in No. 12 Squadron had completed their conversion to Dakota aircraft, and the squadron operated ten of these planes. In December, Squadron Leader Shivdev Singh, a veteran of the European theatre, took command of the squadron, with its headquarters at Risalpur. The Yaks then relocated to Mauripur to train alongside RAF’s Nos 10 and 31 Squadrons.
Squadron Leader Shivdev Singh led the celebrations of No. 12 Squadron’s first anniversary. Impressively, within its first year, the squadron operated three different aircraft types and had undergone four relocations. Its fifth move to Chaklala for parachute-drop training further highlighted its dynamic nature. Under Shivdev’s leadership, the squadron achieved an intense flight schedule, logging 500 hours in just two months.
Another significant development occurred for the No. 12 Squadron as India neared independence. The Parachute Training School (PTS) at Chaklala, an RAF establishment, was winding down. According to Shivdev Singh, there was a brief consideration of transforming the No. 12 Squadron into a joint India-Pakistan parachute training school, but this idea was soon dropped.
In May 1947, Squadron Leader KL Bhatia, then a Flight Commander at No. 12 Squadron, along with five officers, received assignment to No. 6 Squadron RIAF to help transition it to Dakota aircraft. However, when No. 6 Squadron was allocated to the Pakistan Air Force, Bhatia returned to No. 12 Squadron, which had since moved to Agra, and took over as its Commanding Officer. Meanwhile, Shivdev Singh took command of Agra’s newly established No. 4 Wing, RIAF.
Agra, previously hosting the USAAF’s 3rd Air Depot Group and the transport/bomber elements of its Hump operations, became the ideal location for India’s sole transport squadron. It also became the first base to receive infrastructure upgrades post-independence, an event the Defence Minister graced in 1950.
Before these developments, Bhatia and his team took an active role in flying refugees between India and Pakistan, airlifting over 30,000 people. Meanwhile, Station Commander Shivdev Singh embarked on a significant mission. He flew a squadron aircraft to Singapore, carrying over 4000 pounds of medical supplies for wounded Republicans in Indonesia. This mission represented India’s first international mercy mission.
In October 1947, No. 12 Squadron played a critical role during a pivotal moment for India. With Srinagar on the brink of being overrun and the Banihal Pass impassable, The Yaks stepped in to intervene. Their operations started on October 27, now commemorated as Infantry Day by the Indian Army.
On that significant day, six Dakota aircraft from The Yaks took off from Palam and Willingdon, landing in Srinagar by 10:00 am. Squadron Leader KL Bhatia led the operation, landing first in the aircraft VP-905, later named ‘Parshuram’ in the IAF’s Heritage Flight. Each of the 22 sorties carried 17 soldiers, their equipment, and 500 pounds of supplies.
In the first week of its operations, No. 12 Squadron, along with some civilian Dakotas, transported an impressive 420,000 pounds of cargo to Srinagar. This cargo included two artillery guns. The aircraft managed to perform more than two sorties daily, maintaining the air bridge for three weeks, which resulted in a total of 704 sorties by November. At the height of their operation, the squadron impressively flew 35 sorties in a single day. However, this intense operation came with losses, including the aircraft MA965, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Mendoza.
Three fighter squadrons also played a critical role in supporting these operations. Additionally, Mehar Baba significantly contributed by modifying five Dakotas to drop four 250-pound bombs each. These modified Dakotas were particularly useful in the next phase of operations at Poonch, where they provided urgent support to the Indian Army garrison, especially in countering enemy artillery fire.
After Mehar Baba and Subroto Mukerjee made their first landing in Poonch, Flying Officer Pushong successfully landed a Dakota there on December 12. The following day, Grewal, later known for his role in the Aviation Research Centre, and Pushong flew in a Mountain Battalion. On December 17, Bhatia effectively utilised Baba’s modified Dakotas to drop six bombs at night, disrupting enemy positions.
On March 21, 1948, during takeoff, enemy fire hit Bhatia’s Dakota (VP-914) on its tail fin, leading to an aborted mission. However, two days later, Bhatia returned with Subroto, dropping bombs again. In April, Lalu Grewal and Pushong accomplished a night landing, a challenging feat where two Dakotas flew overhead to detect flashes in the darkness. These actions highlighted the squadron’s adaptability and courage under difficult conditions.
By March 1948, No. 12 Squadron had accumulated 3,404 hours of flight, transporting 3.5 million tonnes of cargo, 10,000 refugees from Poonch, 4,000 troops, and 1,000 casualties. Additionally, they dropped 18,000 pounds of bombs. On May 24, 1948, in response to an urgent request from the Indian Army, the squadron successfully landed a Dakota in Leh carrying troops, contributing significantly to alleviating the siege there.
Following the ‘Punching Ops’, the squadron was crucial in securing Srinagar, Leh, and Poonch. Major General Kulwant Singh, the General Officer Commanding the Jammu and Kashmir Forces, acknowledged No. 12 Squadron’s exceptional performance with high praise. He offered a trophy on behalf of the Raja of Poonch – a stuffed panther, a symbol of their achievement that might still be displayed in the 12 Squadron Museum.
Despite their significant contributions, the reasons for No. 12 Squadron not receiving battle honours for their operations remain unclear. However, in 1971, they became the second IAF Squadron to receive the President’s Standards, following No. 1 Squadron in 1968.
In 1949, the squadron embarked on a ‘Show the Flag’ mission in the East. The following year, they participated in the Farnborough flypast. Under Malse’s leadership in 1950, the squadron provided relief during the Assam earthquake and floods. 1951, they achieved another first by carrying out high-altitude drops at Walong.
By February 1954, No. 12 Squadron became the first to convert to the C-119G Packet aircraft, capable of lifting three times the load of a Dakota. In March 1958, they marked the first landing of this aircraft in Leh. The subsequent addition of the J-3400 jet pack enabled Squadron Leader Raje to land a Packet at Daulat Beg Oldi in July 1962.
During the 1962 War, while No. 19 Squadron was on detachment, No. 12 Squadron provided crucial support with four aircraft. They conducted regular operations in high-altitude areas like Fukche, Chushul, and Leh, demonstrating their adaptability and strategic importance.
During the 1965 war, the squadron flew approximately 730 hours and participated in the Tangail airdrop in December 1971, led by the Commanding Officer of No. 12 Squadron, Wing Commander SP Sabarwal. The squadron also maintained two aircraft at Dumdum for covert operations into East Pakistan, flying a record 116 hours on December 12 alone.
No. 12 Squadron has been involved in most significant operations since independence, much like the 1 SIKH (now 4 Mechanized Infantry), suggesting a potential case for affiliation between these two gallant units.
Internationally, No. 12 Squadron had a significant presence in the United Nations Congo Operations of 1960. Three crews of C-119 aircraft, led by then Commanding Officer Wing Commander KL “Ken” Suri, arrived in Congo in August 1960 and operated the UN C-119 aircraft. This achievement is notably recognised in KS Nair’s book “Ganesha’s Flyboys.”
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