No. 224 Squadron IAF

The No. 224 Squadron (Warlords) of the IAF is a Ground Attack squadron based at Jamnagar AFS. It was temporarily disbanded in 2007 after the retirement of MiG-23MF aircraft. The unit was resurrected in 2008 with Jaguar Darin II aircraft and continues to operate from Jamnagar.[1][2]

No. 224 Squadron
No. 224 Squadron crest
"The crest of the No. 224 Squadron"
Active
  • 4 July 1983 — 31 March 2007
  • 31 March 2008 — Present
RoleGround attack
Precision Strike
BaseJamnagar AFS
Nickname(s)Warlords
Motto(s)The Main Winger of Troopleader
EngagementsOperation Meghdoot
Aircraft flown
AttackJaguar IS Darin II

The crest

No.224 Sqn crest depicts a warrior on a chariot proceeding to war. The chariot signifies the weapon platforms which are highly lethal and flexible, the horse signifying the power and strength and the warrior is at high state of readiness and aiming his weapons on the enemies.

History

No. 224 Sqn, IAF was raised on 4 July 1983 at Airforce Station Adampur under the command of Wg Cdr RA Massey, Vr C, as a part of Western Air Command. The unit was equipped with the Mig 23MF and assigned the Air defence role and later an additional peacetime role of Banner Target Towing. Later it moved to Jamnagar, its MiG-23s modified to tow targets.[3]

No.224 Sqn was the last operator of the MiG-23MF before their retirement from the Indian Air Force in 2007.[4] The final fly past of the closing ceremony was done by Wing Commander M. K. Singh flying a banner titles "End of an Era", Wing Commander Tapas Sahu, Squadron Leader Vijay Shelke and Wing Commander RS Jamdar.[5]

Operations
  1. Operation Meghdoot from 1985 to 1986.[6]
  2. Operation Safed Sagar during May 1999.[7]

Awards and honours

No 224 Sqn was adjudged the best over all fighter squadron in Western Air Command during 1986-1987[6]

  1. Wg Cdr Radhakrishnan Radhish Vayusena Medal 2006[8]
  2. Sqn Ldr SV Bal Vayusena Medal 1991[8]
  3. WO L Jha Commendation by CAS 1997
  4. WO HS Saini Commendation by CAS 1989
  5. Sgt Tanwar RS Commendation by CAS 1988
  6. Sgt K Damodaran Commendation by CAS 1988
  7. WO Ravi Nandan Commendation by CAS 1987
  8. Sgt Sagar SC Commendation by CAS 1986

Aircraft
Aircraft Types operated by 224 Squadron[9]
Aircraft TypeFromToAir Base
MiG-23 MF4 July 198331 March 2007AFS Adampur
Jaguar IS Darin II31 March 2008PresentAFS Jamnagar

References
  1. "Indian Jaguars head to 'Red Flag Alaska'". Combat Aircraft. 8 April 2016.
  2. "BHARAT RAKSHAK MONITOR - Volume 4(1) July–August 2001". Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  3. "Warlords Tryst with Swing-Wing Fighters to End". pib.nic.in. Press Information Bureau. 19 March 2007.
  4. "Last flight for IAF's MiG 23 MF". domain-b. 17 March 2007.
  5. "MiG-23 fighters fly into history". Hindustan Times. 20 March 2007.
  6. "No 224 Squadron(Warloads)". Indianairforce.nic.in. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  7. Pike, John. "Squadron 224". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  8. "Bharat Rakshak". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  9. "No.224 Squadron Warlords". Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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