New Delhi:

In a historic first, four units of the Indian Air Force will receive the prestigious ‘President’s Standard and Colours’ from President Draupadi Murmu at Hindon Air Base on March 8.

The Defense Ministry said President Murmu will present the President Standard to 45 Squadron and 221 Squadron and the President Flag to 11 Base Repair Depot and 509 Signal Unit.

This will be the first time in the history of the Indian Air Force that four units will be awarded the President’s Standard and Colors simultaneously.

The award of the President’s Standard and Colors is the highest military decoration for any armed forces unit. The four units selected for the prestigious awards have made outstanding contributions to the history of the Indian Air Force.

221 Squadron is known as the ‘Valiants’. The history of the squadron dates back to 14 February 1963 when it was equipped with Vampire aircraft at Barrackpore.

Barely two years after its formation, the squadron was pressed into action in the eastern sector during the Indo-Pak War of 1965, where it made a commendable contribution to the overall war effort.

In August 1968, the squadron was one of the first squadrons to be re-equipped with the Su-7 supersonic attack fighter.

During the Indo-Pak War of 1971, while operating in the Eastern Theatre, the squadron flew extensive counter-air, close air support and photo reconnaissance missions.

The famous attacks on Kurmitola and Tejgaon airbases resulted in the destruction of many Pakistan Air Force (PAF) soldiers on the ground and proved crucial in rendering the PAF ineffective in the eastern sector.

45 Squadron is also known as the ‘Flying Daggers’. The squadron, formed in 1959 with Vampire aircraft, participated in ‘Operation Vijay’ for the liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule in 1960.

On August 1, 1965, Pakistan attacked in the Chhamb sector with overwhelming superiority in troops and armour. 45 Squadron was the first IAF unit to launch offensive missions on the first day of the conflict.

Despite flying old Vampires, the indomitable courage and professionalism of the pilots was enough to fend off enemy armor and the unit destroyed ten enemy tanks.

Subsequently, the ‘Flying Daggers’ flew 178 sorties in support of the Indian Army. After the war, the unit was re-equipped with MiG-21FL fighters.

In the Indo-Pak War of 1971, the unit was responsible for air defense in the Punjab and Rajasthan areas, flying 258 missions which were instrumental in protecting forward air bases against enemy air attacks.

In 1982, the unit was equipped with MiG-21bis aircraft.

11 Base Repair Depot is a major and only combat aircraft Base Repair Depot of the Indian Air Force which was established in April 1974 under Maintenance Command at Ojhar, Nashik.

The Su-7 was the first aircraft to be overhauled by the depot and in subsequent years, variants of the MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-29 aircraft were overhauled.

509 Signal Unit was established on 1 March 1965 and currently serves as the Air Defense Direction Center in Meghalaya.

This unit has been operating with THD 1955 radar since 1995.

Important moments in the history of the unit relate to the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, in which 509 SU emerged as the center of all air defense activities over East Pakistan.

A decisive moment came with a precision attack launched from the unit’s operations room on the Governor’s House in Dhaka.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)