IAF Lightnings to celebrate Golden Jubilee with Prez Kalam

New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) They operate the oldest and the newest fighters in the Indian Air Force and are themselves one of the oldest squadrons in the country -- the Number 20 'Lightnings' Squadron. And come tomorrow, they commence celebrations of their Golden Jubilee.

Based at Pune's Lohegaon Air Station, the 'Lightnings' -- flying the MiG-21 and SU 30MKI -- have taken part in all the operations in which the Indian Air Force was deployed. And to their credit, they are the most decorated IAF Squadron with two Mahavir Chakras, five Vir Chakras, three Mentions-in-dispatches and one Vayu Sena Medal.

And their 'War Trophies' include two air-to-air kills of Sabre Jets, thirteen aircraft on ground including two C-130 Hercules, ten battle tanks, and scores of railway wagons, locomotives, field artillery and trucks.

To top it all, they have also been awarded the Presidential Colours -- the highest award an IAF formation can get.

The 'Lightnings' also earlier formed the first IAF formation Aerobatic Team 'The Thunderbolts' which were eventually phased out.

Formed on June 1, 1956 at Halwara with the 'Vampire' aircraft, the Number 20 'Lightnings' Squadron in 1959 converted to the Hunter Mk56 -- which they flew till 1997 when they were decommissioned or in service-parlance 'number-plated'.

The 'Lightnings' were resurrected--recommissioned from its number-plated status to operational status -- on May 20, 2002 in a most understated ceremony of its kind anywhere in the world when the Indian Air Force inducted its newest acquisition, the SU 30MKI, at Lohegaon Air Force Station.

During the Golden Jubilee celebrations, Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash would be the Chief Guest. Admiral Prakash, a Navy flier, was posted in this squadron as a Lieutenant during the 1971 operations and was awarded the Vir Chakra for his heroic contributions.

The icing on the 'Lightnings' cake will be when -- in yet another first -- President APJ Abdul Kalam flies with them on June 8 next in a SU 30MKI to familiarise himself with the systems and capability of the aircraft.

This will be the first time that the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces would fly in a fighter aircraft.

UNI DG LR RK1708