Warbirds of India

The HAL Gnat on display besides the Statue of Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon at the Collector's office in Ludhiana . Pic Courtesy : Tribune India

Ludhiana is the district from where Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, the only IAF awardee of the Param Vir Chakra, India's Highest Gallantry Award hails from. In his honour, a Gnat is displayed alongside his statue at the District Collector's office at the 'mini-secretariat' in Ludhiana.

MiG-23BN SM-276, seen at Halwara Air Force Station's Officers Mess.

Halwara Air Force Station started off its duty with the Indian Air Force in 1951, when the first aircraft, Hawker Tempests of No.3 Squadron started operating from there. Over the course of time, Tempests were replaced by Vampires, Ouragans, Hunters, Sukhois and finally MiG-23 BNs.

Barely visible against the grey expanses of the taxiway are the Hawker Hunter and the Sukhoi-7 aircraft displayed at the Halwara Air Station War Memorial. Pic Courtesy : Indian Air Force

Halwara Air Force Station is the home for 9 Wing operating MiG-23BNs. 9 Wing was initially established in the 1950s and was in the center of action during the 1965 and 71 Wars, operating Hunters in the former and Sukhoi-7s in the latter.