Ludhiana city is located in the central area of Punjab state, northwestern India. The city stands on the Sutlej River's old bank, 8 miles (13 km) south of its present course, and is on the Grand Trunk Road from Delhi to Amritsar at a junction of several rail lines. The city lies about 170 miles (270 km) northwest of Delhi and dates back to 1480AD.

Halwara Air Force Station is situated south west of Ludhiana. Halwara was in the center of action in the 65 and 71 wars. Aircraft like the Hunter, Mysteres, Canberras , MiG-21s operated from this airfield. Two aircraft are displayed at the war memorial in Halwara. A Hawker Hunter and a Sukhoi-7 flank the War Memorial obelisk in the airbase.

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. Recently this warbird got into the news when a tipsy bypasser used its empty engine nacelle as a sleeping shelter and got stuck when he woke up in the morning! Lessons in letting the Engine Exhaust covers on even after retirement of an aircraft.

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

Every year a ceremony to mark the day of the fateful dogfight is marked here on December 14th. The aircraft and the memorial are given a cleaning by local Air Force units. There is also a tank believed to be on display at the Mini Secretariat.