For a long time, I wondered why the Chief of the @IAF_MCC was called the "Chief of Air Staff" and not the "Air Force Chief" or something similar. Well, at least I am finally enlightened. Sharing this brief of my exploration. (1/7)

#IAFHistory The early 20th century witnessed a significant transformation in military structures, driven by the harsh realities of the Boer Wars (1899-1902). Reflecting on the conflict's challenges, the concept of "Staffs of the Services" emerged. 2/

Jamangar Air Force station is in news these days. Jamnagar holds a very important place in @IAF_MCC. A topic worthy of a longer thread, but a few milestones are mentioned here.

A short thread (1/13) #IAFHistory Jamanagar was not an Air Force Airbase before Independence, though the Jam Saheb was popular in the aviation circles. Post-independence, IAF was searching for a air firing and bombing range. After a search - it settled up Jamnagar and called it Armament Training Wing (ATW). 2/

Air Marshal Ravinder Nath Bharadwaj, PVSM, MVC, VM, affectionately nicknamed "Mummy", passed away at 89 yesterday.

He was awarded MVC during the 1971 War, attacking Pakistan's airfields in the west. He was one of the only two Sqn Ldrs to receive this award(1/9)

#IAFHistory From the 66th Pilot Course, he was commissioned in 1955 & joined the fighter stream. In 1961, he qualified as a Pilot Attack Instructor, the modern-day "Top Gun". The CO of PAI School, Nobby Clarke, gave the nickname "Mummy" for his sweet demeanour. It stuck for life. 2/

While researching the initial lot of Cranwell graduates, I came across a name that caught my eye. This name was that of a certain Mr WHJ Wilkinson CIE ICS, whose name figures in most entry forms of the @IAF_MCC Cadets who went to Cranwell. The name did intrigue me a lot. (1/18) My subsequent research revealed the story of a man who lived a very interesting life in India. It is a story that needs to be told, even if not directly related to #IAFHistory. It also has some gaps (gaps that I hope will be filled by crowdsourcing). 2/

What was it like to be in the @IAF_MCC in 1933?
This narrative captures the essence of that first year, viewed through the eyes of the early aviators. Little did they know their journey would demand courage and sacrifice. (1/20) #IAFHistory The first Indian Air Force officers completed their education at RAF College Cranwell in July 1932. They spent a few months training in England. Subsequently, in April 1933, they returned to India to create the first flight of the No 1 Squadron. 2/

My thread today concerns a community of just 0.06% of India's population. Parsis, Zoroastrians, Bawas, call them what you want - their per capita contribution to India's growth remains outsized & the IAF is no exception. We celebrate their service. #IAFHistory (1/25) It's almost poetic that the Parsi Faravahar symbol bears wings. While it embodies profound spiritual meaning, as an IAF historian, it's hard not to see the striking parallels. If I've erred in my interpretation, I humbly seek forgiveness. 2/

The first flight/landing/ example of a new acquisition is always memorable. Here is a mosaic of a few more pics of @IAF_MCC 's first (or near first) Flight/landings of a new acquisition since independence. #IAFHistory

Pics thanks to Jagan @vayusena

(1/18)

https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1704481027068940340

The IAF was the first to induct Jet fighters in Asia way back in 1948 - Vampire

The first of the Vampires - HB544 (ex VV209, VT-CXH ). Vampire F.3 HB544 in flight. This was one of the three Vampire F.3s received by the IAF.

2/

Amongst the myriad heroic stories of battles between @IAF_MCC & PAF, the travails & resilience of three scanners at Sakesar, Badin & Amritsar would rate high. This thread revisits the tales of these emitters across the Radcliffe line during the Indo-Pak wars. #IAFHistory (1/26) By ’45, as the war ended, Govt (the British) decided to do away with Radars. Radar was considered too advanced for the IAF & radar cover for India was deemed unnecessary. A partitioned IAF & PAF inherited a total vacuum around “eyes in the sky”, and the race was on! 2/

Air Marshal Dushyant Singh, the man with the highest flying hours on the Canberra ac in @IAF_MCC passed away today, aged 86. He was considered a thorough professional, a tough taskmaster who demanded nothing short of excellence, & yet was revered by all. #IAFHistory (1/10) Dushyant Singh joined the 8 JSW course (now NDA) and was commissioned in the IAF's 67th Pilot Course in 1956 and was posted to the Fighter stream. In his first 3 years of service, he was with No - 3,20,4 and 29 Sqn flying the Toofani and Vampire. His life soon would change. 2/

Mizo Ops 1966 is in the news these days - Summarising the @IAF_MCC role, keeping facts based on the sqn diary records of 29 Sqn, then flying the Toofani's and based at Bagdogra. (1/11) #IAFHistory On 2 March 1966, as MNF overran Aizawl treasure and reached Assam Rifles HQ, it captured Army installations at Launglei and Chanphai. IAF's initial role was to re-supply the army installations and Daks and Caribous were pressed in from Guwahati and Jorhat. 2/

The “42 Squadron” itch has recently been the center of attraction and concern. This thread analyses the evolution of the combat fleet (& the number 42) of the @IAF_MCC juxtaposed with the geopolitical & economic shifts through India’s 80-year journey. #IAFHistory (1/21) There is no gainsaying that India is a vast country. Over decades, her rulers & their threats have changed, as have her alignments. Threats to the Raj varied from the North-West to peninsular India & finally, to the East. All this manifested itself in the state of Airpower. 2/

This is the story of @IAF_MCC mission to establish an airbase in Dakshin Gantori, probably resulted in the IAF pilots becoming the first Indians to set foot at the Geographic South Pole on 9 Dec 1983. #IAFHistory (1/8)

Building on the original story by @rahul_dhammi
In 1981 and 1982, India carried out the first scientific research expedition in Antarctica. These missions were carried out in summer, but third expedition in 1983 was planned for the winter. To survive, it was felt there was a need to establish a permanent station.. 2/

An untimely cardiac arrest ended an up-and-coming career of a highly decorated @IAF_MCC officer, aged only 44. This is the story of Group Captain Allan Albert Da Costa, MVC, VM. A veteran of the Hunter and Su-7 fleet, flg instructor, and Air Defence expert. #IAFHistory (1/15) Allan was born on 1 Feb 1933 in Mumbai to Albert Vivian D’Costa (who was in the Planning Commission & was awarded MBE for Services to the Indian Railway) as the oldest of six siblings. He studied at St. Stanislaus, Bandra, & completed his BA from St Xavier’s College Mumbai. 2/

The small, desolate Lilabari airfield in the North Lakhimpur district of Assam lies nested deep in NEFA, but has had a colorful aviation history with a deep link to @IAF_MCC , Kaling Airways, and Indian Airlines. A brief journey in time… #IAFHistory (1/20) North East India was flush with airstrips (mostly kucha) made by the tea planters, later upgraded and used by the Air Forces (US/ Commonwealth) in WWII Burma Ops. Post WWII, most of these were declared surplus to military use, and even DGCA, Lilabari was no different. 2/

In the demise of 93-year-old Wg Cdr JM Nath yesterday, @IAF_MCC lost its most decorated officer alive, awarded with "MVC & Bar". The award nomenclatures often confuse us. This thread attempts a simple, abridged & demystified history of awards in the IAF. #IAFHistory (1/23) Between 1937 and 2022, IAF officers and airmen were awarded as many as 5,100 awards. An average of 60-75 per year, but as high as 600 during the years of wars. 2/

Harish Chander Sircar was the first & senior-most officer commissioned in the @IAF_MCC on 8 Oct 1932. More dubiously, he also holds the record for the first to be dismissed from service in March 1935. The intervening period is a story of many firsts. #IAFHistory (1/15) Harish Sircar hailed from a cultured & aristocratic Bengali family. Imbued with a passion for flying from an early age, he joined the IAF with alacrity when the opportunity arose. Intelligent with an
athletic frame, he made a tremendous impression on his colleagues. 2/

In very sad news coming in, Air Vice Marshal Bhupendra Kumar Bishnoi, one of the only five Bar to Vir Chakra in the @IAF_MCC is no more. AVM Bishnoi was well known for his role as CO of 28 Sqn, leading strikes on Tezgaon airfield & Govt House Dacca during the 1971 war. (1/6)

https://twitter.com/AnchitGupta9/status/1491274558783246338

AVM Bishnoi was commissioned with the 61 Pilot Course in 1953 & joined the Fighters stream. He excelled as a pilot and an instructor, becoming an A1, Flying Instructor in 1959, when the IAF had less than 10 of those, joining an elite club of less than 40 such instructors ever. 2/

Republic Day Flypasts have enamoured our nation for decades. As we approach another such flypast, we look back at the first 50 years of #RepublicDay flypasts. Together the journey of flypasts is a mosaic of the country, its people, and the @IAF_MCC . #IAFHistory (1/30) In 1950, IAF imposed a ban on flypasts, but for the momentous occasion, ACM Elmhirst allowed a 9 aircraft “loose” Liberator formation to do a flypast. The job fell on 5 Sqn, at Poona under the command of Wg Cdr HSR Gohel. 9 ac Lib formation would be a regular going forward. 2/

History always has answers to contemporary questions. 100 years on, the use of Air Power was beautifully explained in a note from Air Ministry on the distribution & employment of Air Force in India in 1921. "Indivisibility","technicality", "Moral effect", "Cost" #IAFHistory (1/5) So beautifully has this one paragraph brought the dichotomy of a "small detachment" - its efficiency for the Army and its inefficiency for the Air Force. 2/

Wg Cdr Bernard "Barney" Fernandes passed away last night, aged 98. His passing is a loss to the @IAF_MCC & an even bigger loss to the Australian aviation industry, where he as an entrepreneur ran a Flying academy in Perth, at its peak with 40 aircraft. #IAFHistory (1/12) Born in Sengottai, Tamil Nadu, on 24 May 1926 as the eldest of 5 children, his father was in the South Indian Railways. He lost his father early and was raised by his grandfather, Samuel Evan Hockins, a Royal Navy Sailor and a big influence on young Barney. 2/

No. 1 Sqn @IAF_MCC played a role in the 1947 Kashmir war operating the Havard IIB & Spitfire (VIII & XIV). EXCEPT No. 1 Sqn had been numberplated a few months earlier & did not exist in Oct 1947! This closing thread of the year unravels this mysterious oddity. #IAFHistory (1/13) No. 1 Sqn operating Tempests at Peshwar was transferred to PAF at the time of independence. They decided to rename it as 5 Sqn, RPAF. It was not until 1953, the IAF decide to resurrect No. 1 Sqn, its oldest sqn leaving a period of 5 years where 1 Sqn did not exist. 2/