No. 43 Squadron IAF explained

Unit Name:	No. 43 Squadron
Dates:	20 January 1958–present
Country:	India
Role:	Transport
Garrison:	AFS Jorhat
Nickname:	"Ibexes"
Motto:	Nabhasa Jeevan Dhara Life Line from the Sky
Aircraft Transport:	AN-32

No. 43 Squadron is a unit of the Indian Air Force assigned to Eastern Air Command. The squadron participates in operations involving air, land and airdrop of troops, equipment, supplies, and support or augment special operations forces, when appropriate.

History

No. 43 Squadron has flown missions in the ladakh Sector during the Sino- Indian conflict of 1962.

On 1 September 1965 the squadron was moved to Ambala from Srinagar, and thereafter to Sarsawa until 1967, after which the squadron was moved to Jorhat.^[1] The Ibexes also took part in the 1971 Indo-Pak Conflict, in particular the Tangail Airdrop.

In September 1984 the squadron was equipped with An-32s. In July 1987 the Ibexes swung into action in support of IPKF in Sri Lanka providing logistical support.

In November 1988 the Ibexes took part in the 'Male Operations against mercenaries'.^[2]

Lineage

• Constituted as No. 43 Squadron (Ibexes) on 20 January 1958^[3]

Assignments

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
• Operation Pawan
• Operation Cactus

Aircraft

• C-47 Dakota
• AN-32

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dakota in a Combat Zone. Arunesh. Prasad. Bharat-rakshak.com. 30 July 2017.
2. Web site: No. 20 and No. 43 Squadrons IAF - Presentations of Standards by The President of India 10th March 1992. Gunsinstamps.blogspot.in. 3 January 2015 . 30 July 2017.
3. Web site: Squadrons and Helicopter Units. Bharat Rakshak. 23 November 2015.