CHENNAI: Indian Air Force’s oldest training institute in Tambaram and Pathankot-based 125 Helicopter squadron, also known as Gladiators or ‘Mudalai’ by Sri Lankan Tamils, will be honoured with the President’s Standard and Colours respectively on March 3.
Air Officer Commanding-in-chief Training Command, Air Marshal SRK Nair, told reporters here that Group Captain V D Badoni, commanding officer of 125 Helicopter Squadron, and Group Captain A Arunachaleswaran, commanding officer of Mechanical Training Institute (MTI), would receive the President’s Standard and Colours respectively.
The award recognises the meritorious service rendered during war and peace. The event would be attended by Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command, Air Marshal C Hari Kumar.
MTI has its history dating back to pre-independence days when Indian Air force was formed on October 8, 1932. With the formation of first air squadron in 1933, a need was felt for a specialised training institute. This gave birth to the ‘School of Technical Training’ at Ambala in Punjab. It was later bifurcated and in 1946 named as Schools of Ground Training.
On February 1947, one of the bifurcated training institute from Ambala was moved to Tambaram, which until then was an American Naval Base. On September 17, 1947, nationalisation of the unit was completed.
In 1980, the Ground Training School was rechristened as Mechanical Training Institute, where three premier trades of Indian Air Force --- Propulsion Fitter, Structure Fitter and Weapon Fitter-- undergo training.
Similarly, 125 Helicopter Squadron at Pathankot has played a pivotal role in peace-keeping as well as counter-insurgency operations since its inception on November 1983. The unit was equipped with Mi-35 and Mi-25 helicopters.
It proved its mettle during the Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka and was nicknamed by Tamil insurgents as ‘Mudalai’ (alligator in Tamil). During the operations, the squadron earned its first gallantry award ‘Vir Chakra’. It had also played a key role during Pakistani intrusion in Kargil and also in United Nations Peace Keeping mission in Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo.
It also played a stellar role in confining terrorists to a restricted area during the attack on Pathankot Air base. The squadron boasts of two Vir Chakras, two Yudh Seva Medals, nine Vayu Sena Medals and Mention-in-Despatches.