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NO. 5 SQUADRON No 5 Squadron, IAF, is not one of those raised before Independence due to the fact that 5 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was based in India, from 1920 until the very eve of Independence in 1947 and the colonial authorities felt that to have another squadron in India with the same number would have caused confusion. No 5 Squadron of the Indian Air Force was raised only in late 1948. It took on charge the first of a number of formerly American-owned (but British-operated) Second World War-era heavy bombers that were being restored to flying condition in India. The emblem of No 5 Squadron Air Force is a fully grown Asian wild elephant. The mighty 'Tusker' with raised trunk is shown trumpeting before the charge symbolising the enormous strength that could be harnessed in order to impart crushing blows. Its motto is ‘Shaktir Vijayate’ meaning ‘Strength is Victory’.

5 GORKHA RIFLES The 5 Gorkha Rifles was originally raised as the 25th Punjab Infantry on May 22, 1858 at Abbotabad. Later rechristened as 5th Gorkha (Rifle) in 1891, the Regiment has since acquitted itself with a dazzling record of military victories, valour and array of awards not forgetting the unique feature of winning two Victoria Cross on a single day. It is the only Regiment to have won nine Victoria Crosses in the Great Wars and has 49 battle honours to its credit. It saw hard fought actions in the scorched deserts of Gallipoli and Mesopotamia and rugged clime of Afghanistan during the First World War with an enviable martial account. The British conferred the title 'Royal' on the Regiment in 1921 in recognition of its superlative combat services in the Great War. The Second World War too bore the testimony of sustained military glories with the 'Fighting Fifth' fighting their way through Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Italy, Lebanon, Burma, Java,

5 MOUNTAIN DIVISION The insignia of 5 Mountain Division is a ball of fire , a divine weapon known as a chakra, adapted from Hindu mythology. Brahma  is the first of the powerful Hindu Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer. Brahma, the creator, from the cosmological point of view is the Golden Embryo (Hiranyagarbha ), the ball of fire, from which the universe develops. At present, the Division has been looking after the sensitive border areas as well as participating in counter-insurgency operations. The history of the Division has been documented and is displayed at the ‘Ball of Fire’ museum at Tenga in Assam. In June 1943, the Division moved to Chas, then in Bihar, where it underwent training for operations in jungle terrain. In March 1944, the Division was relieved in Arakans and was airdashed to Kohima. The Division pursued the Japanese to Manipur and further to Burma, fighting major battles and racing towards Rangoon. After Rangoon, they set sails for Singap