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NO. 10 SQUADRON The last Indian Air Force Squadron to be raised during the Second World War was No.10, the 'Winged Daggers'. The Squadron was formed on February 20, 1944 at Lahore and was equipped with the Hawker Hurricane IIc fighter. The unit was not a pure IAF one, but more a 'commonwealth' formation with a fair bit of British pilots as well as Australian and New Zealanders thrown in. The Winged Dagger emblem of No.10 Squadron was officially approved by the President of India in December 1955. The emblem was in use unofficially since the late 1940s, as can be seen on the photograph on the right. The specially fashioned Dagger, which received formal approval on May 26, 1983, symbolises the lethality of their splendid weapon. The Squadron’s motto is ‘Yudhyay Krutnischay’ meaning ‘Into War with Determination'. The combination of cross guard and Quillon is designed to include the squadron number (in Roman character) along with its operational intent of m

NO. 16 SQUADRON The No. 16 Squadron of the Indian Air Force was formed at Pune in 1950, with six Supermarine Spitfires, and one Hawker Tempest, as a bomber squadron of the Western Air Command. This Squadron, also known as Black Cobras, is a counter-air and interdiction unit, operating out of AFS Gorakhapur. In 2001, the squadron was operating SEPECAT Jaguar IS and IBs. It had been operational with Jaguars since October 1986. The crest, which was adopted, consists of a black cobra with the Ashoka on top and the squadron’s motto ‘Praharodataha’ meaning ‘Ready to Strike' written below.