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NO. 2 SQUADRON Though the Indian Air Force was born with the raising of No.1 Squadron in 1933, it was to take another eight years before the second squadron could be raised. The outbreak of the second world war and the rapid influx of trained pilots and personnel saw to the availability of enough aircrew to equip a second squadron. Accordingly on April 1, 1941, No.2 Squadron, IAF was raised at Peshawar under the command of Flt Lt AB Awan. Its insignia has a winged arrow in the centre of a circle which is topped by India’s national emblem and golden border at the bottom with its motto ‘Amogh lakshya’ meaning ‘True to Aim’ inscribed on it. This squadron is nicknamed as ‘Winged Arrows’.

NO. 3 SQUADRON The Number 3 Squadron of the Indian Air Force is also called Cobras. It was formed at Peshawar on October 1, 1941, nearly six months after the raising of No.2 Squadron. The crest shows a hand coupled at the wrist holding a winged dagger entwined by a cobra all in front of the wings. The squadron crest was first put forward by Sqn Ldr Prithi Pal Singh and was approved by King George V in 1947. The original motto was 'Ba Himmat Ba Murad' meaning ‘Fortune favours the brave’ but this was changed in September 1954 to ‘Lakshya Vedh’ meaning ‘Destroy the target with Precision’.