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NO 15 SQUADRON The No. 15 Squadron, Air Force was formed on August 2, 1951 at Ambala. The Squadron was equipped with Spitfire MK-XVIII. In 1953, the Squadron was number plated and all the Spitfires were allotted to the newly formed Air Force Academy. The Squadron was re-formed at Ambala on November 26, 1964, equipped with Folland Gnat aircraft. In April 1969, the Units moved to Bagdogra. In 1975, the Lances moved to Pune and converted onto the supersonic MiG-21 Bis aircraft. In the year 1981, the squadron moved to Bhuj. In 1983, the ‘Flying Lances’ were the first MiG-21 Bis squadron in the Air Force to be modified for the Matra Magic R55, air to air missiles. The squadron was again number plated in 2009 and re-raised in 2012 on the Su-30 at Sirsa AFS. become the first operational fighter squadron to be armed with indigenous Astra BVR air to air missiles. The No. 15 Squadron’s motto is ‘Nihantavya Shatava’ meaning ‘Annihilate the Enemy’. This Squadron is also called

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.