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WESTERN AIR COMMAND The origin of the Western Air Command can be traced back to the nascent years of independent India, when the various formations of the Air Force were organised into two groups. These were the No 1 Operational Group which controlled all the flying units including the flying training units and the No2 Training Group responsible for the entire spectrum of training activities except flying training in the IAF. On July 22, 1949 the No 1 Operational Group was re-designated as the Operational Command. The Air Officer Commanding the Operational Command was then of the rank of an Air Commodore. This was upgraded to the rank of Air Vice Marshal in 1958 and later to the rank of Air Marshal. The Command assumed its present name of Headquarters Western Air Command on June 10, 1963, primarily as a consequence of formation of other operational commands and demarcation of specific areas of responsibility. Headquarters Western Air Command, located at Subroto Par

SOUTH WESTERN AIR COMMAND Jai Shree Varte Veeram, meaning victory garlands the gallant, is a bye word to the soul and spirit of one of the most operational commands of the Indian Air Force, the South Western Air Command (SWAC). Originally established as No 1 Operational Group at Jodhpur on September 21, 1972, it was subsequently rechristened as the South Western Air Command on July 23, 1980. The operational area, carved out of the Western Air Command, included most of Rajasthan and the entire Gujarat. The crest of the South Western Air Command depicts the national emblem on the top as a pendant of a garland of flowers with ‘Dakshin Paschim Vayu Kaman’ encrypted inside in a semi circle. The centre is adorned by a dagger with wings. At the base, under the inscription 'Bharatiya Vayu Sena', is a scroll with the command motto ‘Jai Shree Varte Veeram’. In a major expansion in the mid eighties, the units located at Pune and Mumbai were transferred from Central Ai