The 12 Squadron of the Indian Air Force was raised in Kohat (now Pakistan) in December 1945 under the command of Squadron Leader Syed Naseem ‘Gus’ Haider and was equipped with 4x Spitfire Mk VIIIs. It was later converted to a transport aircraft and hence is the oldest transport Squadron of the Indian Air Force.

It was equipped with the C-47 aircraft in September 1946, widely known as the Dakota. At this time, it was known as Number 12 Squadron Royal Indian Air Force (No. 12 Sqn RIAF). With its emblem as a robust, hardy, and magnificent Yak.

From Kohat, the Squadron moved to multiple locations, including Muirpur, Bhopal, and Panagarh, eventually to Agra where it still operates. At Panagarh in late 1946, 12 Sqn got the Dakota aircraft; however, it lost roughly half its strength at independence (as assets were distributed between India and Pakistan). Its Commanding Officer at the time was Wing Commander KL Bhatia.

During the traumatic partition period, thousands and thousands of refugees were brought safely to India by the Yaks, as they were fondly called. They also undertook the first-ever international mission when they took relief material from India to Singapore to assist the Indonesians.

The day (or period) of reckoning came on October 22 as Pakistan launched Operation Gulmarg. They (Pakistani troops, irregulars, and tribesmen) successfully captured several towns, such as Muzzafarabad, Baramulla. Then, they went on an orgy of violence: they killed, raped, looted, and burned, eventually leading to Maharaja Hari Singh asking for assistance from India.

After Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the instrument of Accession and the Indian troops started landing in Jammu and Kashmir on October 27. These troops of 1 Sikh landed in Srinagar by a 12 Sqn Dakota, as can be seen in the picture. The 12 Sqn etched its name in the history books as one among many firsts. October 27 is celebrated as Infantry day because it was this day in 1947 that the Indian Infantry Soldiers defended Independent India for the first time.

A Dakota aircraft of the dirt strip that was Srinagar in October 1947

 A Dakota offloading troops in Srinagar to beat back Pakistani troops and lashkars.

Then, the tide of the battle turned slowly and steadily. The 12 Sqn was also used extensively for bombing, where Load Masters of the Sqn would lean out from open doors and drop bombs. The 12 Sqn personnel were awarded an astonishing but well-deserved 12 Vir Chakra for the 1947 operations—a number not been exceeded by any single unit or Sqn till date.

In January 1950, the name was changed to Number 12 Sqn as the Indian Air Force dropped its Royal prefix.

Late in 1954, the Sqn began converting to the C-119 Fairchild packet aircraft. Showing true ingenuity, the Air Force added an Orpheus jet pack on top of the aircraft to give it an enhanced punch. It was able to carry significantly more payload to Leh and Fukche and Chushul airfields.

Sqn Ldr CKS Raje (Later Air Mshl) was the first to land at the now well-known Daulat Baig Oldie advanced landing ground or ALG and took off safely with a full load.

The C-119G packet aircraft, lovingly called the flying Boxcar, retired from service, and in the year 1984, was replaced by the versatile and phenomenally capable Antanov -32 or An-32, which has been the backbone of the Indian Air Force operations since then. It took part in Op Pawan in Sri Lanka and also the Kargil war. The ferrying in of troops and equipment day and night in uncharted UN safe airspace was the norm. Bringing back the wounded and the brave killed in action was a difficult task in the worst of weather.

A C-119 packet or Flying Boxcar

In the catastrophic Bhuj earthquake and Andaman Tsunami, this aircraft was the mainstay of relief operations from the first day, landing in badly damaged runways with huge obstacles on its ends and edges. It has continued the brave legacy handed over to it by the Dakota and the flying Boxcar with admirable aplomb.

The Sqn has been an indelible part of the Indian fabric right since before independence. Every war, every calamity, and every national requirement has had 12 Sqn on the forefront of operations. The Squadron is now befittingly called Striking Yaks.

This Sqn with a rich history is an appropriate example for the term ‘Those magnificent Men and their Beautiful Flying Machines’.

Wishing them many, many, many decades of safe flying.

Jai Hind

On the 12 Sqn Packet parked in the Air Force Museum, it used to say with pride,

“It rattles and it shakes, But to our destination, it takes.”

Para drop of troops by the Anna Battis