Honours For IAF Pilot Abhinandan’s & Balakot Air Strike Squadrons
The number 9 squadron which carried out the Balakot aerial strikes will also awarded the unit citation.
Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s 51 Squadron will be awarded a unit citation by IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria for thwarting a Pakistani aerial attack and shooting down a Pakistani F-16 on 27 February, ANI reported.
The award will be received by Commanding Officer Group Captain Satish Pawar.
The number 9 squadron whose Mirage 2000 fighter aircrafts carried out the Balakot aerial strikes on 26 February during 'Operation Bandar', will also be awarded the unit citation.
Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal’s 601 Signal unit will also be awarded the unit citation for their role in the Balakot aerial strikes and for thwarting the aerial attack by Pakistan on February 27, ANI added.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistan in February 2018 and returned to India two days later.
(With inputs from ANI)
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