The Indian Air Force was established on April 1, 1932, as the Royal Indian Air Force.

Subroto Mukerjee was the first Indian to join the Royal Indian Air Force in 1932.

No. 1 Squadron, also known as the Tigers, was the first Indian Air Force squadron to see action during World War II.

Harjinder Singh was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Battle of Imphal in 1944.

No. 4 Squadron, also known as the Tuskers, was involved in the Berlin Airlift in 1948-49.

Arjan Singh was the first Indian Air Force pilot to fly a jet aircraft, the de Havilland Vampire, in 1948.

No. 2 Squadron, also known as the Cobras, was involved in the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

No. 1 Squadron, also known as the Tigers, was involved in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.

No. 3 Squadron, also known as the Panthers, was involved in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.

No. 2 Squadron, also known as the Cobras, was involved in the Kargil War in 1999.

No. 1 Squadron, also known as the Tigers, was involved in the Balakot airstrike in 2019.

Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his actions during the Kargil War in 1999.

Vijay Kumar, MVC was awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his actions during the Balakot airstrike in 2019.

Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian Air Force pilot to fly a Sukhoi Su-30MKI in 2002.