A SILENT THUNDER IN ‘HUNTER’ SQUADRON, NDA

By 2997

A Bit of History

At the end of World War II, Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, then Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, led a committee around the world and submitted a report to the Government of India in December 1946. The committee recommended the establishment of a Joint Services Military Academy, with training modelled on the United States Military Academy at West Point.

In August 1947, the Chiefs of Staff  Committee immediately implemented the recommendations of the Auchinleck report. The committee initiated an action plan in late 1947 to commission a permanent defence academy and began the search for a suitable site. It also decided to set up an interim training academy, known as the Joint Services Wing (JSW), which was commissioned on 1 January 1949 at the Armed Forces Academy (now known as the Indian Military Academy) in Dehradun.  Initially, after two years of training at the JSW, Army cadets went on to the Military wing of the Armed Forces Academy for two years of further pre-commission training, while the Naval cadets were sent to Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth  in the United Kingdom for further training.  Air Force cadets did their flying training either at Begumpet, Hyderabad or Jodhpur.

The training at the JSW was divided into four terms. The total number of cadets was about 700 and they were organized into six ‘squadrons,’ two each in the three ‘Battalions’ The instructors were drawn from all the three services, and they unanimously decided to give no ‘names’ to the Battalions and the Squadrons. The battalions were numbered numerically, and the squadrons were christened alphabetically. There were six squadrons from ‘A’ to ‘F’. In those days, the wartime ‘radiotelephony call code’ was in vogue, and so the following names caught on. These are given below, for the first eleven letters: 

 

 

Jab We Joined NDA in Jan 1958

The JSW shifted from Clement Town, Dehradun to Kharakwasla in Jan 1955. The training period was enhanced to three years, and therefore the strength of cadets increased. Three more squadrons were raised. These additional squadrons were allotted, one each to the three Battalions. And then, when the intake increased, a tenth squadron became necessary. This tenth Squadron should have been designated as ‘J’ but the Commandant did not like a Squadron to be called “Jig Sqn” and therefore this letter was skipped, and “King” Squadron was born. When we joined, there were ten Sqns placed under three Battalions as follows:

1 Battalion: Able, Baker, George and King. 

2 Battalion:  Charlie, Dog and How  

3 Battalion:  Easy, Fox and Item  

I was assigned to Easy along with 16 comrades whom I consider closer than my brothers. One more friend dropped in from the XVIII course, and for us “Easy” became our ‘home base’.Even though E Squadron was as good as any of the others, the name “Easy” gave scope for the others to label us as “Easygoing.”

NATO Phonetic Code

In 1956, NATO adopted a revised Phonetic code, and the rest of the world followed. In the radio-telephony classes this was taught and used. Some cadets started using it to refer to their Squadrons, and so we were in the transition phase. The NATO words are given below:

 

 

“Rationalization” of Squadrons in June 1960

Maj Gen E Habibullah was the Commandant when we joined. He has the unique distinction of commanding the NDA for SIX long years; two years in Dehradun and four in Kharakwasla. He was replaced by Rear Admiral BA Samson in December 1958.  Around the same time, Wg Cdr MK “Macy” Khanna joined as the Battalion Commander of  3 Battalion.  He found himself at a loose end because almost all activities and competitions were done  squadron-wise.  Wg Cdr Khanna set about creating a greater role for battalions.  He wanted “squadron spirit” to be replaced by “battalion spirit.”   To this end, he was able to convince the Commandant to change some of the squadron names, so as to have A, B, C and D  in 1 battalion,  E,F and G in 2 battalion and H, I and K  in 3 battalion.

The change was announced at the end of the Spring term 1960 and implemented from the start of the Autumn term 1960. Squadrons were designated alphabetically.  In this process, ‘King’ became ‘Charlie’, ‘How’ turned into ‘Golf’ and ‘Fox’ received the name ‘Kilo’

As per this format, we were designated as ‘Hotel’. Joseph Thomas was appointed the SCC, and he firmly believed that Hotel was not a military name. He thought that Easy and Echo were bad enough.  He was an Air Force cadet and Hunters had come to Pune around that time.  They used to impress us with their sonic bangs.  They also used to fly past at the end of our passing out parades.   The phonetic alphabet was a mere aid for radio-telephony and he decided to use ‘Hunter’ as the new name. At the first morning muster parade of the new term, he called “Hunter” Squadron to ‘Savdhan’. The name received unanimous acceptance by cadets of all the terms. It may be mentioned that cadets of the old ‘How’ Squadron did not like to refer to their Sqn as ‘Hotel’ and therefore there was a felt need to seek an alternative. Thomas proved to be silent thunder, to create ‘Hunter’ for generations to follow. Had we sought permission of the NDA authorities, we might not have got it.

 

 

SCC Joseph Thomas and Dipak Choudhry of  A Squadron.  Earlier, the duo got extra drills for skipping a Prep period and  scooting off to see an Otter that had landed in the gliderdrome

 

Our Squadron Commander was Major Khader Ahmed of the Kumaon Regiment, and he decided to turn a Nelson’s eye to this issue. At any rate, in the official papers, the Squadrons were mentioned as letters, and the calling code was an informal method of referring to them. The sixth termers also considered it to be a better name. I must hasten to add here, that in the official documents, the Squadrons were referred to by the alphabetic letters. Phonetic codes were only used to ensure that there was no mix-up.

 

 

A picture of the sixteen ‘Hunter’ Sqn cadets with Maj Khader Ahmed, the Sqn Commander

 

Lo and behold, the word ‘Hunter’ caught on! Sixty one years have elapsed since that day, and no one has questioned this. In fact, I doubt whether the cadets of NDA even know this story. I sometimes think that if a smart Alec in our neighboring ‘Fox’ Squadron had taken a cue from Thomas and called their Squadron ‘King’, it would have been a kingly signal!

Two years after we passed out, there was a further expansion, caused by the increase in the intake of cadets.  Two more Squadrons were raised. ‘J’ was resurrected, and named ‘Julliet’ and Lima was the 12^th Sqn. Over the years, six more Sqns have been added. The NATO code has prevailed in all cases, except one: P is called ‘Panther’ and not ‘Papa’. This must be the achievement of a smart Alek who had the  support of his course-mates and the tacit approval of the Squadron Commander.

“Hunter Squadron” down memory lane

To complete the story, we have gathered some pictures taken during that period, thanks to the camera club.

 

‘Thunder’ is often accompanied by lightning. And this picture captures the scene!

  And that thunder caused the window of a cabin to fall off along with its frame. It created an awesome scene to capture for the exhibition at the end of the term

 

In the ‘Mela’ held in the Stadium, our Squadron organized a game. There was a prize for being able to light 12 candles with one matchstick. Here you see a niece of the Commandant, Rear Admiral BA Samson trying to do so. ACC KD Singh escorted her to our stall. She nearly burnt her finger trying to do so.

 

 

‘Hunter’ was in the news recently, when Admiral Karambir Singh chose to perform pushups with the cadets when he went there to review the passing out parade in May 2021

 

The Tailpiece

It is well known that the name makes a difference. “Easygoing” label of yore was replaced by a word that has a stronger military spirit.  Within a few years, there was a time when all three Chiefs were from Hunter squadron. 

Hunter also  made news recently, when the CNS, Admiral Karambir Singh decided to perform ‘pushups’ on the hallowed parade ground of ‘Hunter’ squadron on 29 May 2021.

This story also contains a maxim, “In the military, if you seek permission, you may not get it. But if you are on the right lines, and are able to carry your comrades, you can move a mountain!”

Epilogue

The story concerning the adoption of ‘Hunter’ is known to only the 16 of us who were in the VI term in July 1960. It pains me to mention here that only six of us are alive today. They are AJS Bahl, SV Jaychandran, Suresh Bhatia, Joseph Thomas,  JS Cheema and Yours Truly (seen below)