[image: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's 51 Squadron to be awarded unit citation by IAF Chief Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria] File photo Updated: Oct 06, 2019, 12:11 PM IST
*New Delhi:* In dreadful memory of Feb 27 airstrike by PAF which resulted in shooting down of two Indian fighter jets, IAF plans to motivate demoralised Air Force on Air Force 87th anniversary.
To boost the morale of already demoralised Air Force, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's 51 Squadron award unit citation by Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria on the air force's 87th-anniversary celebrations on October 8.
Varthaman is being honoured by the IAF for thwarting Pakistani aerial attack. Ahead of IAF's 87th anniversary, a full dress rehearsal was held at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad on Sunday.
IAF has planned a lot of events to mark this occasion which includes scintillating air display by various aircraft. The airshow will commence with flag bearing skydivers of renowned AKASH GANGA Team jumping from AN-32 aircraft.
The award also list includes the name of Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal’s 601 Signal Unit for its role in the Balakot aerial strikes and for thwarting the aerial attack by Pakistan on February 27 and number 9 squadron, whose Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft carried out the failed Balakot strikes on February 26 during 'Operation Bandar'.