NO 10 FIGHTER SQUADRON 'LION CUBS' CELEBRATE SILVER JUBILEE
9:58pm on Wednesday 6th January 2021
The No 10 Fighter Squadron known as the “Lion Cubs” celebrated its Silver Jubilee yesterday (05 January 2021). The day’s proceedings began with a Working Parade which was reviewed by the Acting Commanding Officer of the Squadron, Wing Commander KGRI Perera at hangar premises.
Speaking to the members, the Acting Commanding Officer recalled the service rendered to the nation by this illustrious squadron along with the noticeable past squadron members who had shouldered the 25 year long jounrney and emphasized the importance of sustaining high standards in all aspects as a Fighter Squadron. Further, a special Tree Planting Programme was carried out at the Squadron premises as well. Proceedings of the day was concluded with a Bhodi Pooja which was conducted at the Temple of SLAF Base Katunayake.
The No 10 Squadron was established on 05 January 1996 at SLAF Base Katunayake under the leadership of then Squadron Leader Priyantha Gunasinghe who went on to reach that rank of Group Captain before he retired from the service. The present Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana was also a founder member of the No 10 Fighter Squadron as its initial Officer Commanding Operations. The Commander also went on to command the No 10 Squadron as its second Commanding Officer on the 7th of June 2000. The other pilots who were founder members of the Squadron were Wing Commander (Retd) Janaka Wijetilleke and Group Captain (Retd) Sajeewa Hendawitharane.
The initial maintenance team of the No 10 Squadron was led by then Flight Lieutenant Titus Peiris as the Officer Commanding Maintenance. He went on to retire from the service as a Wing Commander. Then Flight Lieutenant Kithsiri Leelaratne who is currently the Staff Officer Technical to the Commander of the Air Force and who is currently an Air Commodore was also a founder member of the Squadron and performed duties as the Deputy Officer Commanding Maintenance and Squadron Armament Officer. Then Flight Lieutenant Hemasiri Wijegunawardene was the initial Avionics Officer of the Squadron and went on to retire from the service as a Group Captain. Incidentally, the present Director Aeronautical Engineering of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Andrew Wijesuriya was the second Officer Commanding Maintenance of the No 10 Fighter Squadron as a Squadron Leader at the time. The initial Hangar Warrant Officer was Warrant Officer BDS Silva and he had a total technical crew of just 47 airmen as technicians.
No 10 Fighter Squadron was formed due to the urgent need for a precision weapons delivery platform. The Squadron was formed with Six (06) Kfir multirole fighter jets acquired from Israel. The main focus of the Squadron was to carry out Close Air Support, Air Interception, Air Interdiction, Maritime Air Interdiction and Battlefield Air interdictions. Since its inception, the Squadron has logged more than 2,800 hours of operational flying and on 08 March 2009 then President Mahinda Rajapaksa awarded the No. 10 Fighter Jet Squadron with the President’s Colours for its unique and enduring contribution to eliminate the menace of terrorism which pestered the island nation for over three decades.
Speaking to the members, the Acting Commanding Officer recalled the service rendered to the nation by this illustrious squadron along with the noticeable past squadron members who had shouldered the 25 year long jounrney and emphasized the importance of sustaining high standards in all aspects as a Fighter Squadron. Further, a special Tree Planting Programme was carried out at the Squadron premises as well. Proceedings of the day was concluded with a Bhodi Pooja which was conducted at the Temple of SLAF Base Katunayake.
The No 10 Squadron was established on 05 January 1996 at SLAF Base Katunayake under the leadership of then Squadron Leader Priyantha Gunasinghe who went on to reach that rank of Group Captain before he retired from the service. The present Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana was also a founder member of the No 10 Fighter Squadron as its initial Officer Commanding Operations. The Commander also went on to command the No 10 Squadron as its second Commanding Officer on the 7th of June 2000. The other pilots who were founder members of the Squadron were Wing Commander (Retd) Janaka Wijetilleke and Group Captain (Retd) Sajeewa Hendawitharane.
The initial maintenance team of the No 10 Squadron was led by then Flight Lieutenant Titus Peiris as the Officer Commanding Maintenance. He went on to retire from the service as a Wing Commander. Then Flight Lieutenant Kithsiri Leelaratne who is currently the Staff Officer Technical to the Commander of the Air Force and who is currently an Air Commodore was also a founder member of the Squadron and performed duties as the Deputy Officer Commanding Maintenance and Squadron Armament Officer. Then Flight Lieutenant Hemasiri Wijegunawardene was the initial Avionics Officer of the Squadron and went on to retire from the service as a Group Captain. Incidentally, the present Director Aeronautical Engineering of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Andrew Wijesuriya was the second Officer Commanding Maintenance of the No 10 Fighter Squadron as a Squadron Leader at the time. The initial Hangar Warrant Officer was Warrant Officer BDS Silva and he had a total technical crew of just 47 airmen as technicians.
No 10 Fighter Squadron was formed due to the urgent need for a precision weapons delivery platform. The Squadron was formed with Six (06) Kfir multirole fighter jets acquired from Israel. The main focus of the Squadron was to carry out Close Air Support, Air Interception, Air Interdiction, Maritime Air Interdiction and Battlefield Air interdictions. Since its inception, the Squadron has logged more than 2,800 hours of operational flying and on 08 March 2009 then President Mahinda Rajapaksa awarded the No. 10 Fighter Jet Squadron with the President’s Colours for its unique and enduring contribution to eliminate the menace of terrorism which pestered the island nation for over three decades.
