Paratrooper Training School
PTS (Paratroopers Training School) is situated at Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Its motto is "SAAHAS KAUSHALAM BALAM" which means courage, skill, strength.
History
The history of 'Paratroopers Training School' also called as 'Sky Hawks' is more than half century old. During second world war - in Oct 1941, the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade was formed headquartered at Delhi and simultaneously an AirLanding School was raising at Willingdon (now Safdarjung) Airport, New Delhi to train the personnel in parachute training. Lt AG Rangaraj, IMS and Havaldar Major Mathura Singh of 152 (Indian) Parachute Battalion became the first Indians to be trained and jump.
The Air Landing School was rechristened as No 3 PTS, AF and moved to Chaklala, Rawalpindi, Pakistan in 1942. In 1944 Dakota, Valencia Hudson Wellington and Halifax aircraft were also used in paratrooping.
The Partition of India led to the Indian element of PJIs under Sqn Ldr TS Gopalan move to Agra and thus 'Paratroopers Training School' came into being.[1]
Awards
Sqn Ldr M Vanian and Flt Lt P Venugopal of PTS have awarded Shaurya Chakra. Beside these numerous others have received many other honours and awards.