Crest : This emblem shows a hand couped at the wrist holding a winged Dagger entwined by a Cobra. The emblem consists of :

• The Dagger ~ Signifying the best used weapon of NWFP from where the Sqn originated.
• The Couped Hand~ Symbolising the role played by the Sqn is holding the frontier.
• The Cobra ~ Signifying the aggressive fighting spirit of the Squadron.
• Post independence our motto stands as "Laksh Vedh" - Destroy the target with precesion.

History

No. 3 Fighter Squadron of the Indian Air Force was formed at Peshawar on 01 Oct 41. The Sqn was raised as a result of the overall plan of expansion of the then Royal Indian Air Force in India. The initial role of the unit was fighter reconnaissance. The first Commanding Officer of the Squadron was Sqn Ldr Nan Bray DFC. The Sqn adopted Cobra as its insignia.

Six Audax aircrafts, 78 airmen and eight officers formed the nucleus of the newly formed Squadron. Apart from the CO, there were two Flying Officers, four Pilot Officers and one Flt Lt who acted as Adjutant. Shortage of personnel, equipment, working tools and other teething troubles which an infant Sqn faces, did not stand in the way of the Sqn taking to the air. By the end of Oct 41 the Sqn had flown 75 hours of operationally orientd flying which included 05 hrs and 55 mts of night flying, a precedent which was admirably followed up in the years to come.