Om Prakash Taneja

Group Captain Om Prakash Taneja VrC
Born	(1929-03-21)21 March 1929
Died	22 July 2017(2017-07-22) (aged 88) New Jersey
Allegiance	India
Service / branch	Indian Air Force
Years of service	25 years (15 April 1950 to 31 August 1975)
Rank	Group captain
Service number	3843 F(P) (Orig: GD(P))
Unit	No.1 Squadron Tigers No.3 Squadron Cobras No.8 Squadron Eight Pursoots
Battles / wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Awards	Vir Chakra

Om Prakash Taneja (21 March 1929 - 22 July 2017) was an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and fighter pilot, known for leading India's first aerial bombing of an ammunition train as well as the attack on the Sargodha airfield, both during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. As squadron leader of No. 1 Squadron IAF, he guided Mystère pilots to victory on 6 and 7 September 1965. For this action, he was awarded the Vir Chakra and he would retire from the IAF in August 1975 at the rank of group captain. ^[1] Indian actor Akshay Kumar portrayed a fictionalized version of Taneja in the 2025 film Sky Force . ^[2]

Wartime service

1965

Main article: Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

On September 5, 1965, Pakistan claimed air superiority by bombing airfields. In response, he led No. 1 Squadron IAF of the Indian Air Force, equipped with Dassault Mystère IV aircraft striked fuel wagons in the Gujranwala sector on September 6, 1965. ^[1] The next day, he led a 13-plane air raid on Sargodha airfield destroying four F-86F, three F-104 and 2 Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports planes in the airfield, while PAF claimed five victories. ^[3] Among the downed aircraft was Ajjamada B. Devaiah's, the 13th plane, which successfully engaged and destroyed a Starfighter on September 7, 1965. ^[4]

Popular culture

• The 2025 film, Sky Force , is based on the attack of Sargodha Airfield Complex on 7 September 1965 by 13-aircraft contingent led by Akshay Kumar portrayed as Group Captain O.P Taneja, Veer Paharia will play Devayya, whose character is named T Vijaya, while Sara Ali Khan will appear as his wife. ^[5]

References

1. "Group Captain Om Prakash Taneja" . Retrieved 7 January 2025.
2. "Sky Force Real Story: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya's Film Is Based On These True Events Of 1965". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 5 January 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
3. B. Harry (2 September 2006). "IAF COMBAT KILLS - 1965 INDO-PAK AIR WAR" (PDF). orbat.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
4. "Sqn Ldr Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya MVC - Honourpoint" . Retrieved 7 January 2025.
5. "Sky Force Real Story: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya's Film Is Based On These True Events Of 1965". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 5 January 2025.