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Virendera Singh Pathania | |
---|---|
Native name | Bhotti |
Birth name | Virendera Singh Pathania |
Nickname(s) | PAT |
Born | 6 November 1937 Village Rey Khas, Tehsil Fatehpur, District Kangra, H.P India Punjab Province (British India) |
Died | 20 February 1995 New Delhi |
Allegiance | India |
Service | Indian Air Force |
Years of service | 37 years From 25 August 1956 to 9 December 1993 |
Rank | Group Captain |
Service number | 5198 F(P) |
Unit | No.23 Squadron Black Panther No.18 Squadron Flying Bullets |
Battles / wars | Sino-Indian War Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
Awards | Vir Chakra Vayu Sena Medal |
Spouse(s) | Asha Pathania |
Children | Trigun Pathania Karan Pathania Preeti Pathania |
Group Captain Virendera Singh Pathania, VrC, VM, was an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot reputed for making the first confirmed aerial dogfight kill of independent India when he shot down a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Sabre Jet with his Folland Gnat on 4 September 1965. [1] For this action, he was awarded the Vir Chakra. [2]
On 14 December 1971, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for his role as a commander. While working under him, twenty-six-year-old flying officer PVC Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon single-handedly engaged with six Sabre Jets. [3] [4] Pathania made another unconfirmed kill on 16 December 1971, the day Gen. Niazi, Commander of the Eastern Command of the Pakistan Army surrendered to Gen. Aurora in Bangladesh. [5]
During the Sino-Indian War, the IAF was only involved in a supportive capacity. Flight Lieutenant Virendera Singh Pathania of No. 23 Squadron IAF made sorties on the perforated steel-plated Chushul airport for photo-reconnaissance. [6]
Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965 began on 1 September 1965 and PAF dominated the skies with their F-86 and F-104, making 4 kills of IAF Vampire planes on the very first day. [7] [8] [9] However their supremacy was overshadowed when on 3 September 1965 a Sabre was hit and a Starfigher had to leave the skies after it was attacked by Pathania who said on his radio "We part to meet again," Air Marshal Arjun Singh on that day remarked on that day's event that tyranny of PAF is over and 'Sabre slayers' were born leading Pakistani intelligence to hurriedly label Gnats as most dangerous. Amar Jit Singh Sandhu, Johnny Greene, Trevor Keelor, Denzil Keelor, Virendera Singh Pathania became Sabre Slayers and were awarded Vir Chakras. [10]
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, he was awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down F-86 with his Folland Gnat jet on 4 September. [11] List of aerial victories during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 has enlisted the kill. Pakistani officer N.M Butt of F-86 PAF ejected safely and the wreckage of Sabre Jet was recovered near Akhnoor Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir. IAF declared it as the second kill of independent India. [12] However PAF recognizes 4 September 1965 as first kill by Pathania after it disputed the 3 September kill of Trevor Keelor for which Pakistan claims that damaged F-86 managed to land safely at Sargodha air base and awarded Sitara-e-Jurat to Wing Commander then Flight Lieutenant Yusuf Ali Khan who later made 1 kill in the war. [13]
On 6 December of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Squadron Leader Pathania of No. 18 Squadron IAF and Flying Officer Boppayya scrambled an incoming raid by four F-86 aircraft by intercepting their course in Srinagar. [14]
On 14 December 1971, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for his commanding lead of Air Traffic Control (ATC) while Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC single-handedly engaged in a suicidal dogfight with six F-86 Sabre Jet Pakistani airplanes in Srinagar while deterring attackers from their prime targets. [15]
Two days later after the death of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon on 16 December 1971, Pathania made an unconfirmed kill of an F-86 on the day of Pakistan Army's Eastern Command's surrender, marking it as last and lone kill entry by Gnat in western sector among the List of aerial victories during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. [16] [17]
The surname Pathania and nickname Patty of the lead character in the fictitious Hindi movie "Fighter (2024 film)" played by Hrithik Roshan as IAF ace fighter pilot portrays his name. [18]
The Folland Gnat is a British compact swept-wing subsonic fighter aircraft that was developed and produced by Folland Aircraft. Envisioned as an affordable light fighter in contrast to the rising cost and size of typical combat aircraft, it was procured as a trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as well as by export customers, who used the Gnat in both combat and training capacities.
The Battle of Boyra was a ground and aerial battle that was fought on 22 November 1971 between the India and Pakistan.
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC was an officer of the Indian Air Force. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration during war time, in recognition of his lone defence of Srinagar Air Base against a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) air raid during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He is the only member of the Indian Air Force to be honoured with the PVC.
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During the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965, the Indian and Pakistani Air Forces engaged in large-scale aerial combat for the first time. In the air war, which took place in September, both air forces conducted thousands of defensive and offensive sorties over Indian and Pakistani airspace. Both India and Pakistan claimed victory in the air war; Pakistan claimed to have destroyed 104 Indian aircraft and lost 19, and India claimed to have destroyed 73 Pakistani aircraft and lost 35 of its own. The air war ended in a stalemate.
Air Marshal Denzil Keelor PVSM, KC, AVSM, VrC was an air officer of the Indian Air Force and a hero of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He had a younger brother Trevor, who was also honoured for his service in the Indian Air Force. The brothers were both awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down Pakistan Air Force Sabres.
Wing Commander Trevor Keelor, VrC, VM was an officer of Indian Air Force who participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He was honoured with a number of medals including the Vir Chakra and the Vayu Sena Medal. He had an elder brother, Denzil, who was also honoured for his service in the Indian Air Force. Both brothers have a Vir Chakra for the same feat of shooting down Pakistan Air Force F-86 Sabre fighters. It was the first time two brothers have received Vir Chakras for the same reason.
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Wing Commander Amar Jit Singh Sandhu VrC, VM was an Indian fighter pilot and air force officer. He was awarded the Vir Chakra and Vayusena medals, and is credited for shooting down a Pakistan Air Force F-86 Sabre in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.