Flying
Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon
Arm :
Indian Air Force
The
air force plays the most important role in any modern war, so was the case in
the 1971 India-Pakistan War. It defends the country from the enemy air attacks
and also launches attacks well within the enemy territory. The Indian Air Force
accomplished its objectives well and made victory possible in this war.
On 14
December, 1971, six Pakistani Sabre jets approached the Srinagar airfield to
attack. At this time, Sekhon and Ghumman were on ORP duty, that is, they had to
take on any intruding aircraft. They had the Gnats to defend the airfield,
while the Sabre jets were far more powerful. But these two warriors were not
scared of either the larger number of enemy aircraft, or the more powerful
enemy. They scrambled their Gnats on the runway when the Sabre jets were on their
heads, raining down bombs.
Sekhon
and Ghumman took off facing these odds, and immediately started to chase the Pakistani
aircraft. There was fog and visibility was poor, but they dared the enemy.
Sekhon first shot down one Sabre jet and then chased the second one and hit it
too. But the remaining Pakistani aircraft came behind him and shot at him. His
aircraft sustained a hit. Sekhon spoke to Ghumman on radio and said, "It
seems my aircraft is hit. Continue with the fight."
After this, his
aircraft started to fall off the sky and was soon engulfed in fire. He died in
the line of his duty. His effort disallowed the Pakistani intruders from
causing any significant damage to the Indian installations. For his daring
feat, technological skill and courage, Sekhon was conferred with the Param Vir
Chakra posthumously.
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