10877 (P)

Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon

Indian Air Force

(posthumous)

Date of Action:  14 December 1971

Place of Action:  Srinagar, Kashmir

Date and Place of Birth: 17 July 1945, Rurka Isewal village, Ludhiana tehsil, Punjab, son of Trilok Singh Sekhon (retired W.O. and Honorary Flight Lieutenent, IAF)

CITATION

On 14 December 1971, Srinagar airfield was attacked by a wave of six PAF F-86 jets. Flying Officer Sekhon was on readiness duty at that time. Soon the enemy aircraft started hovering over the airfield. Straffing of various targets on the ground followed.

Attempting to take-off with enemy aircraft overhead was inviting mortal danger. However, Flying Officer Sekhon, unmindful of his safety, flew his Gnat to engage the two attacking Sabres. In the air battle that ensued, he secured a direct hit on one Sabre and set another ablaze. The latter was seen heading away towards Rajauri, trailing smoke and flame.

At this juncture four more Pakistani Sabres came on the scene and surrounded his aircraft. He chose to give a fight again. In the dog fight that ensued at tree-top level, he held on against the numerically superior enemy for some time.

Eventually, his aircraft was hit and he was killed. But Flying Officer Sekhon had achieved his objective. The enemy aircraft fled from the scene of the battle, without pressing home, the intended attack on Srinagar airfield and its surrounding areas.

The bravery, flying skill and determination displayed by Flying Officer Sekhon, earned him the highest wartime gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra.

A page on FO Sekhon (Bharat Rakshak)