The Flying Hero of the 1971 India and Pakistan War was the only one fighter pilot on guard On the winter night of December 3, 1971.  Born in the village of Isewal Dakha in Ludhiana District of Punjab, Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon had the roots of the army in his family. Father of Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, Tarlochan Singh Sekhon was a flight lieutenant which might have inclined to join the armed forces and hence joined the Indian Air Force in 1967 as a Flying Officer.

Tale Indian War Hero For Whom Nation was First Than Rest

Determinant over the neutralising of crucial Amritsar, Pathankot and Srinagar airfields during the war of 1971 Pakistan made its efforts with Peshawar’s no. 26 squadron initially carried out strikes on Srinagar Airfield. Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon took off from Srinagar airfields flying the Folland Gnat fighter for his duty with the flying bullets along with his leader Flt. Lt. Ghumman in a two-Gnat formation immediately as the airfield was attacked by the Pakistan Air Force’s  Force F-86 Sabre jets.

PAF’s Force F-86 Sabre jets routine attacks at the Srinagar airfields Srinagar airfields the equipment casualty on the runway while the amend crew was always ahead permanent services weren’t affected as much. Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon left no chance of discriminating the first Sabre Pair of Pakistani commander Changazi, Dotani, Andrabi and Mir which attacked the Srinagar airfield with 500lbs bombs during the war. While moments later Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon could find himself being complied with six Pakistani Sabres on his tail gunning for his aircraft after his losing contacts with a wingman.

Sekhon was More Than Enough for 6 Pak Fighter Planes

Despite this, he was truly focused on the other two Sabres describing the situation as I am getting behind one but the other is getting an edge on me” while communicating with controllers. Upon being ascertained with a Sabre in front of him and neutralising it, he witnessed another Sabre at his own tail. To duck the Sabre behind him, Nirmaljit led off making circles with his Gnat which perplexed the Pakistani commanders where one of them Andrabi said over the radio that “Three is Winchester” which meant he had exhausted his ammo.

Sekhon’s contrive was successful after hitting one set Sabre and setting another one blaze which was seen heading towards Rajauri sector covered in smoke. Although he failed to chuck out of the Gnat due to the failure of flight control system sustaining heavy damages in the dogfight. Making the enemy Pakistan to think twice to attack the airfields again he stood equivalent to 6 fighter planes of Pakistan with his Folland Gnat fighter.

Watch Indian Air Force Dogfight

Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously, India’s highest wartime medal for gallantry for his outstanding brave skills on war field sacrificing life for the nation. He turned up to be the only officer to be graced with the prestigious award.