Global InformationVirendera Singh Pathania information
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Group Captain Virendera Singh Pathania VrC, VM | |
|---|---|
| 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]
- ^ Shukla, Ajai. "The day nothing happened". Business Standard. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
- ^ Indian Air Force awards Archived 2007-10-27 at the Wayback Machine "Group Captain Virendera Singh Pathania". Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Indian Air Force Day 2020 : Story Of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon". Mind Stick. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ "Batchmates remember of IAF's lone Param Vir Chakra awardee recall his valour". The Indian Express. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ David, Wg. Cdr.(Retd.) G.M (20 November 2008). "THE LAST DOG FIGHT OVER SRINAGAR 16 DECEMBER 1971 NO 18 SQN". Retrieved 20 November 2008.