Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon - Sikhs The Supreme

Born on July 17, 1945 in village Isewal, district Ludhiana, Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, one of the most valorous and daredevil pilots of Indian Air Force, has the distinction of being the I.A.F.'s ONLY Param Vir Chakra (PVC) winner, which is the highest gallantry award of the country. He won this laurel (posthumously) for setting an example of sublime gallantry, determination and supreme sacrifice in 1971 war with Pakistan. Mr. Sekhon, with his squardon of Gnat fighters, was stationed at Srinagar (J & K). On Dec. 14, 1971 a battery of six Pakistan Air Force Sabre Jet Fighter aircrafts attacked the airfield of Srinagar airbase with the intention to destroy it, in order to make the IAF ineffective. But the great son of India, Flying Officer Sekhon stood like a rock in the way of the enemy. In a dogfight, he managed to shot one Sabre Jet down and set another on fire. But ultimately The Mighty Sikhs / 153 in an unequal battle with the other four Sabre fighters, his Gnat (Ajit) fighter was shot down and he laid down his life for the sake of the glory of the country

This gresome dogfight got mentiomn in flight magazine and also in other magazines of thw world related to flight. It is said that when he intercepted six Sabre fighters dashing towards Srinagar airbase he did not waste time in wearing uniform including helmet. When his plane crashed he ejected and jumped out of it. But while diving down his head sans helmet collided with a tree which caused the death of a superman of Indian Air Force. The helmet which he did not wear cost him his life but saved the country. Mr. Sekhon made his squadron known as “Defenders of Kashmir” the only squadron to have been awarded PVC.

he PVC was received by his widow Mrs. Manjit Kaur from the President of India, Sh. V.V. Giri. On September 22, 1972 a documentary on him titled "SHARDHANJLY" directed by Hakumat Sarin was also released. The write up, alongwith the statue of Flying Officer Sekhon and a replica of his Gnat (Ajit) is displayed in the Air Force Museum at Palam, New Delhi, which is deemed its most impressive section and at Halwara air base, Ludhiana to inspire the coming generations of fighter pilots of the country

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