MINISTRY OF DEFENCE GOVERNMENT OF

Param Vir Chakra Awardee of India Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (Posthumous),

F'ying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon [I 0877F (PJ], son of Warrant Officer fHony Fit Lt) Trilok Singh Sekhon, was born on July 17, 1943, in village Rurka Isewal. , Punjab. He was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on June 4, J 967. He won the first Param Vir Chakra for the IndianAir Force during Indo-Pak War 1971. Indian Air Force Flying Officer Sekhon was a pilot in a Gnat detachment based at for the air defence ofthe Valley. India was bound by an international agreement not to base its air defence aircraft at Srinagar. Therefore, the pilots who were hurriedly brought to Srinagar at the outbreak of hostilities with Pakistan, were neither familiar with the terrain nor acclimatised to the winter rigours of Kashmir. Nevertheless, during the War, Flying Officer Sekhon and his colleagues fought Pakistani airraids with valour and determination. On December 14, 197 I, Srinagarairfield was attacked by a wave of six Pakistani Sabre jets. Sekhon was on readiness duty at that time. Soon the enemy aircraft started hovering over the airfield. The strafing of various targets on the July 17, 1943 - December 14, 1971 ground followed. Attempting to take off, with enemy aircraft overhead, was inviting mortal danger but Flying OfficerSekhon, unmindful ofhis 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 setanotherablaze. 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-fightthat ensued attreetop level, he held on against the numerically superior enemy for sometime. Eventually, his aircraft was hitand he was killed. Flying Officer Sekhon achieved his objective as the enemy aircraft fled without pressing home

Wife of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon receiving PVC from the President Shri VV Giri

their intended attack on Sri nagar town and airfield. The supreme gallantry, flying skill and determination displayed by Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon earned him the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously.