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Anchit Gupta Profile picture
@AnchitGupta9
Mar 22, 2023 • 23 tweets • 9 min read • Read on X
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In the demise of 93-year-old Wg Cdr JM Nath yesterday, @IAF_MCC lost its most decorated officer alive, awarded with "MVC & Bar". The award nomenclatures often confuse us. This thread attempts a simple, abridged & demystified history of awards in the IAF. #IAFHistory (1/23) Image
Between 1937 and 2022, IAF officers and airmen were awarded as many as 5,100 awards. An average of 60-75 per year, but as high as 600 during the years of wars. 2/ Image
Before 1947, IAF did not have a unique "Indianised" system of awards and followed the British system. In fact, awards for IAF officers were approved through the usual chain from Air Ministry to Air Headquarters. 109 awards were made between 1937 and 1946, mainly for WWII. 3/ Image
IAF officers and men distinguished themselves in war and peace, clocking up many firsts in the North West Frontier Province, Burma Campaign, and even in the European theatre. 4/ Image
Post indep, IAF played a pivotal role in Kashmir War. However, the new award system took a while, & awards were only made out in 1950 retrospectively. The new award system had two broad categories - Awards for acts of Gallantry and awards for devotion to duty. (3 by 4 Matrix) 5/ Image
IAF was awarded 4 Mahavir Chakras (MVC) , 29 Vir Chakras (VrC), and 106 M-in-D for 1947 Ops - an incredible feat for an under-staff and under-equipped force. Moreover, most of the laurels were earned by its newest acquisition - the Dakota sqn crews. 6/
Mehar Singh was awarded the MVC as the overall in-charge of IAF's war plan and personally taking up dangerous missions. With his DSO during Burma Campaign in 1944, he became the first "MVC & Bar" equivalent (assuming DSO = MVC). 7/ Image
In 1952, two IAF airmen were awarded Kirti Chakras for their role in nabbing Mahatma Gandhi's assassin. 8/
In 1953, IAF earned its first Ashok Chakra - The highest peacetime Gallantry award. Only two more Ashok Chakras were awarded to IAF. 1984 to Rakesh Sharma for the mission to the moon and in 2017 to Cpl JP Nirala for his bravery with RR in Kashmir. 9/
Image
Between 1954 - 1961, a total of 20 awards were handed out. 1962 onwards, this changed with an average of 35-40 awards being given - including Gallantry in Congo Ops & the China War. This included the first PVSM (To Harjinder Singh) & First "VrC & Bar" 10/
The 1965 war again had IAF personnel rising to the occasion - they chalked up 4 MVC, 44 VrC, and 119 M-in-D for gallantry. This also saw the first time IAF officers were awarded civilian awards - Padam Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan & Padma Sree. In all, IAF would get 10 of these. 11/ Image
1965 also saw IAF get its first "MVC & Bar". JM "Jaggi" Nath had got the first MVC in 1962 ops flying the Canberra of 106 Sqn. His award in 1965 was for the same 106 Sqn. 12/ Image
The 1965-71 war era saw an average of 50 peacetime awards, such as KC, SC, PVSM, AVSM, VM, and VSM, being awarded every year. 1971 was IAF's brightest moment getting 11 MVC, 102 VrC, and 100s of other awards. In fact, just in the year 1972, IAF won 640 awards. A record. 13/
1971 war produced the second and last "MVC and Bar" for the IAF. Padmanabha Gautam won MVC in 1965 and repeated the feat in 1971. Incidentally, both MVC & Bar went to Canberra pilots! Sadly, Gautam was lost in a crash in 1972. 14/ Image
The epitome of IAF's glory was when Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon was awarded the highest gallantry award - Param Vir Chakra (PVC) in 1971 war. This remains to this date, the only PVC ever awarded to an IAF officer. 15/ Image
In 1980, to distinguish wartime (Devotion to duty) awards from peace-time awards, the Govt of India instituted the Sarvottam, Uttam, and Yudh Seva Medals. The equivalent of PVSM, AVSM, and VSM, respectively. 16/ Image
IAF got its first such award in 1989, when Air Cmde MMS Vasudeva, head of the Air Force Cell handling IPKF Operations, was awarded Uttam Yudh Seva Medal. Across 1988-1991, IAF was awarded 1 UYSM, 10 VrC, and as many Yudh Seva Medals for Sri Lanka Ops. 17/ Image
IPKF Ops were largely Heliborne, but the Chopper boys were not done yet. They chalked up many more Vir Chakras in the next decade for Op meghdoot (Siachen Ops) and UN peace missions. IAF's Heptr Fleet had come off-age in the face of enemy action. 18/ Image
OP Meghdoot - the longest-running Op in Indian military history has also resulted in significant contributions from IAF - namely from its 114 HU and consequently is the most awarded unit. A thread on them here. 19/
IAF next saw action in the 1999 Kargil War and was awarded generously. They won 1 Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (only 3 ever given across all services), 2 Vir Chakras, 5 Yudh Seva Medals, 75 M-in-D, and more than 40 Vayu Sena Medals. 20/ Image
In the 5100 awards lie many interesting snippets - such as an Air Force officer receiving "Sena Medal". For full details, I recommend reading Air Marshal Bharat Kumar's "Courage & Devotion to Duty : A Chronicle of IAF’s Honours and Awards". 21/

There is no yardstick to measure who has been the most awarded officer in the IAF - since peacetime and Gallantry awards cant be compared. But if I were to hazard a guess, Minoo Engineer will take that spot. 22/

This abridged history of awards in IAF, has skipped many daring acts of bravery, keeping the platform in mind. A comprehensive and meticulous job has been done by @vayusena tracking each and every award and citation here - bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/A…

A must-visit. 23/23

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More from @AnchitGupta9

Anchit Gupta Profile picture
Mar 18
For a long time, I wondered why the Chief of the @IAF_MCC was called the "Chief of Air Staff" and not the "Air Force Chief" or something similar. Well, at least I am finally enlightened. Sharing this brief of my exploration. (1/7)

#IAFHistory Image
The early 20th century witnessed a significant transformation in military structures, driven by the harsh realities of the Boer Wars (1899-1902). Reflecting on the conflict's challenges, the concept of "Staffs of the Services" emerged. 2/
These staff comprised officers with specialised qualifications tasked with reflective work, including acquiring and digesting extensive information, studying war possibilities, and preparing plans for potential scenarios. 3/ Image
Read 8 tweets
Anchit Gupta Profile picture
Mar 2
Jamangar Air Force station is in news these days. Jamnagar holds a very important place in @IAF_MCC. A topic worthy of a longer thread, but a few milestones are mentioned here.

A short thread (1/13) #IAFHistory Image
Jamanagar was not an Air Force Airbase before Independence, though the Jam Saheb was popular in the aviation circles. Post-independence, IAF was searching for a air firing and bombing range. After a search - it settled up Jamnagar and called it Armament Training Wing (ATW). 2/
The Jam Saheb was very fond of the Air Force and helped it immensely. It had an air to ground range at Sarmat and and air to air range in gulf of Kutch near the coastal strip of Jodhya - Balachandi. ATW was visited by Squadrons for training for a few weeks in rotation. 3/
Read 13 tweets
Anchit Gupta Profile picture
Feb 14
Air Marshal Ravinder Nath Bharadwaj, PVSM, MVC, VM, affectionately nicknamed "Mummy", passed away at 89 yesterday.

He was awarded MVC during the 1971 War, attacking Pakistan's airfields in the west. He was one of the only two Sqn Ldrs to receive this award(1/9)

#IAFHistory Image
From the 66th Pilot Course, he was commissioned in 1955 & joined the fighter stream. In 1961, he qualified as a Pilot Attack Instructor, the modern-day "Top Gun". The CO of PAI School, Nobby Clarke, gave the nickname "Mummy" for his sweet demeanour. It stuck for life. 2/ Image
Mummy also served in training extensively - He served as an instructor in Iraq & was with the OTU, training hunter pilots before the 1971 War, which earned him a Vayu Sena Medal, too. he continued his role in training later in life in staff appointments. 3/ Image
Read 9 tweets
Anchit Gupta Profile picture
Jan 6
While researching the initial lot of Cranwell graduates, I came across a name that caught my eye. This name was that of a certain Mr WHJ Wilkinson CIE ICS, whose name figures in most entry forms of the @IAF_MCC Cadets who went to Cranwell. The name did intrigue me a lot. (1/18) Image
My subsequent research revealed the story of a man who lived a very interesting life in India. It is a story that needs to be told, even if not directly related to #IAFHistory. It also has some gaps (gaps that I hope will be filled by crowdsourcing). 2/
Walter Hugh John Wilkinson was born in 1874 & went on to study at Oxford. Joining the ICS as a Political Officer, the 23-year-old arrived in India on 29 Nov 1897. His first five years were spent in various capacities in Bombay.. 3/
Read 19 tweets
Anchit Gupta Profile picture
Dec 17, 2023
What was it like to be in the @IAF_MCC in 1933?
This narrative captures the essence of that first year, viewed through the eyes of the early aviators. Little did they know their journey would demand courage and sacrifice. (1/20) #IAFHistory Image
The first Indian Air Force officers completed their education at RAF College Cranwell in July 1932. They spent a few months training in England. Subsequently, in April 1933, they returned to India to create the first flight of the No 1 Squadron. 2/ Image
Flight Lieutenant Cecil "Boy" Bouchier assumed command of this Flight. Boy Bouchier was a distinguished WWI veteran honoured with the DFC, AFC, and Polish and French Crosses. He volunteered for this role when no other British officer was prepared to lead. 3/ Image
Read 20 tweets
Anchit Gupta Profile picture
Oct 29, 2023
My thread today concerns a community of just 0.06% of India's population. Parsis, Zoroastrians, Bawas, call them what you want - their per capita contribution to India's growth remains outsized & the IAF is no exception. We celebrate their service. #IAFHistory (1/25)
It's almost poetic that the Parsi Faravahar symbol bears wings. While it embodies profound spiritual meaning, as an IAF historian, it's hard not to see the striking parallels. If I've erred in my interpretation, I humbly seek forgiveness. 2/ Image
In my first, and likely sole, thread dedicated to any community, I believe it's crucial to begin by immersing in the data before embarking on a journey through the extraordinary luminaries that the Parsi community has bestowed upon the IAF. 3/
Read 25 tweets

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