Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon

On 14 December 1971, six Pakistani F-86 Sabre jets carried out a surprise low-level attack on Srinagar airfield. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon of No. 18 Squadron scrambled alone in his Folland Gnat — a tiny but manoeuvrable aircraft called 'Sabre Slayer'. In an unequal dogfight against six enemies, he shot down at least one Sabre and damaged others, forcing the attackers to abort their strike. His aircraft was hit during the engagement and crashed; he did not survive. The airfield was saved. He remains the only Indian Air Force officer to have been awarded the Param Vir Chakra.