AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 4 – War Diary CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 60 of 237 On declaration of cease fire I reported back to HQ Western Air Command where my effort was appreciated and recommended for another gallantry award. Risk and hazard wise, my experience in 1971 was more than in 1965. Jai Hind! About the Author Wing Commander Subramaniam Sankaran now in his early eighties, married to Ms. Mythili Sankaran who is a trained classical singer. Both their daughters are settled abroad. Joined the Air Force in 1963 at the age of 22 after graduating as an Engineer. He was on the Gnat aircraft when the 1965 Indo Pak War broke out. He became the only Pilot Officer ever from the Maintenance Branch to be awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in the War. During the 1971 Indo Pak War he was based at Amritsar where he played a crucial role in demolishing 28 unexploded bombs (500 & 1000Ib) dropped on Amritsar airfield by Pakistani Air Force. On superannuation from the Air Force he joined the Aviation Research Centre under Ministry of Home where he excelled again in single handedly destroying obsolete ammunition piled up for decades. Post retirement he shared his experience with the youth as a motivational speaker. The Wing Commander and his wife have traveled widely and now live at Jal Vayu Vihar, Madambakkam.