AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 140 of 170 ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ Obituary The members of AFVOA mourn the demise of the following: a) Gp Capt K De VM, a former member of the Association, who passed away in Mumbai during Apr 2003 b) Mrs Olive Nair, wife of late Brig Bobby Nair, who passed away on 21 st Sep 2003 {tele: 2240 2034} c) Fit Lt UNR Rao, who passed away on the 23 rd Sep 2003 {tele No 2472 7656/2483 5319}. Memoir AFVPA learnt with profound regret of the passing away of Gp Capt Kumarendra De, VM, F (P), who was a member of the association prior to his re-location to Delhi. Though Gp Capt breathed his last in April this year at Mumbai, the sad news came in belatedly. Gp Capt De’s career as a fighter pilot exemplified his life long “lead from the front” beliefs. He had an illustrious career as a Flight Commander and then as a squadron Commander during his active years. He flew Gnats and MIG 21’s. His specialisation was flight safety. After retirement from the IAF, he was instrumental in establishing the Training and Flight programme of NEPC Airlines and later f Blue Dart Aviation. This brought him into Chennai, where he spent a decade. Gp Capt De intended to finally settle at Dehra Dun and it was while he and Mrs Purabi De were completing the house that he suffered a heart attack. He was moved to Mumbai, where their two sons, both of whom are Naval electrical engineers were based. While in Mumbai, he underwent treatment INHS Ashwini. Col A Krishnaswami, VrC, VSM** visited Gp Capt De, while he was there. Gp Capt De mentioned how happy he was with the spirit of camaraderie that he had enjoyed among the AFVOA brethren during his days in Chennai. Coincidentally, Mrs Purabi De is at this moment at Kalpakkam - temporarily resident, where her younger son – Naval officer KORAK is undergoing a short course at IGCAR. In the passing away of Gp Capt De, we have lost an officer who lived true to the ideals of a leader and an aviator. PVC Winners As mentioned earlier, brief accounts about Lance Naik Albert Ekka, and Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon winners of the Param Vir Chakra during the 1971 operations are given below. L/Naik Albert Ekka 14th Guards (posthumous) Date of Action: 3 December 1971 Place of Action: Gangasagar, Bangladesh? Date and Place of Birth: 27 December 1942, Zari village, Ranchi tehsil, Bihar, son of Zuluis Ekka Enrolled: 27 December 1962