Outnumbered And Low On Fuel, This MiG-21 Indian Pilot Turned The Tables On 3 Pak Jets
After a victorious dogfight, Vikram Shah's MiG-21 had barely any fuel left. He climbed, shut the engine, and glided to base, landing safely as the last drop of fuel ran out
On the afternoon of December 16, 1971, during the Indo-Pakistan war, Flight Lieutenant Vikram Samar Shah of the Indian Air Force found himself facing a critical situation. While flying a MiG-21 at an altitude of thousands of feet, Shah was preparing to return to base after completing his mission. Suddenly, three supersonic fighter jets from the Pakistan Air Force surrounded his MiG-21, with one on either side and the third above.
The MiG-21's alarming system began to signal, alerting Flight Lieutenant Shah to a dire situation: his fuel was nearly depleted. With only a few minutes left to reach the base, a crash seemed imminent. Faced with a perilous predicament, Shah made a bold decision. Rather than retreat, he chose to confront the enemy head-on.
Shah engaged the engine of his fighter jet at full throttle, executing a sharp turn and disappearing into the sky's depths. This intense encounter occurred as Indian Air Force's Marut fighters were on a mission to attack enemy positions in Naya Chor and Mirpur, with Shah and Flying Officer Dinesh Arora of the 29th Squadron tasked with providing cover.
Initially, the mission proceeded as planned until Shah spotted a Pakistani Cessna Bird Dog fighter jet. He instructed Arora to stay with the Marut fighters while he advanced to engage the enemy. After neutralising the Pakistani Cessna, Shah prepared to return to base when he was surrounded by Pakistani MiG-19 fighters. With his fuel running dangerously low, Shah disappeared into the sky once more.
Reappearing unexpectedly, Shah manoeuvred his MiG-21, scattering the Pakistani jets. The precision of his strategy caused two pilots to lose coordination, prompting them to flee.
With only one Pakistani fighter remaining, Shah capitalised on a minor error by the enemy pilot, targeting him with a missile. The MiG-19 crashed into the desert.
Despite his triumphant dogfight, Shah's aircraft had barely enough fuel to reach the base. In a final act of ingenuity, he ascended to a certain height, turned off the engine, and glided towards the base. His MiG-21 landed safely just as the last drop of fuel was exhausted.
Flight Lieutenant Shah's exceptional skills and bravery not only decimated the enemy but also ensured the safe return of his aircraft. For his outstanding performance, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal and Vir Chakra.
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