Air force pilot who led daring escape from Pakistan during 1971 war dies
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News18
7 hours ago
- News18
DK Parulkar, IAF Officer Who Orchestrated 1971 War's Most Daring Escape Attempts, Dies At 83
Group Captain Dilip Kamalakar Parulkar, a 1971 war hero, passed away on August 10. The Indian Air Force mourned his loss, celebrating his courage and legacy. The nation is mourning the loss of one of its most celebrated warriors, Group Captain Dilip Kamalakar Parulkar (Retd), a decorated 1971 war hero and a symbol of the Indian Air Force's valour, who passed away on Sunday, August 10. His name is etched in history for leading a remarkable and dangerous escape attempt from a Pakistani prisoner-of-war camp, a mission that became one of the most daring episodes of the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Remembering the hero for his might, the Indian Air Force (IAF) expressed its condolences and said that his daring escape during the 1971 war embodied 'unmatched courage" in the force. 'Gp Capt DK Parulkar (Retd) VM, VSM – 1971 War hero, who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan, embodying unmatched courage, ingenuity & pride in the IAF — has left for his heavenly abode. All Air Warriors of the IAF express their heartfelt condolences," the Indian Air Force posted on their social media handle on X (formerly Twitter). Gp Capt DK Parulkar (Retd) VM, VSM — 1971 War hero, who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan, embodying unmatched courage, ingenuity & pride in the IAF — has left for his heavenly Air Warriors of the IAF express their heartfelt condolences. #IndianAirForce … — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 10, 2025 Parulkar's capture came during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, when he was taken as a prisoner after a fierce aerial battle. Held in Rawalpindi's POW camp under constant watch, he met two other IAF officers, MS Grewal and Harish Singhji. The trio, unwilling to languish in captivity, devised a perilous plan to dig their way to freedom. There were no tools, no equipment, and enemy surveillance was unrelenting. Yet, under the cover of night, the officers lifted a section of their barrack floor and began to dig, inch by inch, night after night. The excavated soil was concealed in their clothes and discreetly spread across the camp to avoid suspicion. For months, they lived a double life – prisoners by day, tunnelers by night, with the constant fear of discovery hanging over them. At last, the tunnel was complete. Under the darkness of night, they slipped through their secret passage and stepped into the uncertainty of Rawalpindi's silent streets and open fields. Their destination was the border to India. Hunger, exhaustion, and the threat of patrols tested their resolve at every turn. Yet, their determination was unshaken. They made it within four miles, just six kilometres from freedom, when fate turned. A Pakistani patrol spotted them, and the three were recaptured. The setback was crushing, but their attempt became a legend in the annals of Indian military history. The story of this daring escape would later inspire the film The Great Indian Escape, immortalising their courage, ingenuity, and unbreakable spirit. For Parulkar, this was only one chapter in a lifetime of service. In the 1965 war, he had already proved his mettle when his fighter jet was hit by enemy fire, he still managed to land it safely, earning the Air Force Medal for exceptional bravery. view comments First Published: August 11, 2025, 18:22 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
IAF shares new video with glimpses of attack on Pakistani terror camps during Operation Sindoor
The Indian Air Force has released a new video sharing glimpses of the precise moment when IAF jets hit terror bases in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. "Across the Himalayas, over the island chains, over oceans deep, the IAF stands ready, vigilant, unseen [and] unmatched," the voiceover on the video said. The video also shows clips of the Balakot air strike in 2019 following Pulwama terror attack as well as the 1971 surgical strikes in Dhaka in the erstwhile East Pakistan, which eventually led to the freedom of Bangladesh. The IAF's video came days after Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh revealed that the air force shot down five Pakistani jets and a large aircraft during Operation Sindoor. This was the largest surface-to-air kill by India recorded till now, Singh said, presenting a detailed account of the May 7 strikes on terrorist headquarters and other terror assets near the border and inside Pakistan. 'We have at least five fighters confirmed killed and one large aircraft, which could be either an aircraft or an AWC, which was taken at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about,' he said during the 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru. The IAF got indications that at least one AWC in that AWC hangar, and a few F-16s, that were under maintenance there, had also sustained damage, the IAF chief said. The operation also resulted in a large number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones, and some of their missiles falling into the Indian territory without causing any damage to Indian installations, he added. During the slideshow, Singh showed visuals of the AWC hangar, which was flattened after the Indian attack. The IAF chief said that they attacked the airfield based on intelligence inputs during Operation Sindoor. 'So the airfield was attacked and the main building where the planning goes on, which was also used as the civil terminal building at times. As far as the Sukkur airbase is concerned, we attacked the UAB hangar and radar site,' Singh said.
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Economic Times
First India, now Japan: Another UK F-35B fighter jet makes emergency landing at Kagoshima airport
A British Navy F-35B fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14 due to a technical snag. Grounded for nearly three weeks, the jet was repaired with assistance from the Indian Air Force and a UK technical team flown in by an Airbus A400M Atlas. After 37 days, the F-35B finally took off, ending the prolonged 'Royal Mess' at the Kerala airport during its mission over the Arabian Sea. Show more 08:02 23:22 05:05 03:33 04:07 01:48 37:32 08:26 10:00 03:48 08:50 10:03 13:39 03:38 03:29 09:03 03:04 08:25 09:34 01:31 09:36 03:03 03:00 03:01 03:21 01:51 03:12 05:27 08:05 08:38 10:16 11:04 08:14
