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Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
When Veer Pahariya, Akshay Kumar helped AB Devayyas family over stolen Mahavir Chakra medal
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 12 (ANI): Actors Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya starrer Sky Force feature a story of Squadron Leader AB Devayya, the only Indian Air Force officer to be posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra. During the making of the film, the actors formed a close bond with the Devayya family. They also played a key role in helping them recover their stolen Mahavir Chakra medal. Squadron Leader Devayya was posthumously awarded India's second-highest gallantry honour for his bravery and sacrifice in the 1965 Indo-Pak War. However, a few years ago, the medal was stolen from the family's home, leaving them devastated. For Sundari Devayya, the late officer's wife, the medal was not just an award. It was a cherished symbol of courage, sacrifice, and memory. "For Mum, the medal was a symbol of my Dad's courage and had held a place of pride on her dresser," wrote Preetha Devayya, daughter of Devayya, as shared in a press note by the family. During the making of Sky Force, Veer Pahariya came home to meet the Devayya family, and that's when he learnt about the stolen Mahavir Chakra of AB Devayya. He, along with Akshay Kumar, took the matter "upon themselves to get the precious medal back," added Preetha Devayya. In a surprising turn of events, the medal was finally restored and handed back to Sundari Devayya at a ceremony hosted by the Indian Air Force at Training Command in Bengaluru. Air Marshal Tejinder Singh AVSM VM presented the honour. "The Mahavir Chakra is back home," Preetha wrote in her post, calling it "a very special moment for our family." Describing the emotional moment, Preetha said, "She (mother) is so touched, so emotional. She keeps saying she finally feels complete. After all these years, there's peace in her heart." Veer Pahariya, reflecting on the moment, shared: "This is why I chose to be an actor... to spread love, make a difference, and leave a little bit of myself behind in every story." Akshay Kumar was recently seen in the movie 'Housefull 5'. It has received mixed reactions from the audience. As for Veer Pahariya, the actor is expected to be seen in several exciting projects and upcoming musical ventures. (ANI)
NDTV
13-05-2025
- General
- NDTV
60 Years Before Op Sindoor, Pak's Sargodha Airbase Saw Legendary Dogfight
New Delhi: Among the Pakistan airbases India targeted during Operation Sindoor is Sargodha in Punjab. Satellite images following India's airstrikes show a damaged runway at Sargodha, now named after Pakistan's former air chief Mushaf Ali Mir, who died in a crash in 2003. About 60 years ago, during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, the Sargodha airbase was at the centre of some legendary dogfights between the two air forces. And one such dogfight, between India's vintage Mystere IV A fighter and Pakistan's far more advanced F-104 starfighter, established that it is not the plane, but the pilot who determines the result in a dogfight. Unfortunately, it took over two decades for this pilot, Squadron Leader AB Devayya, to get his due. Twenty-two years after he died and was buried in Pakistan, this pilot became the only Indian Air Force personnel to be awarded posthumously the Maha Vir Chakra, the country's second-highest gallantry award. The Epic Battle On September 6, the Pakistani Air Force struck Indian bases at Adampur, Halwara, Pathankot, and Jamnagar. The next day, the Indian Air Force launched a fierce counterstrike and bombed the Sargodha airbase. Squadron Leader AB Devayya was flying a Dassault Mystere IV A and engaged with a far-superior PAF Starfighter, flown by Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain and both planes crashed. While the Pakistani pilot ejected safely, Devayya could not. The remaining Indian squadron was unaware of this dogfight in which Devayya took down the superior Starfighter. A Forgotten Hero Squadron Leader Devayya was considered missing, with the Indian security establishment unaware of his heroic feat. 'India-Pakistan Air War of 1965', a Pakistan-sponsored book by British aviation historian John Fricker published in 1979, mentioned a dogfight between a Mystere and the Starfighter flown by Flt Lt Hussain. "In staying with the Starfighter, the Mystere fighter showed commendable courage and gained an advantage when Flt Lt Ahmed made the mistake of reducing down in an attempt to out-turn his determined opponent. The F-104 pilot failed to clear its tail during the dogfight and the Mystere pressed home its attack and scored several cannon strikes on the Starfighter." The Revelation Several claims in Fricker's book have been challenged and called out as propaganda for Pakistan. PVS Jagan Mohan, co-author of 'India-Pakistan Air War of 1965', said in a podcast that Group Captain OP Taneja, Commanding Officer of No.1 Squadron, had read Fricker's book and concluded that it was Devayya who shot down the F-104, as he was the only casualty in the raid. Flight Lt B Guha was killed in action later in the evening in another raid. Mr Mohan told air force historian PR Ganapathy on the Blue Skies Podcast that all Indian aircraft part of the morning raid returned to Adampur except the one flown by Devayya. Group Captain Taneja then wrote to Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif and requested that he recommend Squadron Leader AB Devayya's name for the Maha Vir Chakra (Posthumous). Recognition, Decades Later Squadron leader Devayya is believed to have died on Pakistani soil after a crash following the dogfight. He was 32. Twenty-two years later, his wife Sundari Devayya received the Maha Vir Chakra on his behalf. And six decades after his death, his story was retold in the Bollywood movie Sky Force. Many still don't know about this Indian pilot's courageous feat, but every time Sargodha is mentioned, those who know think about Squadron Leader Devayya and his battle to the death.
Economic Times
06-05-2025
- General
- Economic Times
With 'wings of fire,' IAF hero downed Pakistan's 'faster' jet in 1965, act of bravery even documented by enemies
Synopsis Squadron Leader A.B. Devayya, an instructor turned fighter pilot, displayed extraordinary courage during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. On September 7th, he engaged a superior Pakistani F-104 Starfighter over Sargodha, shooting it down before his own demise. His bravery remained largely unacknowledged until years later, when evidence led to him being posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. Somebody rightly said, 'Some heroes don't return, but they never leave.' ADVERTISEMENT In the vast skies above Pakistan's Sargodha on 7th September 1965, a lone Indian pilot engaged in a dogfight that may not have made loud headlines back then, but earned lasting reverence from his force, and from the whole of India, now and forever. This is the story of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya (called 'Wings of Fire'), an unsung hero of the 1965 India-Pakistan war. For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the only Indian Air Force officer to receive it posthumously, as per the IAF war broke out in 1965, Devayya wasn't on the frontlines. He was an instructor at the Air Force Flying College, training young pilots. But when duty called, he joined No. 1 'Tigers' Squadron at Adampur, flying the Mystère IVa, a French-made job wasn't to engage enemy fighters, it was to strike targets and return. But fate had other plans. ADVERTISEMENT On the morning of 7th September, Devayya was part of a strike mission to Sargodha Airfield, a major Pakistani base. He was the last to finish the bombing run. As he turned back, a Pakistani F-104 Starfighter, faster and more advanced, intercepted enemy fired missiles, but Devayya outmanoeuvred them. Still, the Starfighter caught up and fired its guns, damaging his aircraft. ADVERTISEMENT At that point, most pilots would try to escape. But Devayya made a different choice, he turned around and fought, as recorded in the IAF archives. In a daring display of skill and courage, he engaged the 'superior' Starfighter in close combat and shot it down. ADVERTISEMENT The Pakistani pilot, Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain, ejected and survived. Unfortunately, Devayya never returned. ADVERTISEMENT His body was never recovered. Initially, the Indian Air Force listed him as missing, and later presumed him dead. Over a decade later, a British author John Fricker was commissioned by the Pakistan Air Force to write an account of the war. In his book published in 1979, Fricker included details from Pakistani sources that revealed Devayya's final act of later admitted that his body had been found by villagers near Sargodha and 1988, based on this information, the Indian government awarded Sqn Ldr Devayya the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously, making it the only posthumous MVC in IAF history. The movie "Sky Force" is based on the 7 September 1965 attack on Sargodha, now known as PAF Base Mushaf. Veer Pahariya takes on the role inspired by Devayya, though his character is called T. Vijaya, and Sara Ali Khan plays his wife. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein. NEXT STORY
Time of India
06-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
With 'wings of fire,' IAF hero downed Pakistan's 'faster' jet in 1965, act of bravery even documented by enemies
The teacher who took to the skies… Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Somebody rightly said, 'Some heroes don't return, but they never leave.'In the vast skies above Pakistan's Sargodha on 7th September 1965, a lone Indian pilot engaged in a dogfight that may not have made loud headlines back then, but earned lasting reverence from his force, and from the whole of India, now and is the story of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya (called ' Wings of Fire ') , an unsung hero of the 1965 India-Pakistan war For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra , the only Indian Air Force officer to receive it posthumously, as per the IAF war broke out in 1965, Devayya wasn't on the frontlines. He was an instructor at the Air Force Flying College, training young pilots. But when duty called, he joined No. 1 'Tigers' Squadron at Adampur, flying the Mystère IVa, a French-made job wasn't to engage enemy fighters, it was to strike targets and return. But fate had other the morning of 7th September, Devayya was part of a strike mission to Sargodha Airfield , a major Pakistani base. He was the last to finish the bombing run. As he turned back, a Pakistani F-104 Starfighter , faster and more advanced, intercepted enemy fired missiles, but Devayya outmanoeuvred them. Still, the Starfighter caught up and fired its guns, damaging his that point, most pilots would try to escape. But Devayya made a different choice, he turned around and fought, as recorded in the IAF a daring display of skill and courage, he engaged the 'superior' Starfighter in close combat and shot it Pakistani pilot, Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain, ejected and Devayya never body was never the Indian Air Force listed him as missing, and later presumed him a decade later, a British author John Fricker was commissioned by the Pakistan Air Force to write an account of the his book published in 1979, Fricker included details from Pakistani sources that revealed Devayya's final act of later admitted that his body had been found by villagers near Sargodha and 1988, based on this information, the Indian government awarded Sqn Ldr Devayya the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously, making it the only posthumous MVC in IAF Force is based on the 7 September 1965 attack on Sargodha, now known as PAF Base Mushaf. Veer Pahariya takes on the role inspired by Devayya, though his character is called T. Vijaya, and Sara Ali Khan plays his wife.
