In the passing of Wing Commander JM Nath at 93, the Indian Air Force lost one of its most esteemed and decorated officers, awarded with “MVC & Bar”. This thread attempts to provide a clear and detailed history of the awards in the IAF, demystifying the jargon and honouring the brave.
Between 1937 and 2022, IAF officers and airmen have been awarded a staggering 5,100 awards. On average, this amounts to about 60-75 awards per year, but the number rose as high as 600 during wartime years.
Before 1947, the IAF did not have its distinct “Indianized” system of awards and adhered to the British system. Awards for IAF officers were processed through the conventional channel from the Air Ministry to the Air Headquarters. During this period, particularly from 1937 to 1946, which mainly covered the Second World War, 109 awards were made to IAF personnel.
IAF officers and men have distinguished themselves in war and peace, achieving many firsts in theatres such as the North West Frontier Province, the Burma Campaign, and even in European operations during World War II.
Post-independence, the IAF played a pivotal role in the Kashmir War. However, the new award system took some time to be established, and awards were only retrospectively made in 1950. This new award system was divided into two broad categories: Awards for acts of Gallantry and awards for Devotion to Duty, effectively forming a three-by-four matrix of distinctions.
During the 1947 Operations, the IAF was awarded 4 Mahavir Chakras (MVC), 29 Vir Chakras (VrC), and 106 Mention-in-Dispatches, a remarkable achievement for a force that was under-staffed and under-equipped at the time. Most of these laurels were earned by its then-newest acquisition – the Dakota Squadron crews.
Mehar Singh was awarded the MVC as the overall in-charge of IAF’s war plan, taking on dangerous missions himself. With his earlier DSO (Distinguished Service Order) during the Burma Campaign in 1944, he became the first IAF officer equivalent to an “MVC & Bar” recipient.
In 1952, two IAF airmen were awarded Kirti Chakras for their role in apprehending Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, demonstrating the diverse roles and valour of the Air Force personnel.
1953 saw the IAF earning its first Ashok Chakra – The highest peacetime Gallantry award. Following this, only two more Ashok Chakras have been awarded to IAF personnel: in 1984 to Rakesh Sharma for his space mission, and in 2017 to Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala for his bravery in Kashmir.
Between 1954 and 1961, 20 awards were handed out to IAF personnel. However, from 1962 onwards, there was a significant increase in the number of awards given, with an average of 35-40 awards per year, and this period included Gallantry in the Congo Operations and the China War. This era also saw the first Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) awarded to Harjinder Singh and the first “Bar to Vir Chakra”.
The 1965 war again saw IAF personnel rising to the occasion – they chalked up 4 MVCs, 44 VrCs, and 119 Mention-in-Dispatches for gallantry. This conflict also marked the first instance of IAF officers being awarded civilian honours – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The IAF has been awarded 10 of these prestigious civilian honours.
1965 also saw the IAF get its first “MVC & Bar”. JM “Jaggi” Nath had received his first MVC in 1962 operations, flying the Canberra of 106 Squadron. His award in 1965 was for his exceptional service in the same squadron.
The period between the 1965 and 1971 wars saw an average of 50 peacetime awards, such as Kirti Chakra (KC), Shaurya Chakra (SC), PVSM, and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Vayu Sena Medal (VM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) are conferred each year. 1971 was a landmark moment for the IAF, receiving 11 MVCs, 102 VrCs, and hundreds of other awards for its outstanding performance. In 1972 alone, the IAF was honoured with a record 640 awards.
The 1971 war produced another remarkable milestone: the second and last “MVC and Bar” for the IAF. Padmanabha Gautam, who had won an MVC in 1965, repeated this extraordinary feat in 1971. Interestingly, both officers who received the “MVC and Bar” were Canberra pilots. Tragically, Gautam was lost in a crash in 1972.
The pinnacle of IAF’s valorous history is marked by awarding the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), the highest military decoration in India, to Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon in the 1971 war. This remains the only PVC ever awarded to an IAF officer.
In 1980, to distinguish wartime awards for Devotion to Duty from peacetime awards, the Government of India instituted the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, and Yudh Seva Medal, equivalent to PVSM, AVSM, and VSM respectively.
The IAF received its first such award in 1989 when Air Commodore MMS Vasudeva, head of the Air Force Cell handling IPKF Operations, was awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal. From 1988 to 1991, during the Sri Lanka Operations, the IAF was conferred 1 UYSM, 10 VrCs, and numerous Yudh Seva Medals.
The IPKF Operations were largely heliborne, but the Chopper crews had more accolades to come. In the following decade, they earned many more Vir Chakras for Operation Meghdoot (Siachen Operations) and UN peacekeeping missions, marking the coming of age of IAF’s Helicopter Fleet in the face of enemy action.
Operation Meghdoot, the longest-running operation in Indian military history, also resulted in significant contributions from the IAF, particularly from its 114 Helicopter units, making it one of the most awarded units in the Force.
The IAF next saw action in the 1999 Kargil War and was generously awarded for its gallantry and service. It won 1 Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (only three have been given across all services), 2 Vir Chakras, 5 Yudh Seva Medals, 75 Mention-in-Dispatches, and more than 40 Vayu Sena Medals.
Many unique and exciting stories exist among the 5,100 awards in the IAF’s history. For instance, there’s the uncommon instance of an Air Force officer receiving the “Sena Medal”. For a detailed account of these honours and the brave deeds associated with them, “Courage & Devotion to Duty: A Chronicle of IAF’s Honours and Awards” by Air Marshal Bharat Kumar is a highly recommended read.
Determining the most decorated officer in the IAF is complex, as comparing peacetime and Gallantry awards is challenging. However, if one were to hazard a guess, Minoo Engineer might be considered for this distinction.
While comprehensive, this abridged history of awards in the IAF inevitably skips many acts of bravery and courage due to the format’s limitations. For a more detailed and meticulous record, the @vayusena platform, which tracks each award and citation, is an invaluable resource and a must-visit for those interested in the gallant history of the Indian Air Force.
Originally published on Twitter
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