Air Vice Marshal BK Bishnoi, an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who led the mission to bomb Pakistan Government House at Dacca during the 1971 war, passed away on Saturday. The pilot, who was commissioned into the IAF in 1953, hailed from Fazilka in Punjab.
During the 1971 war, AVM Bishnoi was a Wing Commander and was awarded the Vir Chakra, the third-highest war-time gallantry award, for his bravery. This was his second Vir Chakra, the first being during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
As the commanding officer of the IAF squadron in the eastern sector during the 1971 war, AVM Bishnoi led 10 sorties against heavily defended enemy positions in the Comilla Sector in East Pakistan. On December 14, 1971, he raided military targets in Dacca despite intense ground fire. His attacks on the Government House at Dacca were carried out with accuracy, as per his citation.
During the 1965 war with Pakistan, AVM Bishnoi was based at Halwara in Punjab and was part of the counter-attack that bombed an ammunition carrying Pakistan train at Raiwind railway station. He carried out 16 operational missions in the Kasur/Lahore sector and destroyed or damaged at least 10 enemy tanks. His aircraft was hit on three different occasions by the enemy ground fire, his citation read.
AVM Bishnoi’s contributions to the IAF during the wars earned him widespread recognition and respect. His demise is a great loss to the country, and his contributions to the defense of the nation will always be remembered.
(Inputs from Tribune)
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