Number Name Branch Died in Service? Picture?
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Squadron Leader Ayappan Sudhakaran

Service No & Branch 3937 GD(P) Stream :Fighters
Date of Birth: 16 Sep 1927 Commissioned: 14 Oct 1950 Course: 53 Course
Service End: Died in Service 04 Jun 1960 (33 Years age) Aircraft Accident Nick Name :
Qualifications Held :
Remarks :
Promotions Gazetted
Fg Offr : 14 Oct 1951Flt Lt : 14 Oct 1955
Badges Qualified
 
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Sqn Ldr
Notes:1)Branch is at retirement and may not match with branch at Commission 2)Notional seniority is reflected in dates of substantive rank.

Appointments, Postings & Other Service Particulars

DatesRankUnitLocationAppointmentPhoto
- 01 Dec 1956Flt LtEmpire Test Pilots School, UKFarnborough Test Pilot Course 15th Course
 
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Awards and Decorations


Number of Awards: 1
 
Kirti Chakra
Sqn LdrAyappan Sudhakaran3937 GD(P)Award Date 04 Jun 1960Announced 04 Mar 1961
Details :

On the 4th of June, 1960, Suqadron Leader Ayappan Sudhakaran was carrying out a test flight in a Gnat aircraft – the only one of its kind in India – which was fully instrumented when the engine flamed out at low altitude. He could have abandoned the aircraft and saved his own life but decided to save the aircraft by attempting a forced-landing. In this gallant attempt he lost his life.

Squadron Leader Ayappan Sudhakaran had been a test pilot for nearly three years at Kanpur during which period he made numerous test flights in which he faced great risk to his life and displayed outstanding flying ability and technical knowledge of a very high order. In this incident in which he lost his life he showed courage, devotion to duty and determination in the highest traditions of the Air Force.

Unit : A&ATU
Reference : Gazette of India , 4th March 1961 - No.16 - Pres/61 dated 27th February 1961

Accidents and Incidents: 2

DateAircraft TypeTail NoPilot/CrewUnitRemarks
15 Mar 1952Tempest IIFg Offr Ayappan Sudhakaran
Pilot OK
04 Jun 1960GnatIE-1063Sqn Ldr Ayappan Sudhakaran +
A1ATUForce landed on the
The data in the header section of this page comes from the Gazette of India - Click here to see the source
The URL for this page is http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/3937
Note: All the data available here is publicly available in the Gazette of India, published by the Indian Government, or from public domain sources, press releases about Awards and Right-To-Information (RTI) Requests. Additionally data shared by veterans is added to the page with permission. No data with respect to serving officers below the rank of AVM is displayed. Information in Gazette of India and Award citations and photographs as released by the Indian Air Force are the only details displayed.