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Air Commodore Surapati Bhattacharya

Service No & Branch 3974 F(P) (Orig: GD(P)) Stream :Fighters
Date of Birth: -- --- ---- Commissioned: 14 Oct 1950 Course: 53 Course
Service End: Retired on 30 Sep 1980 Nick Name :
Qualifications Held :
Remarks :
Promotions Gazetted
Fg Offr : 14 Oct 1951Flt Lt : 14 Oct 1955Sqn Ldr : 14 Oct 1961Wg Cdr : 01 Oct 1967
Acting Gp Capt : 03 Mar 1972Acting Air Cmde : 05 Jan 1976Air Cmde : 01 Oct 1976
Training and Other Courses Attended
15 NDC (Gp Capt) - 01 Dec 1975
Badges Qualified
 
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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 1965Sqn LdrNo.3 Squadron Flight Commander
29 May 1961 - 21 Nov 1962Sqn LdrNo.1 SquadronKalaikunda Commanding Officer
- 01 Dec 1968Wg Cdr7 WingAmbala Chief Operations Officer
12 Sep 1965 - 25 Sep 1967Wg CdrNo.3 SquadronPathankot Commanding Officer
02 Mar 1972 - 05 Jan 1975Gp CaptArmament Training WingJamnagar Station Commander
10 Sep 1979 - 30 Sep 1980Air CmdeAir Head QuartersDelhi Director (Air Defence)
 
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Awards and Decorations


Number of Awards: 2
  
Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry)
Sqn LdrSurapati Bhattacharya3974 GD(P)Award Date Announced 26 Jan 1963
Details : During the Goa Operations, Squadron Leader Bhattacharya was in command of a Mystere Squadron which was operating in close support of one of our battalions in the Daman Area. During one of the sorties, it was indicated to him that machine gun fire from a Portuguese strong point was hampering the advance of our own troops. Though left with only marginal fuel to return up to his base, Squadron Leader Bhattacharya pin-pointed the target, attacked it in the face of ground fire and succeeded in silencing the Portuguese machine guns. He thus saved our troops from heavy casualties and cleared the way for their advance. Squadron Leader Bhattacharya displayed cool courage and determination in this action.
Unit : 1 Sqn
Reference : Gazette of India 26th January 1963 - No. 10-Pres/63 dated 26th January, 1963
Vir Chakra
Wg CdrSurapati Bhattacharya3974 GD(P)Award Date 12 Sep 1965Announced 01 Jan 1966
Details :

Wing Commander Surapati Bhattacharya was the Flight Commander of an operational fighter squadron in the western sector when the hostilities with Pakistan broke out. He took over the command of the squadron on 12th September 1965. He led a large number of missions against enemy armour and troop concentrations in close support of the army. In the face of enemy ground fire and air opposition, he pressed home his attacks and succeeded in destroying a number of enemy tanks, armoured vehicles and troop concentrations. In every operational mission undertook, he flew as the leader of the formation, and apart from the successes he achieved personally, he contributed to a great extent towards the successes achieved by the other aircraft of these formations.

By his personal example, he inspired other officers and airmen and instilled in them a spirit of confidence.

Wing Commander Surapati Bhattacharya displayed courage, determination and leadership of a high order in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Unit : 3 Sqn
Reference : Gazette of India , 12th February 1966 - No.15 - Pres/66 dated 1st January 1966
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/3974
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.