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Group Captain Allan Albert Da Costa
| Service No & Branch | 4580 F(P) (Orig: GD(P)) |  | ||||||||||||
| Date of Birth: 01 Feb 1933 | Commissioned: 14 Oct 1953 | Course: 61 Course | ||||||||||||
| Service End: | Died in Service 26 Oct 1977 (44 Years age) | Nick Name : | ||||||||||||
| Qualifications Held : | ||||||||||||||
| Remarks : | Died of Health issues | |||||||||||||
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Badges Qualified  | ||||||||||||||
| Google the Bharat Rakshak Website for : "A A D Costa" | ||||||||||||||
| Dates | Rank | Unit | Location | Appointment | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Sqn Ldr | 16 Wing | Hashimara | Officer in Charge Flying | |
| - 01 Dec 1964 | Sqn Ldr | 20 Signal Unit | Barrackpore | Commanding Officer | |
| 15 Sep 1969 - 31 May 1973 | Wg Cdr | No.222 Squadron | Ambala/ Halwara | Commanding Officer | |
| 10 May 1975 - 15 Feb 1976 | Wg Cdr | 230 Signal Unit | Amritsar | Station Commander | |
| 03 Mar 1976 - 26 Oct 1977 | Gp Capt | 33 Signal Unit | Jodhpur | Station Commander | |
| Incomplete Information? Additions? Corrections? Please download Template File and follow instructions. | |||||
Awards and Decorations
Number of Awards: 2
| Maha Vir Chakra | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wg Cdr | Allan Albert Da Costa | 4580 F(P) | Award Date 04 Dec 1971 | Announced 26 Jan 1972 |
| Details : |  Wing Commander A.A.D'Costa, the Commanding Officer of a Fighter-Bomber squadron [No.222 Squadron, Sukhoi-7], had brought his squadron up to the highest pitch of operational preparedness. His foresight and leadership paid excellent dividends during the war, as he and the Squadron achieved outstanding results. During the war, the officer led no fewer than 15 missions deep into enemy territory against heavily defended targets, thus setting a fine example to his pilots. On December 4,1971 he was the first to strike at the enemy's Risalwala airfield. On the same day he followed up by attacking Chander airfield. On the next day, he led a mission to Chistian Mandi, where he personally accounted for three enemy tanks, as confirmed by films brought back by him. On December 6 he led an attack on a concentration of tanks at Dera Baba Nanak, in the face of the most intense anti-aircraft fire. Although his No. 2 was shot down by this ground fire. he pressed home the attack, with utter disregard for his own safety, destroying a number of tanks and damaging others. On December 7 he carried out a low level photographic reconnaissance mission, in the Sulemanki area and followed this up by leading an attack on the same day, on the railway station at Norowal, where he personally destroyed and damaged many railway wagons, as well as some installations. From December 8 to 12 he flew a number of unescorted reconnaissance missions, bringing back a large volume of intelligence based on which air and ground operations were conducted. Thereafter, up to the end of the fighting, he led missions mainly against railway targets, including the marshalling yards at Raiwind, the Kasur-Lahore railway tracks, destroying a large number of wagons and causing devastation at each target. His constant example of bravery, determination and skill were an inspiration to the pilots of his squadron. | |||
| Unit : 222 Sqn | ||||
| Reference : Gazette of India , 12th February 1972 - No.20 - Pres/72 dated 20th January 1972 | ||||
| Vayu Sena Medal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wg Cdr | Allan Albert Da Costa | 4580 F(P) | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 1972 |
| Details : | Wing Commander Allan Albert D'Costa took over command of a Fighter Squadron, which was being equipped with a new type of aircraft. He organised the squadron on sound lines, ensuring that the administrative and maintenance echelons were geared up to meet the heavy training commitments necessary for achieving combat preparedness at an early date. While he himself flew more than 400 sorties, involving over 300 hours on the new type of aircraft, he ensured that all the pilots in the Squadron were also adequately trained and made ready for combat. | |||
| Unit : 222 Sqn | ||||
| Reference : Gazette of India dated 12th May 1973 - No.28 - Pres/73 dated 26th January 1972 | ||||