 Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Ulrich Anthony D'Cruz | 3296 GD(P) | Unit : 7 Squadron | Award Date 01 Dec 47 | Announced 26 Jan 52 | | Details : |  Fight Lieutenant UA D’Cruz while carrying out an offensive reconnaissance over the Akhnur-Bhimbar area was shot down and captured by Pathan tribesmen on 1st December, 1947. He remained a prisoner with the tribesmen, and later with the Pakistan Army, until December, 1948, when he was returned to India under a scheme for the exchange of prisoners of war.
While a prisoner, Flt. Lt. D’Cruz was often beaten and threatened with death by his captors but neither ill treatment nor the offer of monetary rewards could undermine his loyalty to his country or service.
The fortitude and devotion to duty displayed by Flt. Lt. D’Cruz while a prisoner of war in accordance with the highest traditions of his service and an example to his fellow officers and men. | | Reference : | Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Notification No. 17-Pres/52 dated 26th January, 1952 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sgt | Ram Chandra Dua | 21075 OR | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 30 Jan 48 | Announced 26 Jan 52 | | Details : |  Sgt. Dua was responsible for apprehending the culprit who threw a bomb at Mahatma Gandhi on 20 Jan 48. The Bomb thrower Madan Lal was in possession of a Grenade and Sgt. Dua held onto him at the risk of his own life. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sgt | Dev Raj Singh | 10052 OR | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 30 Jan 48 | Announced 26 Jan 52 | | Details : | Sgt. Dev Raj Singh caught Nathuram Godse who had fired on Mahatma Gandhi on 30 Jan 48 and snatched away the Pistol from the Assassin by force. Godse was carrying the Loaded pistol and Sgt. Singh exposed himself to great Personal Risk in grappling with him | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Raizada Harbans Chawdry | 2952 AE(M) | Unit : 12 Squadron | Award Date 06 Oct 49 | Announced 26 Jan 53 | | Details : |  He was one of the two survivors when the IAF Dakota he was traveling in , crashed on 6 Oct 49 in Turkey. The aircraft was burning and at great personal risk, Chawdry dragged the other survivor Pt Off M M Dutt, who was then unconscious out of the aircraft and saved his life at a risk of his own. Thereafter he went to the rescue of others and tried to put out the fire thru his raincoat. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | O Sunderesiya | 6084 AE(M) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 01 May 50 | Announced 26 Jan 51 | | Details : |  Flt Lt. Sunderesiya was travelling in the Jhansi-Lucknow Passenger when one of the compartments caught fire. When he discovered that the emergency cord had failed, He got down to the footboards and by jumping across one to one, he reached the Engine and stopped the train. Thus saving many causalities and Damage to railway property. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Wg Cdr | Edul Jahangir Dhatigara | 1899 GD(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 27 Mar 56 | Announced 23 Jan 59 | | Details : |  On 27 Mar 56, During the Naga Insurgency, Wg Cdr. Dhatigara flew a Dakota and successfully dropped supplies comprising of Ammunition and Water to an Encircled Garrison in the Naga Hills. This was done under Adverse Weather conditions and Hostile fire by the Nagas who were using Automatic Weapons. Thus showing initiative, Courage and Skill in the best traditions of the Air Force. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sqn Ldr | Nedyam Bhaskar Menon | 2994 GD(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 28 Jan 56 | Announced 26 Jan 59 | | Details : |  A Sikh Light Infantry Unit at Khanoma in Naga Hills was ambushed and surrounded by armed hostiles and supplies of food and water were cut off. Two earlier attempts to supply them had failed due to inclement weather. On 28 Jan 56, Sqn Ldr Menon successfully dropped food and water inspite of bad weather and automatic fire from the Naga Hostiles. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sqn Ldr | Reginald Azariah Rufus | 3319 GD(P) | Unit : Air HQ and Comm | Award Date 26 Feb 57 | Announced 26 Jan 59 | | Details : |  On 26 Feb 57, Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and his entourage were going by an Illyushin -14 aircraft Meghdoot. Sqn Ldr Rufus who was the pilot of the aircraft noticed fire and considerable vibration from one of the engines of the aircraft. he decided to land at a disused kutcha landing strip at Raichur as the regular one was over 80 miles away. By accurate judgement and flying skill, He made a successful forced landing on the strip ensuring the safety of the PM and his party. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sqn Ldr | Ayyappan Sudhakaran | 3937 GD(P) | Unit : A&ATU | Award Date 04 Jun 60 | Announced 04 Mar 61 | | 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. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 4th March 1961 - No.16 - Pres/61 dated 27th February 1961 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Bal Krishan Desoares | 4502 GD(P) | Unit : 43 Squadron | Award Date 01 May 61 | Announced 15 Aug 62 | | Details : |  Flt Lt. Desoares was flying a Dakota during a food dropping mission in the north east on 1 May 61 when he noticed his aircraft lose height near the Dropping Zone. Desoares successfully crash-landed his Dakota on a Snow covered Mountain where the fuel tanks caught fire . In this situation he pulled out his co-pilot and helped other passengers to Safety. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Raj Kumar Mehta | 4102 GD(P) | Unit : 23 Squadron | Award Date 09 Nov 60 | Announced 26 Jan 62 | | Details : |  While flying a Gnat on 9 Nov 60, He encountered a Bird Hit while on his landing finals at Palam. This resulted in the Engine Flaming Out. Mehta did not eject but attempted a landing in a bid to save the aircraft. Unfortunately The Gnat crashed killing him. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Fg Offr | Vaidyanathan Ganesan | 30039 AUX | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 12 Mar 61 | Announced 26 Jan 62 | | Details : |  Fg Off Ganesan was on an Instrumental training sortie on 12 Mar 61, when an aircraft malfunction rendered the aircraft unsafe for flying. Fg. Off Ganesan decided to bail out of the aircraft, but noticed a village in the immediate vicinity. Ganesan chose to stay in the aircraft and guide it away from crashing into the village. He successfully steered away the aircraft and as it was too low to bail out , attempted a crash landing and was killed. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Madhusudhan Ray | 5004 GD(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 12 Oct 61 | Announced 26 Jan 62 | | Details : |  On 12th October, 1961, Flight Lieutenant Madhusudan Ray (5004) GD(P), Captain of a Dakota aircraft while engaged on a training flight had to crash-land the aircraft at Mahesh owing to loss of power immediately after take-off from Barrackpore airfield. He deliberately manoeuvred his aircraft so as to crash-land in the only available open space between inhabited multi-storeyed buildings. A crash into any of these buildings would have caused extensive damage to life and property. Flight Lieutenant Madhusudan Ray was able to ward off what might have been a disaster of great magnitude and in doing so sacrificed his own life and those of his crew. In saving the lives of others, Flight Lieutenant Madhusudan Ray displayed gallantry, skill and spirit of self-sacrifice, which are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Air Force. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 3rd February 1962 - No.19 - Pres/62 dated 26th January 1962 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Karan Sher Singh Kalsia | 4474 GD(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 19 Jan 61 | Announced 10 Sep 62 | | Details : |  On 19th January, 1961, while on a training flight, Flight Lieutenant Kalsia found that the engine of his aircraft had flamed out. The aircraft was heading towards Jamnagar city and had he bailed out and abandoned the aircraft, it would have crashed in the city, causing extensive damage to life and property. Realising this, Flight Lieutenant Kalsia turned his aircraft away from the populated area and in doing so lost valuable height. He then attempted a force landing as he was left with no other option and was killed in the attempt. Flight Lieutenant Kalsia displayed courage of a very high order and gave his own life to avoid an accident which might have resulted in the loss of several other lives. His gallant action was in the highest traditions of the Air Force. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 22nd September 1962 - No.55 - Pres/62 dated 10th September 1962 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Jagan Nath Vijayaragahvan | 4483 GD(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 14 May 62 | Announced 10 Sep 62 | | Details : |  On 14th May 1962, Flight Lieutenant Vijayaraghavan was on an instructional sortie with Pilot Officer Evans as pupil. During a spinning exercise by the pupil, it was noticed that the aircraft failed to come out of the spin. At this moment, Flight Lieutenant Vijayaraghavan, took over the controls of the aircraft which however still failed to respond and started losing height rapidly. He twice ordered Pilot Officer Evans to bale out but by the time the latter did so, the aircraft had reached too low a height for Flight Lieutenant Vijayaraghavan to abandon it. Pilot Officer Evans escaped with minor injuries. The aircraft crashed killing Flight Lieutenant Vijayaraghavan instantaneously. Flight Lieutenant Vijayaraghavan displayed conspicuous gallantry and a spirit of supreme self-sacrifice in saving the life of his pupil which was in the highest traditions of the Indian Air Force. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 22nd September 1962 - No.55 - Pres/62 dated 10th September 1962 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sqn Ldr | Vishwanath Balakrishna Sawardekar | 4593 GD(P) | Unit : 101 Squadron | Award Date 10 Sep 65 | Announced 15 Aug 66 | | Details : |  Sqn. Ldr Sawardekar along with Sqn Ldr M J Marston were taxiing in a Vampire Trainer at Bagdogra, when the airfield was attacked by Pakistani Sabres. The Vampire was attacked and it caught fire. Sqn. Ldr Sawardekar jumped out of the burning aircraft and rescued his co-pilot inspite of his own injuries and exploding ammunition. Sqn Ldr Sawardekar elected to help his colleague with utter disregard to his personal safety. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Cpl | Sukumar Ghosh | 231479 OR | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 09 Nov 66 | Announced 26 Jan 68 | | Details : |  On 9 Nov 66, Cpl Ghosh observed a MiG-21 U fighter-trainer crash and catch fire on the runway of the airfield. he immediately ran to the scene and rescued the injured pilot from the rear seat unmindful of his own safety. Then he carried the pilot from the front seat in an injured and semi conscious state to a place of safety. Both the pilots recovered safely later on. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 6th April 1968 - No.24 - Pres/68 dated 26th January 1968 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Kuldip Kumar Sharma | 7584 MET | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 17 May 70 | Announced 26 Jan 72 | | Details : |  Flt Lt Sharma saw the grass around a bomb dump cathc fire and he tried to control it with the help of the fire crew. The Fire was extensive and the grass as well as the tarpaulins covering the Bomb dump were burning in the fire. Inspite of the grave risk from the possible explosion of the bombs, he kept on fighting the fire with determination and responsiblity. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , ??th August 1972 - No.93 - Pres/72 dated 26th January 1972 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Sgt | Moj Prakash Puri | 34629 OR | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 17 May 70 | Announced 26 Jan 72 | | Details : |  On 17 May 71, Flt Sgt. Puri fought a fire that was spreading towards a bomb dump and an MT Section. He in a cool and systematic manner fought the fire regardless of his personal safety. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , ??th August 1972 - No.93 - Pres/72 dated 26th January 1972 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sqn Ldr | Deepak Yadav | 8991 F(P) | Unit : ASTE | Award Date 28 Sep 76 | Announced 26 Jan 78 | | Details : |  On 28 Sep 76, Sqn Ldr Deepak Yadav along with Flt Lt Ramesh Chandra Ghidiyal, were testflying a Kiran trainer to examine a specific problem area which he himself had discovered. During the course of the Airtest, the aircraft suffered structural failure and crashed killing both the pilots. Sqn Ldr Deepak Yadav, who had earlier in the 71 War had flown over 20 sorties, lost his life to the cause of testflying. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 8th April 1978 - No.13 - Pres/78 dated 26th January 1978 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Gp Capt | Denzil Keelor | 4805 F(P) | Unit : TACDE | Award Date 27 Mar 78 | Announced 26 Jan 79 | | Details : |  Gp. Capt. Keelor who had rich and wide combat experience and the destruction of a Sabre aircraft to his credit, was flying a MiG-21 U trainer on 27 Mar 78, when due to structural failure the canopy of the aircraft detached and flew off. Gp Capt Keelor felt sudden decompression and loss of control, but managed to fly back to base and execute a safe emergency landing without the canopy. Later on 17 May 78, during firing trials one of the 23 mm Cannon Shells exploded causing extensive damage and total electrical failure to his aircraft. He sucessfully executed another safe landing back at his airbase. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 28th April 1979 - No.15 - Pres/78 dated 26th January 1979 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Anil Kumar Mathur | 13591 F(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 25 Nov 80 | Announced 26 Jan 81 | | Details : |  Flt Lt Mathur was testflying a Marut fighter when he discovered a serious malfunction of the right engine and the aircraft control system. The control of the aircraft deterioted on lowering of the undercarraige and even more so when the flaps were down. Flt Lt Mathur chose to land the aircraft at great risk to his life rather than abandon it. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 4th April 1981 - No.?? - Pres/81 dated 26th January 1981 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Shankar Iyer Chandrasekhar | 13436 ADM | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 21 Nov 81 | Announced 26 Jan 82 | | Details : |  In 1981, When travelling by train, he and his copassengers were attacked by dacoits who intended to rob them. Flt lt Chandrasekhar, intervened and grappled with the dacoits who mercillesly shot Chandrasekhar, killing him on the spot. He laid down his life to protect his other co-passengers. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 3rd April 1982 - No.?? - Pres/82 dated 26th January 1982 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sqn Ldr | Vishwanathan Nagarajan | 8753 F(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 01 Jul 81 | Announced 26 Jan 83 | | Details : |  In July 81, While flying a Dakota, Nagarajan experienced Failure in the starboard engine. He feathered this engine and sucessfully carried out a force-landing on a lake bed wurrounded by rocky terrain, thus saving precious lives | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 19th March 1983 - No.13 - Pres/83 dated 26th January 1983 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sqn Ldr | Hari Nath Chaturvedi | 11161 MED | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 26 Jan 83 | Announced 26 Jan 84 | | Details : |  Sqn Ldr Chaturvedi was part of the Second Antartica Expedition in 1982-83. Once a Snow blizzard struck his camp, uprooting tents and precious equipment was soon buried under snow. Chatruvedi sucessfully salvaged the equipement and rendered medical help to his sick colleagues in an ordeal that lasted over fifty hours. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 24th March 1984 - No.24 - Pres/84 dated 26th January 1984 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Wg Cdr | Ravish Malhotra | 7678 F(P) | Unit : Indo Soviet Space | Award Date 26 Jan 85 | Announced 26 Jan 85 | | Details : |  Qualifed as a test pilot and highly experienced, Wg Cdr Malhotra was chosen to undergo training in Russia for the Indo-Soviet Space mission planned in 1984. He sucessfully competed the extremely demanding training schedule and completed it with great credit and distinction. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 19th May 1984 - No.58 - Pres/85 dated 7th May 1985 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Sqn Ldr | Pradeep Sharma | 13777 F(P) | Unit : AFA Dundigal | Award Date 26 Jan 85 | Announced 26 Jan 87 | | Details : |  Sqn Ldr Pradeep Sharma was flying along with a pupil in a Kiran Trainer by night. when the engine flamed out. refusing the option to eject, he sucessfully carried out a forced landing at a base over 35 km away. This enabled a thourough investigation and subsequent modifications on the Engines of the Kiran Trainers. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Wg Cdr | Maheshwar Datt | 11607 F(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 01 Nov 86 | Announced 26 Jan 88 | | Details : |  In Nov 86, The Zoji la pass in J &K was blocked in unprecendented snowfall. Wg Cdr Dutt flew over 75 rescue sorties in a Mi-17 Helicopter and saved the lives of over 145 Sick and stranded people in the Pass. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 2nd April 1988 - No.27 - Pres/88 dated 26th January 1988 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Wg Cdr | Daljit Singh Minhas | 11287 F(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 05 Apr 88 | Announced 26 Jan 89 | | Details : |  On 5th April 88, Wg Cdr Minhas was piloting a Hunter fighter when he experienced an engine flame out just 200 feet above the ground. he guided the aircraft away from a habitated village and stayed with the aircraft to make sure it did not cause any loss of life on ground. He ejected from the Hunter at a very low level as a result of which his parachute did not open and he died in the crash. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 8th April 1989 - No.?? - Pres/89 dated 26th January 1989 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Flt Lt | Mysore Krishnaswamy Ramaprasad | 18440 AEM | Unit : 9 Squadron | Award Date 01 Jul 91 | Announced 26 Jan 92 | | Details : |  In July 91, A MiG-27 aircraft of the Wolfpack squadron was lined up for take-off on an Armament trial sortie when it caught fire. The Aircraft was fully armed with bombs and Cannon Shells and was in a danger of blowing up. Flt Lt Ramaprasad arrived on the scene and sucessfully defused the live and hot armament after switching off the ignition and fuel fixtures first. | | Reference : | Gazette of India , 11th April 1992 - No.?? - Pres/92 dated 26th January 1992 |
| Kirti Chakra | | Wg Cdr | Rajiv Kothiyal | 15696 F(P) | Unit : NFTC | Award Date 04 Jan 01 | Announced 26 Jan 01 | | Details : |  Wg Cdr Kothiyal was the test pilot with the Aeronautical Development Agency's Light Combat Aircraft Program. On January 4th, 2001, Wg Cdr Kothiyal successfully carried out the first test flight of the LCA. Subsequently as part of the program he had carried out more than six test flights contributing greatly to the success of India's Indigenous fighter aircraft program. | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Cpl | Akhilesh Kumar Mishra | 734502 OR | Unit : AFS Bhuj | Award Date 26 Jan 01 | Announced 15 Aug 01 | | Details : | Safety Equipment Worker | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Wg Cdr | Sudhir Kumar Sharma | 17717 F(P) | Unit : -N.A.- | Award Date 11 May 04 | Announced 26 Jan 05 | | Details : | Commanding Officer | | Reference : | |
| Kirti Chakra | | Wg Cdr | Balakrishana Pillai Sreebhavan Krishna Kumar | 17870 F(P) | Unit : 122 HF | Award Date 26 Dec 04 | Announced 15 Aug 05 | | Details : | Commanding Officer | | Reference : | |
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