Service No & Branch | 4197 F(P) (Orig: GD(P)) | Stream :Fighters | |||||||||||||||||||
Date of Birth: 15 Nov 1932 | Commissioned: 22 Dec 1951 | Course: 56 Course | |||||||||||||||||||
Service End: | Retired on 31 Jul 1991 Superannuated Died on 08 Dec 2003 (71 Years age) | Flying Hours : 4000 | Nick Name : Polly | ||||||||||||||||||
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Google the Bharat Rakshak Website for : "S K Mehra" |
Air Mshl |
Dates | Rank | Unit | Location | Appointment | Photo |
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- | Flt Lt | Conversion Training Unit | Hakimpet | Flying Instructor | |
- | Sqn Ldr | Air Command and Staff College | Montgomery, Alabama | Staff Course | |
21 Apr 1962 - 01 Oct 1962 | Sqn Ldr | No.7 Squadron | Ambala | Commanding Officer | |
18 Oct 1967 - 31 May 1970 | Wg Cdr | No.28 Squadron | Adampur/ Tezpur | Commanding Officer | |
06 Mar 1972 - 01 Dec 1973 | Wg Cdr | Defence Services Staff College | Wellington | Directing Staff | |
18 Jul 1973 - 30 Jun 1974 | Gp Capt | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Director (Air Staff Inspection) | |
01 Jul 1974 - 04 Mar 1976 | Gp Capt | Tactics and Combat Development Establishment | Jamnagar | Commandant | |
06 Jan 1975 - 14 Mar 1976 | Gp Capt | Armament Training Wing | Jamnagar | Station Commander | |
13 Mar 1977 - 01 Dec 1979 | Air Cmde | Embassy of India, Russia | Moscow | Air Attache | |
29 Oct 1979 - 19 Dec 1979 | Air Cmde | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Director, Offensive Operations | |
24 Dec 1979 - 04 Dec 1981 | Air Cmde | 8 Wing | Adampur | Air Officer Commanding | |
07 Dec 1981 - 31 Jul 1983 | AVM | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Director, Personnel Officers | |
01 Sep 1983 - 06 May 1985 | AVM | Air Operations, Air HQ | Delhi | Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Operations | |
07 May 1985 - | Air Marshal | Air Operations, Air HQ | Delhi | Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Operations | |
01 Jun 1986 - 28 Feb 1987 | Air Marshal | PSO: Planning, Air HQ | Delhi | Deputy Chief of Air Staff | |
01 Mar 1987 - 28 Jul 1988 | Air Marshal | South Western Air Command | Jodhpur | Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief | |
01 Aug 1988 - 31 Jul 1991 | Air Chief Marshal | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Chief of Air Staff | |
08 Oct 1988 - | No.28 Squadron | Commodore Commandant | |||
Incomplete Information? Additions? Corrections? Please download Template File and follow instructions. |
Vayu Sena Medal | ||||
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Wg Cdr | Surendra Kumar Mehra | 4197 F(P) | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 1971 |
Details : | Wing Commander Mehra commanded a Supersonic Squadron of the air force for two and a half years. Under his inspiring leadership the squadron maintained a high state of operational readiness and was awarded the Air Force Instrument Rating Trophy two years running. He has an outstanding personal flying record with over 3400 hours of accident free flying on jet aircraft. For years , he has held the highest professional qualifications and has been an examiner on various types of aircraft. Awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for professional competence and exceptional devotion to duty. | |||
Unit : 28 Sqn | ||||
Reference : Gazette of India dated 4th September 1971 - No.53 - Pres/71 dated 26th January 1971 |
Ati Vishist Seva Medal | ||||
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Gp Capt | Surendra Kumar Mehra | 4197 F(P) | Award Date 26 Jan 1976 | Announced 26 Jan 1976 |
Details : | On the night of 22nd/23rd October, 1975, the worst ever cyclone was experienced over Jamnagar airfield. When the cyclone actually hit Jamnagar airfield, its fury knew no bounds. The fierce effects of the cyclone started at about 1730 hours. Within a matter of half an hour, the strong winds damaged the steel electric power pylons. Immediately thereafter, the entire airfield was plunged into darkness. The Station was now faced with a grim situation of extremely wild winds, incessant rains and total darkness. The cyclone continued to build up its fury and started uprooting aircraft picketed in the open. Group Captain Mehra the Station Commander Air Force Station Jamnagar personally led a group of his men and physically tried to keep the aircraft on the ground. The aircraft parked in the open were upĂ‚Ârooted from the noseĂ‚Âwheel. It was a gigantic effort to hold the aircraft down to the ground with manual labour. Under the conditions prevailing at that time, it was only by sheer determination of his men under his inspiring leadership that the aircraft were saved from total damage. While his men were engaged in trying to save the aircraft, one of the hangar housing aircraft collapsed. Group Captain Mehra immediately rushed to the scene in drenching rain and ravaging winds. He tried to ensure that after the collapse of the hangar, the aircraft were not damaged any further by loose ground equipment around. Whilst these rescue operations were on, a second hangar also collapsed. It was to the credit of Group Captain Mehra that inspite of mounting odds, he continued to guide personally the rescue operations. His frequent movement from one scene to another in what truly alarming conditions was done with utter and complete disregard for his own safety and comfort. He had realised that unless he set a personal example, his men would perhaps give up the effort because of sheer frustrating conditions. Next morning the airfield presented a most pathetic sight. Hangars had collapsed, building roofs were blownĂ‚Âoff, aircraft were up-rooted and the airfield was littered with debris all over. By now the water supply had also been denied to the Station. Inspite of his being extremely tired and exhausted from the efforts of the previous night, Group Captain Mehra continued to take immediate actions which were necessary to restore some degree of normalcy in the camp. It was due to his ability and leadership that the personnel and their families at Jamnagar faced this worst ever crisis with a smile. The actual damage to AVSM 1976-77 the aircraft, the most valuable item on the airfield, was very insignificant compared to the conditions experienced during the cyclone. Group Captain Mehra displayed a very high degree of leaders hip and professional competence to ensure that the damage would be minimal even when he was subjected to a very high degree of stress and strain. Had it not been for him, the damages at Jamnagar would have assumed frightening proportions. Group Captain Surendra Kumar Mehra, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order. | |||
Unit : | ||||
Reference : GoI19760126 |
Date | Aircraft Type | Tail No | Pilot/Crew | Unit | Remarks |
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06 Sep 1965 | MiG-21 F | BC-818 | Sqn Ldr Surendra Kumar Mehra | 28 Sqn | Dest on ground Adamp |