Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (17 July 1945 -14 December 1971) was an examplary officer with the Indian Air Force. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), the highest military honours, for his extraordinary display of valour during the 1971 war. Sekhon is an exclusive Indian Air Force serviceman, receiving this prestigious honor.
Nirmal Jit Sekhon was born in Isewal Dakha, Ludhiana, Punjab, to Honorary Flight Lieutenant Tarlok Singh Sekhon. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 4 June 1967 as a Pilot Officer. He served with No. 18 Squadron, “The Flying Bullets,” flying the Folland Gnat fighter aircraft. He was based at Srinagar during the war.
During the attack on Srinagar airfield by six PAF F-86 Sabre jets on 14 December 1971, Sekhon was performing on readiness duty. Within no time after the fall of the first bombs on the runway, Sekhon took off in a two-aircraft Gnat formation. He was accompanied by with his leader, Flight Lieutenant Ghumman, however, he got separated from his leader at takeoff. Afterward, he dealt with the enemy aircrafts individually. He hit one of the PAF jets directly and another of the Sabres went on fire and it turned around for flight.
Despite being heavily outnumbered by a 1:6 odds, Sekhon kept on fighting. His aircraft received hits, yet, he flew for a few more minutes in an effort to return to base. As his Gnat was damaged, he attempted to eject but the ejection system suffered malfunctioning. Sekhon succumbed to a fatal injury when his aircraft crashed into a gorge near the airbase. Due to the treacherous topography of the region, his body was never retrieved.
Despite overwhelming odds, Sekhon’s bravery and flying skills earned him the Param Vir Chakra (PVC). His actions reflected supreme gallantry, flying skill, and determination in the face of certain death. He was only 28 years old at the time of his sacrifice.
To honour his legacy, a statue of him has been installed at Ludhiana District Court, with a decommissioned Folland Gnat placed nearby as a memorial. His exemplary courage and patriotism continue to inspire the nation, and his name was further immortalized with the 1985 launch of the marine tanker Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC, ensuring his valour is well-remembered.
