Quick Info
| Profession | Retired Defence Personnel |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 29/10/1928 |
| Age | 88 years (died on 22, Jul, 2017) |
| Birthplace | Punjab Province, British India |
| Date of Death | 22/07/2017 |
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Bio/Wiki
| Nickname(s) |
|
|---|---|
| Famous for | Leading the IAF squadron that raided the Sargodha Air Base of Pakistan in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 5' 9" (175 cm) |
|---|---|
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Salt and Pepper (Semi-bald) |
Educational Qualification(s)
| College/University | Lahore Government College (now Government College University, Lahore) |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in science |
Personal Life
| Religion | Hinduism |
|---|---|
| Hobby | Reading |
Relationships & More
| Wife/Spouse | Zohra (ex-wife) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children |
|
Family
| Spouse | Zohra (ex-wife) |
|---|---|
| Children | Rahil, Nikhil, Sanjana |
Career
| Milestones |
|
|---|---|
| Service/Branch | Indian Air Force |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Service Years | 15 April 1950 - 31 August 1975 |
| Stream | Flying (Fighter Pilot) |
| Service Number | 3843 F(P) |
| Career Ranks |
|
| Military Decoration | Vir Chakra, awarded on 1 January 1966 for his role in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Nicknamed 'Wild Jack' during college for breaking the boundary wall to meet the warden. | |
| 2. Motivated to join the Air Force after hearing a speech by an Indian RAF pilot. | |
| 3. Despite his father’s opposition, he pursued a career in the Air Force. | |
| 4. Attended the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell, UK, and excelled in his studies. | |
| 5. Survived a crash of his Hawker Tempest II during a training sortie. | |
| 6. Instrumental in executing a successful air raid at Sargodha, destroying significant enemy resources. | |
| 7. After retirement from the IAF, he worked in the stock exchange for a while. | |
| 8. Maintained a daily swimming routine until his passing in 2017. | |
| 9. Portrayed by Akshay Kumar in the 2025 Hindi film Sky Force. |