New Delhi. Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC, Chief of the Air Staff visited Air Force Station Sarsawa on May 28 to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Air Warriors who laid down their life during Op Safed sagar.

Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar PVSM AVSM VM & Bar ADC, AOC-in-C, Western Air Command and Lt Gen YK Joshi AVSM VrC SM GOC 14 Corps also visited AF Station Sarsawa on the same day to commemorate the solemn occasion.

The Chief of the Air Staff and AOC-in-C, WAC IAF took part in the “Missing Man Formation” fly past in Mi-17 V5 helicopter of 152 HU. On this day, 20 year ago Sqn Ldr R Pundir, Flt Lt Muhilan, Sergeant RK Sahu and Sergeant PVNR Prasad laid down their lives in service of the nation while flying a mission during Ops Safed Sagar.

The timing of the flypast was synchronised with the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Station War Memorial. Sharmila Pundir, wife of Sqn Ldr R Pundir, also joined the solemn occasion and laid a wreath at station war memorial while an ALH Mk-III helicopter showered flower petals.

During Op Safed Sagar, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa commanded 17 Sqn of the IAF. Air Marshal R Nambiar took part in the Ops flying Mirage 2000 aircraft and Lt Gen YK Joshi, as CO 13 JAKRIF, led operations on Tololing for the capture of Point 5140.