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[1/n] This past weekend, as part of #SwarnimVijayVarsh, four out of five extraordinary IAF aviators, who made or make their homes in #Hyderabad, were honoured by the handing on a Vijay Mashaal torch. They were ...
![[1/n] This past weekend, as part of #SwarnimVijayVarsh, four out of five extraordinary IAF aviators, who made or make their homes in #Hyderabad, were honoured by the handing on a Vijay Mashaal torch. They were ...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujkWaCVgAIdlau.jpg "[1/n] This past weekend, as part of #SwarnimVijayVarsh, four out of five extraordinary IAF aviators, who made or make their homes in #Hyderabad, were honoured by the handing on a Vijay Mashaal torch. They were ...")
![[1/n] This past weekend, as part of #SwarnimVijayVarsh, four out of five extraordinary IAF aviators, who made or make their homes in #Hyderabad, were honoured by the handing on a Vijay Mashaal torch. They were ...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujkWaBUUAAez0v.jpg "[1/n] This past weekend, as part of #SwarnimVijayVarsh, four out of five extraordinary IAF aviators, who made or make their homes in #Hyderabad, were honoured by the handing on a Vijay Mashaal torch. They were ...")
![[1/n] This past weekend, as part of #SwarnimVijayVarsh, four out of five extraordinary IAF aviators, who made or make their homes in #Hyderabad, were honoured by the handing on a Vijay Mashaal torch. They were ...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujkWaBVcAErW2W.jpg "[1/n] This past weekend, as part of #SwarnimVijayVarsh, four out of five extraordinary IAF aviators, who made or make their homes in #Hyderabad, were honoured by the handing on a Vijay Mashaal torch. They were ...")
![[1/n] This past weekend, as part of #SwarnimVijayVarsh, four out of five extraordinary IAF aviators, who made or make their homes in #Hyderabad, were honoured by the handing on a Vijay Mashaal torch. They were ...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujkWaCVkAAKVrr.jpg "[1/n] This past weekend, as part of #SwarnimVijayVarsh, four out of five extraordinary IAF aviators, who made or make their homes in #Hyderabad, were honoured by the handing on a Vijay Mashaal torch. They were ...")
[2/n] ... Air Vice-Marshal CV Parker MVC, who led 20 Squadron IAF, one of the most effective units of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war ... /3
![[2/n] ... Air Vice-Marshal CV Parker MVC, who led 20 Squadron IAF, one of the most effective units of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war ... /3](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eujk9wnU4AYemA5.jpg "[2/n] ... Air Vice-Marshal CV Parker MVC, who led 20 Squadron IAF, one of the most effective units of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war ... /3")
[3/n] ... Gp Capt DK Dass VrC, the first pilot to attack the Pakistani tanks spotted near a then-obscure border post called Longewala ... /4
![[3/n] ... Gp Capt DK Dass VrC, the first pilot to attack the Pakistani tanks spotted near a then-obscure border post called Longewala ... /4](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujlSR5VoAMlGcR.jpg "[3/n] ... Gp Capt DK Dass VrC, the first pilot to attack the Pakistani tanks spotted near a then-obscure border post called Longewala ... /4")
[4/n] ... the late Sqn Ldr JM Mistry VrC, who pressed home multiple attacks alone, when his wingmen's engine failed to start, including on the ferociously-defended air defence complex at Sakesar ... /5
![[4/n] ... the late Sqn Ldr JM Mistry VrC, who pressed home multiple attacks alone, when his wingmen's engine failed to start, including on the ferociously-defended air defence complex at Sakesar ... /5](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eujl_hzUUAEeRSM.jpg "[4/n] ... the late Sqn Ldr JM Mistry VrC, who pressed home multiple attacks alone, when his wingmen's engine failed to start, including on the ferociously-defended air defence complex at Sakesar ... /5")
[5/n] ... and the late Air Marshal SSH Naqvi VrC, who as a young Flt Lt carried out multiple missions including an extraordinarily long loiter on recce in the face of heavy ground fire ... /6
![[5/n] ... and the late Air Marshal SSH Naqvi VrC, who as a young Flt Lt carried out multiple missions including an extraordinarily long loiter on recce in the face of heavy ground fire ... /6](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujmzmkVkAEaV04.jpg "[5/n] ... and the late Air Marshal SSH Naqvi VrC, who as a young Flt Lt carried out multiple missions including an extraordinarily long loiter on recce in the face of heavy ground fire ... /6")
[6/n] ... There should have been one more, the late Wg Cdr FJ Mehta VrC, a veteran of air combat in 1965 too, who was one of several experienced pilots posted into the ad hoc but spectacularly successful 122 Sqn - unfortunately none of his family remain in the city:
![[6/n] ... There should have been one more, the late Wg Cdr FJ Mehta VrC, a veteran of air combat in 1965 too, who was one of several experienced pilots posted into the ad hoc but spectacularly successful 122 Sqn - unfortunately none of his family remain in the city:](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujnX7GUUAM32oj.jpg "[6/n] ... There should have been one more, the late Wg Cdr FJ Mehta VrC, a veteran of air combat in 1965 too, who was one of several experienced pilots posted into the ad hoc but spectacularly successful 122 Sqn - unfortunately none of his family remain in the city:")
[7/n] ... There is so much to admire about these men; and I cannot resist adding, their diversity. They represent *four* religions, and all put themselves in harm's way for India. That kind of diversity has always been India's and her armed forces' strength ... /8
![[7/n] ... There is so much to admire about these men; and I cannot resist adding, their diversity. They represent *four* religions, and all put themselves in harm's way for India. That kind of diversity has always been India's and her armed forces' strength ... /8](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujofFKVkAMvn9M.jpg "[7/n] ... There is so much to admire about these men; and I cannot resist adding, their diversity. They represent *four* religions, and all put themselves in harm's way for India. That kind of diversity has always been India's and her armed forces' strength ... /8")
[8/n] ... A point I will make, a few times, in an upcoming book, which if @HarperCollinsIN and my editor @chweepster approve should be out late this year ... /9
[9/9] ... And a final piece of trivia for the aviation nerd in me, and some of my friends here: Four of these five men flew the classic Hawker Hunter in the Bangladesh Liberation War. One flew the hard-hitting Sukhoi Su-7. More in my upcoming, as yet-untitled book:
![[9/9] ... And a final piece of trivia for the aviation nerd in me, and some of my friends here: Four of these five men flew the classic Hawker Hunter in the Bangladesh Liberation War. One flew the hard-hitting Sukhoi Su-7. More in my upcoming, as yet-untitled book:](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujpTywU4AIByi1.jpg "[9/9] ... And a final piece of trivia for the aviation nerd in me, and some of my friends here: Four of these five men flew the classic Hawker Hunter in the Bangladesh Liberation War. One flew the hard-hitting Sukhoi Su-7. More in my upcoming, as yet-untitled book:")
![[9/9] ... And a final piece of trivia for the aviation nerd in me, and some of my friends here: Four of these five men flew the classic Hawker Hunter in the Bangladesh Liberation War. One flew the hard-hitting Sukhoi Su-7. More in my upcoming, as yet-untitled book:](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EujpTyxVoAc5tPR.jpg "[9/9] ... And a final piece of trivia for the aviation nerd in me, and some of my friends here: Four of these five men flew the classic Hawker Hunter in the Bangladesh Liberation War. One flew the hard-hitting Sukhoi Su-7. More in my upcoming, as yet-untitled book:")
