New Delhi. 27 May 2019. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa , Chief of the Air Staff, led a four aircraft, MiG-21 ‘Missing Man’ formation flypast today, at AF Station Bhisiana, to honour the valour and supreme sacrifice of men killed in action during Operation Safed Sagar at Kargil. Air Mshl R Nambiar PVSM AVSM VM& Bar ADC, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command a Kargil veteran,was also a part of the formation.
The ‘Missing Man’ formation is an aerial salute accorded to honour the fallen comrades-in-arms. This is an Arrow Formation, with a gap between two aircraft in the formation depicting the – Missing Man. Later, in a sombre ceremony, he laid a wreath at the War Memorial to honour the IAF men who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
It was on this day in 1999 that, Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja VrC (Posthumous) laid down his life during the Kargil conflict. He was at that time the Flight Commander of 17 Squadron.
On the 28 May the CAS will visit Air Force Station Sarsawa and fly in a Mi-17 V5 Missing Man formation to commemorate the Kargil martyrs. It was on 28 May 99 that we lost a Mi-17 after successfully attacking the enemy in Drass sector. Sqn Ldr R Pundhir, Flt Lt S Muhilan, Sgt R K Sahu and Sgt PVNR Prasad died in action in that Mi-17.
