Padmanabha Gautam

Wing Commander Padmanabha Gautam MVC (Bar), VM (G)
Wing Commander P Gautam
Born	23 July 1933[1] Chennai, Tamil Nadu[2]
Died	25 November 1972 (aged 39) Pune, Maharashtra
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Air Force
Years of service	1953-1972
Rank	Wing Commander
Unit	5 Squadron Jet Bomber Conversion Unit (JBCU) 16 Squadron
Battles/wars	1961 Congo Crisis 1965 Indo-Pakistani war 1971 Indo-Pakistani War
Awards	Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) Maha Vir Chakra & Bar

Wing Commander Padmanabha Gautam, MVC (Bar), VSM (23 July 1933 – 25 November 1972), was an officer in the Indian Airforce.^[3]

He was born on 23 July 1933 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu to Neelkanta Padmanabha and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 1 April 1953.^[4] In 1961, he served as a Flight Lieutenant which as deployed in Congo and was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for his service.^[5] On 25 November 1972, he died in an air-crash due to internal bleeding. The engine of his MIG-21FL flamed shortly after take-off and he was forced to crash land.^[5]

Maha Vir Chakra

The citation for the first Maha Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:

Gazette Notification: 126 Pres/65,22-9-65

Operation: Operation Riddle, Date of Award: 6 September 1965

Citation: Squadron Leader P. Gautam, Commanding Officer of a bomber conversion-training unit led it in a number of difficult and dangerous missions. He undertook six important offensive and tactical close-support operations over Pakistani territory during the period from 6 to 21 September 1965. In complete disregard ofpersonal safety in the face of heavy enemy ground fire and of the risk of attack by Palustani Sabrejets, he carried out his missions successfully with courage and determination. Thcsc missions included reconnaissance deep into enemy territory and the bombing of Akwal and Gujarat airfields and enemy troops concentrations in the Gujarat and Chawinda areas.

Throughout the operations, Squadron Leader P Gautam's devotion to duty, professional skill and gallantry were in the finest traditions of the Air Force.^[6]

The citation for the second Maha Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:

Gazette Notification: 22 Pres/72,12-2-72

Operation: 1971 Cactus Lily Date of Award: 5 December 1971

Citation: Commander P/ Gautam, Commanding Officer of a bomber squadron, led many missions deep into enemy territory. Notable among these were two raids on the night of the 5 and 7 December 1971 when Wing Commander Gautam led attacks on the Mianwali airfield. On both these occasions, he and his formation were met with intense anti-aircraft fire. Despite that, the target was attacked with great precision, at low level and heavy damage was inflicted. On the other missions, he carried out rocket and four gun attacks on railway marshalling yards in the Montgomery-Raiwind area with conspicuous success. Throughout the operation, Wing Commander F! Gautam displayed conspicuous gallantry, exemplary flying skill and leadership in the highest traditions of the Air Force.^[7]

References

1. "Service Record for Wing Commander Padmanabha Gautam 4482 F(P) [www.bharat-rakshak.com]-->".
2. B. Chakravorty (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. Allied Publishers. p. 173. ISBN 978-81-7023-516-3.
3. "SQUADRON LEADER PADMANABHA GAUTAM (4482) VM : MAHA VIR CHAKRA". indianairforce.nic.in. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
4. Chakravorty, B. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. Allied Publishers. pp. 173–174.
5. "Service Record for Wing Commander Padmanabha Gautam 4482 F(P) [www.bharat-rakshak.com]-->". www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
6. "Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Awardee: Wg Cdr Padmanabha Gautam, MVC @ TWDI".
7. "Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Awardee: Wg Cdr Padmanabha Gautam, MVC @ TWDI".