During the
Sino-Indian War, the IAF was only involved in a supportive capacity. Flight Lieutenant Virendera Singh Pathania of
No. 23 Squadron IAF made sorties on the perforated steel-plated
Chushul airport for photo-reconnaissance.
Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965 began on 1 September 1965 and
PAF dominated the skies with their F-86 and F-104, making 4 kills of
IAF Vampire planes on the very first day. During the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, he was awarded the
Vir Chakra for shooting down F-86 with his
Folland Gnat jet on 4 September.
List of aerial victories during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 has enlisted the kill. Pakistani officer N.M Butt of
F-86 PAF ejected safely and the wreckage of Sabre Jet was recovered near
Akhnoor Bridge in
Jammu and Kashmir. IAF declared it as the second kill of independent India. However
PAF recognizes 4 September 1965 as first kill by Pathania after it disputed the 3 September kill of
Trevor Keelor for which Pakistan claims that damaged F-86 managed to land safely at Sargodha air base and awarded
Sitara-e-Jurat to Wing Commander then Flight Lieutenant Yusuf Ali Khan who later made 1 kill in the war. On 6 December of the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971,
Squadron Leader Pathania of
No. 18 Squadron IAF and
Flying Officer Boppayya scrambled an incoming raid by four F-86 aircraft by intercepting their course in
Srinagar. On 14 December 1971, he was awarded the
Vayu Sena Medal for his commanding lead of
Air Traffic Control (ATC) while
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC single-handedly engaged in a suicidal
dogfight with six F-86 Sabre Jet Pakistani airplanes in Srinagar while deterring attackers from their prime targets. Two days later after the death of
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon on 16 December 1971, Pathania made an unconfirmed kill of an F-86 on the day of
Pakistan Army's
Eastern Command's surrender, marking it as last and lone kill entry by Gnat in western sector among the
List of aerial victories during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ==In popular culture==