INDIA
World War II
VICTORIES
NAME DESTROYED DAMAGED UNIT AIRFORCE
Pujji, Mohinder Singh 2 3 253,43 Sq. RAF; 4,6 Sq. IAF RAF, IAF
Reddy, Dodla Ranga 1 - 6 Sq. IAF IAF
Verma, Jagdish Chandra 1 - 6 Sq. IAF IAF
Comments:
- For many years, IAF histories have taken the position that Fg Off JC Verma’s victory over an IJAAF Oscar on 15 February 1944, was the only air-to-air victory by an IAF pilot during World War Two.
- Pujji's words: "I was posted to No. 253 Squadron RAF, flying Hurricane
IIB fighters from RAF Kenley, which is a couple of miles south of Croydon. We
were a mixed bunch, with pilots also from Poland, America, Canada and Australia.
Equipped with twelve machine guns, our Hurricanes were extensively flown day and
night, to intercept German bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.
I was later attached with No.43 Squadron, flying Hurricanes from Martlesham, the RAF fighter Squadrons being switched from base to base every few weeks, but remaining in the Greater London area. Later, we converted to the Spitfire Mk.V and I was promoted to Flight Commander. Our operational task now included fighter sweeps over occupied Europe and we made low-level attacks on enemy targets when we were not required to provide fighter escort to RAF bombers. During these operations, I was involved in many dog fights with Luftwaffe fighters and my total tally was two Messerschmitt Me 109s confirmed as shot down and three damaged". - IAF : Indian Air Force / Bharatiya Vayu Sena / भारतीय वायु सेना
- RAF : Royal Air Force
Air-to-Air Victories
| Date | Unit | Aircraft | Pilot | Victim | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 1944 | 6 Sq IAF | Hurricane Mk.IIC | Reddy, D. R. | Ki-43 | IJAAF |
| 15 Feb 1944 | 6 Sq IAF | Hurricane Mk.IIC | Verma, J. C. | Ki-43 | IJAAF |
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|---|---|
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No. 43 Squadron 'The Fighting Cocks' Crest Sada Satark - Always Alert |
No. 6 Squadron 'Dragons' Crest Sada Satark - Always Alert |
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| Flying Officer Jagdish Chandra Verma being awarded the DFC by Air Vice Marshal Taylor. | |
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Squadron Leader Mahindra Singh Pujji |
Flying Officer Dodla Ranga Reddy |
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| Fg Offr Mahendra Singh Pujji DFC in the cockpit of his Hawker Hurricane named 'Amrit' after his fiancee. | |
© Clavework Graphics, http://www.clavework-graphics.co.uk/
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| Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIC, Indian Air Force. | |
Sources & Literature
- Gleize, Jean-Paul: Aces, http://www.igleize.fr/aces/homeaces.htm
- Nair, K.S.: No. 6 Squadron, Indian Air Force - The First Five Years, http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/6Sqn-History.html.
- Nair, K.S.: The Sky was the Limit: Wg Cdr Murkot Ramunny, http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Ramunny.html.
- Singh, Pushpindar: Sikh Pilots in the Indian Air Force in World War Two, http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Sikhs.html.
- Sree Kumar, K.: No. 6 Squadron 'Dragons', http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Sqn/006.html.
- Thomas, Andrew: Hurricane Aces 1941-45, Aircraft of the Aces 57, Osprey Publishing, November 21 2003.
- Combat Pilots of the Subcontinent - FAQ (Jagan's Indian Air Force Web Site), http://members.tripod.com/~JaganPVS/combatfaq.htm.
