Sergeant PVNR Prasad VM

On 28 May 1999, during the height of the Kargil War, Sergeant P.V.N.R. Prasad was tasked with a critical combat mission as the Flight Gunner of an Indian Air Force helicopter assigned to strike enemy positions at Point 5140 in the Dras sub-sector. The objective lay at a forbidding altitude of approximately 5.1 kilometres, where well-entrenched enemy forces occupied dominating heights and posed a grave threat to advancing Indian Army troops. The crew for this high-risk mission comprised Squadron Leader Rajiv Pundir as Captain, Flight Lieutenant Subramaniam Muhilan as Co-Pilot, and Sergeant Raj Kishore Sahu as Flight Engineer. Operating as a cohesive and highly trained team of the Indian Air Force, they were entrusted with the vital responsibility of neutralising fortified enemy positions that were tactically significant to the success of ongoing ground operations. All members of the crew were fully conscious of the extreme dangers involved. The operational area was heavily defended and known to be infested with shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, including the deadly Stinger. The threat was further aggravated by the absence of an effective onboard missile countermeasure system on their helicopter, leaving it particularly vulnerable to attack. Despite being acutely aware that their aircraft lacked adequate defensive protection, and understanding the potentially fatal consequences, Sergeant Prasad displayed exceptional courage and resolve. Realising the critical importance of the mission to the overall campaign, he accepted the challenge without hesitation and prepared to carry out the strike with complete disregard for his personal safety. Executing the mission with precision and determination, the crew successfully pressed home the attack on the designated target, inflicting damage on the enemy positions. However, during the breakaway manoeuvre after completing the strike, their helicopter was hit by a Stinger missile. The impact caused catastrophic damage to the aircraft. Despite desperate efforts to regain control, the helicopter crashed, resulting in the loss of Sergeant Prasad and his fellow crew members—Squadron Leader Rajiv Pundir, Flight Lieutenant Subramaniam Muhilan, and Sergeant Raj Kishore Sahu. The mission formed part of a series of determined air operations that inflicted substantial losses on enemy forces and significantly contributed to paving the way for the recapture of key objectives by Indian ground troops. Sergeant Prasad’s actions materially aided the Army’s advance in an exceptionally challenging and hostile environment. For his outstanding courage, unwavering commitment to duty, and exemplary professional competence in the face of overwhelming odds, Sergeant P.V.N.R. Prasad was posthumously awarded the Vayu Sena Medal. His conduct reflected the finest traditions of the Indian Air Force and remains a lasting testament to his bravery and supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.