Flt Lt Vijay Vasant Tambay

Flight Lieutenant Vijay Vasant Tambay hailed from Nagpur in Maharashtra and was born on 11 Apr 1943. After completing his schooling, his ambition and talent led him to the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), where he joined the 23rd NDA course. Following rigorous training, he graduated on December 1, 1962, and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Indian Air Force on October 28, 1963. Flt Lt Tambay chose the demanding and dynamic flying branch, undergoing specialized training as part of the 85th Pilots’ Course to become a fighter pilot. This role required not only exceptional flying skills but also mental agility, situational awareness, and unwavering resolve. His early years in the IAF were spent serving in various flying squadrons across different air force bases, where he honed his craft and earned the respect of his peers and superiors.

In April 1970, Flt Lt Tambay married Ms. Damayanti Subedar, a national-level badminton player from Allahabad. Their union was a remarkable blend of excellence, with Ms Damayanti continuing her illustrious sporting career after marriage. She went on to secure her third national title and was later honored with the prestigious "Arjuna Award," highlighting her contribution to Indian sports. By 1971, Flt Lt Tambay had accumulated nearly eight years of service, establishing himself as a seasoned fighter pilot adept at executing complex air operations. He was serving with the 32 Squadron based at Air Force Station Ambala, where he flew the formidable Sukhoi SU-7 aircraft. The SU-7, a powerful aircraft designed for offensive air support, counter-air missions, and tactical reconnaissance, was known for its speed and reliability. It boasted a maximum speed of 1056 mph (1700 km/h) at an altitude of 40,000 feet and a remarkable climb rate of 29,900 feet per minute. However, its modest operational radius and limited external payload capacity posed challenges that pilots like Flt Lt Tambay skillfully navigated. His time with the 32 Squadron epitomized his dedication to safeguarding the nation’s skies, demonstrating the grit and determination of an ace fighter pilot.

Shorkot Airfield (Rafiqui) Attack (Indo-Pak War): 05 Dec 1971

In December, 1971, Flt Lt Tambay was serving with 32 Squadron which was operating SU-7 fighter aircraft. The 32 Squadron was raised at Jodhpur on 15 October 1963 with Wing Commander Emanuel Raymond Fernandes as its first commanding officer. Initially it was equipped with Mystere aircraft but the Squadron later got converted and graduated to supersonic era with SU-7 aircraft and shifted its base to Ambala. In response to the preemptive strikes by the Pakistan Air Force on Indian Air bases on 03 Dec 1971, the IAF launched operations against the Pak Air Force. As part of the IAF operations, 32 Sqn with Wing Commander Harcharan Singh Manget as its commanding officer took part in numerous missions against Pakistani targets. By 04 Dec 1971, Flt Lt Tambay had already undertaken two missions deep inside Pakistan against its air bases. On 05 Dec 1971, Flt Lt Tambay was tasked to be part of the mission that was to attack the Pakistani air base at Rafique.

Flt Lt Tambay took off in his SU-7 (B-839) as planned for his 3rd such sortie within two days against the Pakistani airbase. It was a two aircraft mission with Sqn Ldr VK Bhatia as No1 and Flt Lt Tambay as No 2. The TOT(Time over Target) given to the pilots was around midday as the enemy defences were expected to be at a low key at that time. Both aircrafts reached the target airfield as planned and carried out the first attack. As the target was important was for the enemy, it was defended heavily by their air defence assets. During the second attack Flt Lt Tambay in a bid to cause maximum damage to the target airfield, flew dangerously close to enemy air defense batteries and was shot down by anti-aircraft guns. Flt Lt Tambay was declared “Killed In Action”(KIA) on 05 Dec 1971.

However, a confusion continued to persist about his death, as some of the Prisoners Of War (POW) lodged in a Pakistani jail, later informed about the presence of Flt Lt Tambay in Pakistani Jail. The Sunday edition of 'Pakistan Observer', then published from Dhaka reported on 05 Dec 1971 that five Indian pilots had been captured and one of them was Flt Lt Tomboy a presumed distortion of Tambay. Later his wife Smt Damayanti during her search for her husband found many leads/evidences that gave credence to the fact that Flt Lt Tambay was being kept as a POW in Pakistan. Pakistan, however never acknowledged the presence of Flt Lt Tambay in a Pakistani jail. Presently, Flt Lt VV Tambay’s name features on the official list of the ’54 Personnel Missing in Action’, tabled in the Lok Sabha in 1979 by the then Minister of State of External Affairs Shri Samarendra Kundu.

Flt Lt VV Tambay is survived by his wife Smt Damayanti Tambay. A four-time national badminton champion, Smt Damayanti Tambay is the leading member of “Missing Defence Personnel Association”, an organization which is still spearheading the campaign to obtain the release of Indian POWs lodged in Pakistani jails. 

On December 3, 1971, when Mrs Damayanti V. Tambay’s husband, fighter pilot Flt Lt V.V. Tambay, who was posted at Ambala Cantonment went to war, he told her “I may return, I may not return. Take care of yourself”.

Mrs Tambay had told her husband “Vasant, ‘V’ for victory. Carry on. The entire nation is behind you”.